The Sun.
London, England, 1825-03-07 00:00:00

PROTEST

TO THE SECOND READING OF THE UNLAWFUL SOCIETIES
BILL, ENTERED ON THE JOURNALS Or THE HOUSE or
LORDS, MARCH 3, 1825.

1. Because the Bill contains ziew restrictions on the exercise
of a right coeval with our earliest institutions—viz. the right of
petitioning ; and new prohibitions and restraints on practices
connected therewith, usually and legally resorted to by all
classes of his Majesty's subjects who seek redress from laws by
which they deem themselves aggrieved.

2. Because all proof of the existence and extent of such dan-
ger as can alone justify a measure of this nature was withheld
from the House, and petitioners who deemed themselves parti-
cularly aimed at and aggrieved by the provisions of the Bill
were denied the permission of being heard at the bar, or ad-
ducing evidence in vindication of their conduct, or in proof of
the injury which their interests would sustain in the event of
the Bill passing into a law.
3. Because the danger to be guarded against by this Bill is
not distinctly stated in au; part thereof; and the danger appre-
hended does, in fact, arise from grievances which naturally and
necessarily produce discontent in many millions of our Irish
fellow-subjects.
We are indeed well aware that the privileges of the people,
the rights of free discussion, and the spirit and letter of our po-
pular institutions, must render (and they are intended to ren-
der) the continuance of any extensive grievance, and of the dis-
satisfaction consequent thereupon, dangerous to the tranquillity
of the country, and ultimately subversive of the authority of
the State. Experience and theory alike forbid us to deny that
effect of a free Constitution. A sense of justice, and a love of
liberty, equally deter us from lamenting it. But we have always
been taught to look for the remedy of such disorders, and the
prevention of such mischiefs, in the redress of the grievances
which justify them, and in the removal of the dissatisfaction
from which they flow—not in restraints OR ancient privileges,
not in inroads on public discussion, nor in violation of the prin-
ciples of a free Government.
If, therefore, the legal method of seeking redress which has
been resorted to by persons labouring under grievous disabili-
ties be fraught with immediate or remote danger to the state,
we draw from the circumstance a conclusion long since foretold
by great authority—viz. " that the British constitution and
large exclusions cannot subsist together ; that the constitution
must destroy them, or they will destroy the constitution ;" and
we are thereby confirmed in our determination not to sacrifice
any part of the ancient privileges of the people, for the purpose
of preserving certain statutes, which are comparatively modern,
which are themselves restraints on the rights of the people, and
on the prerogatives/of the Crown ; and which, in our con-
science, we believe cannot long be maintained without civil
bloodshed, or the surrender of all constitutional liberty in a part
of the empire united to Great Britain, and thereby entitled to a
full participation in the benefits of our free constitution.
(Signed)
VASSALL HOLLAND. WENTWORTH FiTZWILLIAM.
A u GUSTUS FREDERICK. KING.
CARNARVON (4ROSTENOR.
CHARLEMONT. DONOUOHMORE.
LEINSTELL :MENDIP (CLIFDEN.)
GREY. HILSBOROUOH (DOWNSH/RE.)
AUCKLAND. DUNDAS.
LANSDOWN. ESSEX.
CLIFTON (DARNLEY.)

CATHOLIC ASSOCIATION.

LIST OF THE ;lIINORITY

Who have voted against the Catholic Association Bill in some '
of its stages through the House.
Abercromby,Hn.J. Fitzgerald, RtHon. Ord, Wm.
Althorp, Visct. ' M. Osborne, Lord F.
Anson, Sir G. Fitzroy, Lord C. O'Brien, Sir E.
Anson, Hon. G. Fitzroy, Lord J. Palmer, C.
Barham, J. F. Folkestone, Visct. Palmer, C. F.
Baring, A. Frankland, R. Pares, Thos.
Baring, H. French, Arthur Pelham, J. C.
Baring, Sir T. Gaskell, Benj. Phillips, G. sen.
Barnard, Viscount Glenorchk, Vise. Phillips, G. jun.
Barrett, S. M. Graham, Sandford Power, R.
Beaumont, T. IN'. Grattan, J. Powlett, lion. W.
Becher, W. IV. Guise, Sir W. Price, R.
Bennet, Hon. H. G. Gurney, R. Ponsoaby, Hon. F.
Benyon, B. Gurney, Hudson Poyntz, W. S.
rn Beal, Ralph Gordon, R. Parnell, Sir H.
Birch, J. Haldimand, W. Pym, Francis
Brougham, Henry Hamilton, Lord A. Ramsden, J. C.
Browne, Dominic Heron, Sir R. Rice, T. S.
Burdett, Sir F. Hill, Lord Arthur Robarts, A. `V•
Bury, Viscount Hobhouse, J. C. Robarts, G.
Benett, J. Honeywood, IV. P. Robinson, Sir G.
Bentmck, Lord W. Hornby, E. Rowley, Sir W.
Byng, George Hume, J. Rumbold, C.
Bective, Earl of Hurst, R. Robertson, A.
Calcraft, J. Hutchinson, Hon. Scarlett, J.
Calcraft, J. H. C. H. Scott, James
Calvert, C. Howard, H. Sefton, Earl of
Carew, R. S. James, W. Smith, John
Carter, John ' Johnstone, W. A. Smith, George
Caulfield, lion. H. Knight, Robert Smith, W.
Cavendish, C. Kingsborough, Ld Stanley, Lord
Cavendish, H. Lamb, Hon. G. Stuart, Lord P. J.
Cavendish, Ld G. Lambton, J. G. Sykes, 1). 1
Chaloner, Robert Lcycester, Ralph Somerville, Sir M.
Clifton, Viscount Lushington, S. Talbot, R. W.
Coffin, Sir I. Leader, W. Taylor, M. A.
Coke, T. W. Moberly, J. Tierney, Rt. lin.G.
Colborne, N. It. Moberly, W. L. Wall, C. B.
Creevey, T. Macdonald, J. Warre, J. A.
Crompton, S. Mackintosh, Sir;,J. Webbe, E.
Cradock, S. Marjoribanks, S. Wharton, J.
Crespigny, Sir W. Martin, R. Whitbread, S. C.
Curwen, J. C. Martin, J. Whitbread, W. H.
Davies, T. 11. Maxwell, J. White, S.
Denison, W. J. Milton, Viscount White, Colonel
Denman, T. Monck, J. B. Wilkins, NV,
Duncennon, Visct. Moore, Peter - 'Williams, J.
Dundas, lion. T. Mahon, Hon. S. Wilson, Sir R.
Ebrington, N'isct. Newport, Rt. Hon. Winnington, Sir T.
Ellice, Ed. Sir J. Wood, Alderman
Ellis, Hon. G. A. Normanby, Vise. Wyvill, M.
Evans, William Nugent, Lord WrottesleY, Sir J.
Fergusson, Sir R. .