The Sun.
London, England, 1812-12-03 00:00:00

tutional principles to impose on your representa-
tive any obligation to -do so. 'Bat there is One
question of vast importance and intricate discus-
sion, respecting which I fed it incumbent. upon
me to say a few Iyords. I mean the question of
Catholic Emancipation. This is neither the time
. nor the place to enter itztv ti;at immense subject.
I shall confine myself to the part, the very ob-
scure part, which I:lee& with regard to it. To.
fhose persons who s6riitinised my conduct' on that
occasion, from motives perhaps not the most ho-
nourable or generous ; who saw, or professed to
see, in it a disposition to embarrass'the march of
•.pUblic affairs ; who converted that humble, con-
.seientious, unobtrusive' vote into a declaration of
. factious views, or the watchword of a party ;
who discovered in it an indilfeience to the Pro-
testant establishment and a carelessness with re-
gard totly Protestant religion,—to such meu, if
any such'there be, I owe no gratitude, and should
certainly not condescend to offer any e.xplanatioo:
But to those whose kindness to me 1 am, bound
to acknowledge, whose virtues respect, whose
good opinion-Vain solicitous to retain ; to those
whose zeal for the Constitution shrinks from 'any,
thing like innovation ; whose piety takes alarm
at the union of corrupt principles with our pure
faith,—to those who with such feelings find thein-:
selves obliged,. upon Principle, to' qnestion the
'propriety of my conduct, I would beg to say,
that I differ from them with deep regret, and that
the part which I adopted was taken- after much
consideration, And at much expense of private
feeling.' I would also beg to suggest to' them,
whether upon a deep and dispassionate considera-
tion of this peat question in all its bearings and
consequences, moral, religious, and political ;
whether upon taking into view the relative situa-
t ons of the two kingdoms ot Great Britain and
Ireland—the concessions Already granted to.the
CathOlics in Ireland—the condition of the Roman
Catholic hierarchy throughout Europe—the use
made of this question by evil-minded men—the
progress of circumstances and the change of pub-
lic.opinions—l beg to suggest whether upon tak-
ing these and other considerations into`their view,
they would not deem it advisable i=t least that
Parliament should, once for all, enter into the
. full and fair discussion of the subject 3 should in-
-quire whether the concessions' can or cannot be
granted with safety to time Protestant Constito-
tion and throne ; and should pronounee'a;defini-
tive sentence for ever. either in the affirmative or
negative. But
,while I place the issue of this in
quiry thus conditionally, I owe to you
_and to
myself to confess th.t• nothing that have heard,
or read, or seen, since I was first called to, vote
on this subject, has shaken the opinion, upon
which 1 then Wed. I believe that the conces-
sions, as they are called, arc tint only expedient,
hut, under the circumstances ,of the empire, im-;
periously required. I believe, that under the .pro-
visions Of a wise legislature, and with those guards
with which every true Protestant would wish to'
protect the Constitution, they may be granted
safely. I do, however, promise to enter upon
the investigation to which the House of Com-
mons stands committed with perfect fairness and
iMpartiality -and it it, should appear to me that
the remotest danger can result to oily Protestant
establishment from admitting these -claims, I de-
clare that no dread of the charge of inconsisteti-•
no regard to my previous opinion, or even
to my previous conduct, shall deter me from
adopting and avowing a cdsitrary sentiment
to that which 1 now process. In the mean
time it is consoling to me to reuect, that, though
I am unfortunate enoogh, to differ otn this point
from some Whom respect,, 1 have the •hap-
piness of being supported in my opinlito by the
judgment of many great and good men, both
living and acad. It is further consoling to
me to reflect, that the' same House of Com-
mons which opened thelast session by pronounc-
ing a negative against all-inoniry on this subject,
closed that session by pledging themselves to en-
ter into the investigation of it, expressly with a
view to ascertain if the Catholic claims may not
safely be conceded. This change of opinion is
among the circumstances which 'rendered the last
session one of the most remarkable in our parlia-
mentaryannals. This was•not the only eiremn-
stancethat distinguished the last session.' During
the course of it, the Prince arrived at the Imre-
stricter! posseSsion of his authOrity.. Iff.the exer-
cise of his undoubted prerogative in the choice of
his Ministers, he pursued a line of conduct which,
though grating to some individuals, was accepta-
ble tor the nation at large, and drew upon his
Royal Highness the applauses and ' confidence of
his subjects.

At a later period :the same session.; in a still
..
more remarkable manner,. ascertained the same
important principle Of the constitution, the prero-
zs. iee of the Crown is; the ,choice of an admini-
stration. horn the tumults of jarring. interests,
and the virulence of political animosities, his
Royal Highness appealed to the
,House of Coin-
, moms. The typeal was answered by the House of
Commons, 1 think 1, may add, it has been an-.
swered by the people. Willingly, Gentlenwn,
would i noa close the series of events MO) wade
made the last session somemorable; but more yet
remains. That Session was stained with innocent
blood,—ltlackcned by a crime rarely known in
our, annals. The first Officer of the' Crown, en-
gaged in the mast sacred functions of his ministe-
rial capacity, that of meeting the representatives
of the people, fell, in the very sanctuary of Parli-
ament, by the hand of an assassin. ,You joined in
the'cry of horror which burst from all quarters
of the kingdom. You laid. your dutiful, sympa-
thies at the foot of the throne. And never•surely
were sympathies • more truly excited ; nevet were
tears more just.. Equally to be admired as a mas-
-ter and a man, while the purity of his principles,
his blameless and exemplary life, the, warmth of
his afrectious, the gentleness of his licart, the ar-
dour of his charity, peculiarly fitted him for the
sheltered scenes of domestic happiness ; the digni-
ty of his intellect, the keenness of his penetration,
the justness of his views, hits loyaltyto the
con-
s`itution, his ardent patriotism, his unimpeacha-
ble virtue, his matchless intrepidity in the cause
of duty, pointed him out for that lofty sphere .to
which, he was elevated. Who can forget. with