The Sun.
London, England, 1825-05-13 00:00:00

tice, could oppose a measure which would put down an evil of
such magnitude.—( Hear !)
Mr. S. BOURNE said, that besides the strong ground—
that of purifying the elective franchise--there was another
very powerful argument in support of the Bill. It was ad-
mitted, that amongst:the evils which- oppressed Ireland, the
subdivision of land was one of the greateste'e. It was itnery—
sible directly to interfere with property, and. while a. motiye
existed for the subdivision of Iproperti, that stibdivision wont d
take place. Noe, when the motive 'which-Pled to that, sys-
tem was known, it was the duty of Parliament to remove it
and its accompanying evil together. Surely the increase of
leaseholders (at rack-rent,ein meat instances, he it remem-
bered) ought not to be continued, when it was clearly the
means of perpetuating a generally admitted evil.
Mr. W. BECHEIt spoke in favour of the Bill, be ause
he thought its tendency was to remedy existing evils in Ire-
land.
_ Mr. MONCK said, he was determined to vote against the
further progress of this Bill. He believed that its effect would
be to destroy the little independence which Irish freeholders at
present possessed.
Lord MILTON admitted that the Bill deprived certain
persons-of a right to vote, but he was so fully,convinced that
that right gave rise to great evils, that he should vote in fa-
vour of the Bill. He took this opportunity of asking the
Hon. Member for Staffordshire whether it was his intention
to proceed with this Bill, or to postpone it until the final
determination of another measure, on the success of which its
operations must-ultimately depend.
Mr. LITTLETON said, he was quite ready to comply with
whatever might be the wish of the House on the subject. Ile
would either wait the decision which might be come to in
the House of Lords, or he would proceed this evening, but
he was -particularly desirous to avoid doing any thing which
might seem to impute to him any breach of feith. lie was
wilfing that the wishes of the Members for Down and Ar-
magh, both of whom he saw in the House, should be complied
with relative to the postponement.
Colonel FORDE said he was indifferent whether the Elec-
tive Franchise Bill should be disposed of now, or postponed
to a future day; provided it were distinctly understood,.that
it the great measure of Catholic Emancipation should be car-
ried in another place, this Bill should be perservered in here,
and pressed forward as rapidly as was consistent with the forms
of the House. •
Mr. BROWNLOW rose to address the House, but was for
some time wholly inaudible, owing to the subdued tone in which
he spoke. He alluded, as was understood, to the opinion he
had formerly given on the subject of Catholic Claims, which
opinion he saw no reason to retract. Ile particularly recom-
mended the passing a measure of general conciliation, and he
looked upon the bill which had been alluded to as a component
part of that measure. The concession of the Roman Catho-
lic Claims, the increase of the qualification of electors, grad
the provision for the Roman Catholic Clergy were called
for by the present situation of Ireland. If any of these
measures were not to be carried, still he should not regret the
vote he had given. Ile was deeply anxious that the bill should
he carried, but to its present postponement he could have no
objection.
Mr. LITTLETON said, that it was.his intention, if the
Catholic Relief Bill should be carried in another place, to pro-
ceed with all possible alacrity to press on the Elective Franchise
Bill. On the centrary, if the former bill should be lust, he
would abandon the latter.
After a few words from Sir C. Cots and Lord MILTON,
Sir F. BURDETT rose for the purpose chiefly of expressing
his admiration of the sentiments and the conduct of the Hon.
Member for Armagh (Mr. Brownlow). Ile confessed that the
opinion &the lion. Member had considerable influence on his
mind. In looking at the great measure of Catholic Emancipa-
tion, he could not but perceive that as a measure of concilia-
tion, it must have a very considerable effect on the Protestants
of Ireland. To grant emancipation without conciliating the
Protestants, would be only making the difficulties which were
now felt and acknowledged, change sides. On the contrary, if
conciliation could be effected, it would consolidate the whole
power of the British empire. He was prepared to defend the
Elective Franchise Bill upon every principle. As a princi-
ple of general reform, if applied to the elective franchise of
England, it would tend to benefit the independence of Parlia-
ment and the liberty of the people. He felt himself, however,
bound, in conseepeetce of the support which had been given
by certain Hon. members, to support this measure, even if he
could not have found reasons so satisfactory. The provision
for the clergy he should also support, because he looked upon
it as connected with the question of religious liberty in the coun-
try generally; and he should therefore be prepared to make
very great :sacrifices for it. He thanked every lion. Member
for the support he had received from them on a bill which seem-
ed to him of paramount importance to the tranquillity and wel-
fare of the country.
The petition was then read.
Colonel TRENCH was alluding to something that had pass-
ed between the Honourable Members for Galway (Mr. Martin
and Mr. Daly), on a former evening, when he was called to
order by
The SPEAKER, who said, that in mere impartiality lie was
obliged to prevent the Hon. Member front following a course
which had already been decided to be irregular.
Colonel TRENCH was only desirous of expressing his re-
gret that by the loss of the present Bill, Ireland would be de-
prived of the benefit of a measure of great importance.—(Cries
of " No, no.-")
Mr. MARTIN thought that this Bill would be one of the
greatest visitations ever inflicted on Ireland, if it should pass
into a law. He had no doubt that it would produce a commo-