The Sun.
London, England, 1825-03-29 00:00:00

TUESDAY EVENING, MARCH 29, 1825.

discussion on the present Occasion, but trusted his Majesty's
Government would take the earliest opportunity of setting this
important question at rest, and fixing the system of our Corn
Laws on some permanent basis.
Sir T. LETHBRIDGE wished to know whether the Hon-
ourable Member, who was about to submit a motion on the
subject of the Corn Laws (Mr. Whitmore), did so with the
sanction of his Majesty's Government, and whether he would
brin forward the motion on the day for which it now stood
fixed?
Mr. HUSKISSON had no difficulty in stating, that the
Hon. Member for Bridgenorth (Mr. Whitmore), in calling the
attention of Parliament to the subject of the Corn Laws, had
exercised his own discretion, without any understanding, con-
cert, or explanation with himself, or any other Member of
his Majesty's Government. That Honourable Member
would, of course, also use his own discretion as to the time
of bringing on the discussion of this question. He repeated,
that lie thought it would be a much bitter course to dis-
cuss so grave a subject alter notice, then on the occasion of
presenting a petition.—The petition was ordered to lie on the
table.

CATHOLIC EMANCIPATION.
Mr. SPRING RICE rose to present a Petition from a great
number of highly respectable Protestants in Ireland,' possessing
among them landed property to the amount of atleast two hun-
dred thousand pounds a year. These petitioners were chiefly
individuals who had hitherto been among the most steady and
faithful opposers of the Catholic &tints. The result, however,
of their further experience and observation upon the subject,
was, that they now came forward, declared their satisfaction
that Parliament had taken the disqualifications of the Roman
Catholics of Ireland into consideration, and expressed their hope
that those disqualifications. which they were now convinced were
most prejudicial to the. peace and prosperity of Ireland, would
be removed. In addition to this general declaration on the part
-of the petitioners, a further duty had been imposed upon hint
(Mr. S. Rice) by some of the subscribers to the petition, who
while they were prepared to express their hearty concurrence
in the expedience of the Bill which had been already intro-
duced into the House, instructed him to say, that the success of
that Bill would afford them greater satisfaction, if it were ac-
companied
,by two other measures—namely, a measure affect-
ing the qualifications of forty-shilling freeholders in Ireland,
and a measure to secure a provision for the Catholic Clergy in
Ireland. In these points he 111.,5t heartily concurred with
them, and should such measures be introduced into that House.,
they,ahould have front him all the support which he could pos-
sibly give them. He could not help flattering himself with
the belief, that the circumstances of the present time were
much more favourable for the success of the great question of
Catholic Emancipation than they had ever been at any former.
period. The Catholic Association having been put an end to
by Parliament, an act of grace, such as the concession of the
clainas, would be received with feelings of peculiar satisfaction
by the Catholics themselves. Many of the Catholic leaders
hart also been in this country ; and a number of those who had
hitherto been staunch opponents of the Catholic Question had I
had an opportunity of conversing with them, and of weighing
and examining their opinions and principles; and he was per-
suaded
that he spoke but the truth when he said that this in-
tercourse had made the most favourable impression on those
who had been most hostile to the Catholic Claims. The exa-
mination of the Catholic Gentlemen in the Committees had
likewise a considerable effect in removing prejudice and in-
spring
confidence. One word more ; if he could believe that
what was called raising the qualifications of the present forty-
shilling freeholders could have the effect of checking the po-
pular feeling of the country, or of diminishing the strength
owners of Ireland, it should not have his concurrence. But
of popular principles among the peasantry and the small land-
owners
it was because he knew (lie did not say he believed, but knew)
that it would be a most wise, salutary, and popular reform
of the constituent body.in Ireland that lie was determined to
support it. Its tendency would be to increase the controul
over the representative body, and to render that-body more I
amenable to public opinion. This very measure, which those 1
who were deficient in.local knowledge maintained would
trench upon popular right, he was convinced would mate-
rially strengthen it, would excite dormant energies, and would,
aslie had already observed, effect a most just, wise, and salu-
tary improvement in the character of the constituent body
without the doors, and of the representative body within them.
On the motion for bringing up the Petition,
Mr. LITTLETON expressed the satisfaCtion which he felte
at the sentiments which had just fallen from the Honourable
Gentleman, and took the present opportunity of giving notice,
that as soon as the Bill, which was already in the House, should ,
have passed (for he had no doubt it would pass) the second
reading, he would propose a measure for the regulation of the I
elective franchise in Ireland. Whether he should propose that
measure in the shape of a separate Bill, or of a clause in the i
Bill now in progress through the House, was a question which
he was not yet prepared to answer. But in neither case would
he make any proposition, the effect of which would be to trench
on any existing privileges. It would be entirely prospective in
its character, and would in no way touch the right of voting,
where it was at present practically existing. He was not die-
potted at present to say to what amount of property he would
recommend that the qualification for voting should be raised
but he conceived that it ought to be to some sum not less than
51. and not more than M. It was not because lie himself
thought that the concessions to the Catholics ought to be ac-
companied by any securities, that lie intended to make this
proposition. He had always held that Catholic Emancipation I
would carry with it its own security. But although he yielded
to no marten his wish that the benefits of the British Consti-
tution should be thrown open to all classes of his Majesty's
subjects without difficulty or hesitation, lie felt bound to
respect the conscientious scruples of those who required some
securities before they could satisfy their own minds as to the
expediency of granting those benefits to his Majesty's
Catholic subjects ; and he knew that there was a large
proportion of thcasProtesnuit population of this country who
tonsidered some regulations respecting the elective franchise
in Ireland as an indispensable accompaniment to Catholic
concession. Those also who best knew what was the state' of
society and property in Ireland, were of opinion that few mea-
sures could be more conducive to the welfare, prosperity, and
happiness of that country: Ile could not sit down without
stating, that in deciding on this step he was not influenced by
any of the parties who co-operated in the Bill which had been
introduced into the House. He was quite ignorant of what
their opinion would be on the subject. He had no communi-
cation whatever with any of them. Perhaps he owed an apo-
logy to his Honourable Friend the Member for \Vesminster,
for not having in the first instance submitted his intention to
him. He trusted, however, that his Hon. Friend would be-
lieve that his not having done so was not attributable to any
want of courtesay, and that he was influenced by no other view
than the supposition that it might be satisfactory to his Hon.
Friend to be able to say, that he had had no communication
with him (Mr. Littleton) on the subject.
Mr. M. A. TAYLOR said, that as the Honourable Mem-
ber for Staffordshire had not gone into any details with respect
to his proposed measure, it was not his intention to enter into
any discussion on the subject. But lie begged leave to say a
few words, merely to enter his protest, in the first instance,
against the proposition, in order that he might not here-
after be charged with inconsistency respecting it. Ile asked
pardon of the House for speaking for a moment of him-
self, but having had the honour of a seat in Parliament
for between thirty and forty years, he had pledged him-
self to the maintenance of certain principles from which
he should certainly not now depart. Many years ago,
and at different times, he had expressed himself in favour
of Catholic Emancipation. For the Bill in progress through
the House lie had voted, because the best friends of the
peace and prosperity of England and Ireland thou 'ht it indis-
pensible. But what was the state of things now ? He had never
until that moment been told, that in order to procure Catholic
Emancipation we must have a Reform of the Representation
of Ireland, and must pay the Catholic Clergy of Ireland out of
the funds of England. To the proposition of paying the Ca-
tholic Clery he would have no objection, if means could be
devised for doing so out of the funds of' Ireland, and if the
Gentlemen of Ireland chose to apply those means. But after
the number of years in which he had been employed in that
House, in endeavouring to keep down the taxation of those
when he had been all along told
who had sent him there, and to diminish their burdens, he did
not understand being called upon tio pay two hundred and thirty
he }fad dissent-
or two hundred and forty thousam pounds for Catholic En-we.
With what face
laboured to reduce could he,
taxation ac-
aan Although he ve•
thatct
hp t
ihi
toanwd
was
sso
measure.rsaoksotiinesindiaraoilfbybleooyae.nars;
quiesce in such a proposalas a strict Pro_
oney to build new
ed from the vote for giving churches ; not
to see new churches built, but because,
because he did not wish i the Exchequer in the stant, and a Church of England Protestant,.
as he had told the Chancellor u Cunt.'