The Sun.
London, England, 1812-04-22 00:00:00

ORDER OF THE DAY.

The Order of the Day, 'Ton which their Lord-
ships were summoned, being read--
Tice Earl of DONOUGUMORE rose to bring forward
the motion of which he had given rept:ated notice
on the subjeCt. He said, the present was not among
those geestions respeding which arguments could
be brought forward that were never heard oA any
former occasion .; or that. new answers could be given
to objedions which were so often made, repeated,
and refuted. • These, however, he had no doubt,
would be repeated again that night. He had, in the
first instance to guard himself against any ohjeaion
which may be made as to the time in which this
question was brought forward, 'or upon the mire of
the present beieg a question which was tw.ce already
this Session decided upon by their Lordships. With
respea to the first, they would recollea it was close-
ly 'conneaed with the management of the petitions
in Ireland, as involving a degree of misconduct on
the part of that Government: In the second instance
a measure of great importance was most pre-emi-
nently referred to, and which went to the question
for the dismissal of Ministers. • The question upon
which they bad 'now to decide ryas that of the Ca-
tholic claims, and not one of unwire of the Miuis-
ters. Since the subjeet was last before their Lord-
ships some impottant changes in the Government
were made; and he must contend that Noble Lords
wbo voted with Ministers upon the former occasion
were not in the slightest degree pledged, upon the
present ; and he had a right to call for the concur-
rence of all those Lords, who had on any previous
Occa,sion voted for the Catholic claims, notwith-
standing their votes on the two preceding occasio,is
in the course of the •,,present Session. The Noble

,„
ne,raitri of LJONOUGHM'ORE proceeded, and again
eXpressed' his regret that sorme intimation of tilt:,
- opinions now entertained by 'his Royal Hghne,s
on the subject was nut given in a :!iieech.frem the
Thi one. The subject i I qeestion has beer' fora long
time under discussion ma general point of view. It
was the-present leading object of their endeavours
to obtain a full and regular discussion of its merits,
in all its views and bearings, in a -Committee of this
whole House, in whicn alone a satisfadory detailed
discussiOn of tire subject could take place. What he
bad said, therefore, was merely to bring the outline
of the stAject under their Lordship;' consideration,
and to satisfy them it was fit and roper for detailed
'discussion in a Committee.- The proposition, he re-
peated, had better in every point of view come from
Ministers. They had failed in their duty in that re•
sped, and. it was a part Wilk duty to temind, then
that they had so fadedin the performance of
For ten years the consideration of the catbete
claims had been refused on the ground of the con-
scientious scruples of the Sovereign Did any sick
impediment now-exist ? To whose scruples were
they indebted for the continuairce of that refu.al ;
The Prince Regent had on former occasions tes,-
pressed a strong and deCidesd opinicin on the Subject.'
He might say, that his-Royal Highness had on these
occasions pledged and commkte-.1 himself to the sup-:
port of the Catholic Claims. He laid a, right to,
mention what he kneweo have been his Royal
ness's feelings and- opinions before he became lie.
gent. He had as much right to mention What
. with congratulation as to mention what w.is
with regret. It it were denied—it no such con.;
scientious scruples existed in that quarter, h y
not bring forward the question in the usee.l
form ? His Royal Highness had in any case inacie
considerable sacrifices to his Ministers, but it !e*
had sacrificed to them the feeling on this subject
which he had formerly cherished, great' indeed had:
that sacrifice been, and ruinous, he feared, it
would prove to the country. The question, w hen
last before the-House, had been so fully aigueit on
the strong ground of constitutional right, that
he would nor go over that giound again. It was
against the principle of exclusion at large, that
Would now deliver his sentiments. The true principle
was, that all his Majesty's subjects were enti.led
equal fights. It 'lay therefore on those who oppobed
he claims of the Catholics, to shew why the Catholics
were not entitled to-those rights It lay en them-to
shew, why he who was allowed to command a 1, gt•
went, onght never to be allowed to coann.ind an
army. It icy on them to shew, whv he who wits
allowed to \fulfil the duties of a -Maeistrate at