The Sun.
London, England, 1819-05-04 00:00:00

U• MI
.11

the Protestant Ascendancy wonlil he endangered
by granting the prayer of the Catholics, he would
be the last man to support them, hut as he w4s
satisfied this would nor be the consequence of the
concessions they required, lie thought it but right,
as they shared the burdens of the country, that
hey should participate in all the blessings of its
Constitution.

Mr COURTBNAY thought it right to speak on this
occasion, as he held a Petition in his hand from
the saute place, signed by a great number of
the inhabitants, in favour of the Roman Catholic
Claims. In Exeter there certainly existed a va-
riety of opinions on this important subject ; but
it was desirable that every Gentleman should
bring to the discussion of this question his own
unprejudiced, unfettered judgment ; and he should
be glad if lie could look fot ward to the result of
the coming debate being favourable to the peti-
tioners.--Ordered to lie on the table.
Mr. BASTARD presented a Petition from the
Deanery of Christianity in the Diocese of Exeter,
against tire Catholic Claints.
General VALPOLR knew of no such Deanery
of Christianity. Did these Petitioners prefer a
claim to en exclusive Christianity, or were they
in their sober senses ?—The petition was laid Oa
the table.

HOUBLON presented a petition from the
Clergy of Colchester against the Catholic Claims.
Mr. WesTgaN said, he felt himself in the pain-
ful situation in which a Representative stood who
differed from a very considerable number of his
Constituents. The petition presented by his
Hon. Colleague had been placed in his hands
--he need not say that he was ready to present it,
and to bear his testimony to the respectability
of those who signed it. He, however, expressed
his difference of opinion from its prayer ; and
painful, as be bet ore said it was, to dissent from
the wishes of a great body of his Constituents, he
had still the consolation to feel, that, in that 'lO-
- l►e held the same principles as were held
by the most et►lit;htened Statesmen of tilt pre-
sent day, as well as by the most enlightened
Statesmen that ever adorned that House. In a
firm determination to support the Protestant Es-
tablishment he would yield to no man. At what was
called PG.pery, exemplified in its domination in the
1411 and 15th century, he never ceased to feel
disgnst ; but, in the present state of the world,
he never could bring himself to perpetuate the
sins of their fathers, by visiting them on their
children.

Petitions from seven parishes in the Counties
of Londonderry and Donnegal were presented by
Sir H. PARNELI,, praying fora Repeal of the Dii.
abilities affecting the Roman Catholics.—Ordtred
to lie on the table.

Mr. COOPER presented a petition from Sligo
against the Catholic Claims ; as did Mr. MuLtisu
from the Clergy of Middlesex.—Ordered to lie
on the table.

Mr. Lest.te presented a petition from 2,000
Protestants of the County of Monaghan acainst
any further concessions to the Catholics. Know-
ing the sense of the County which he had the
honour to represent, he had, on the presentation
of a petition of an opposite tendency by an Hon.
Member (Alr. Parnell), spoken with a degree of
warmth which he trusted the House would excuse.

Mr. PARNBLL said, that the petition alluded to
did not profess to speak the sense of the county.
They were respectable persons. and did not de-
serve any slur to be thrown upon them fur exer-
cising a constitutional privilege.
The petition was brought up, and was about to
be read, when
General WALPOLa said a few words ; after
which, the Speaker interfering, and observing. that
there was no prayer to the petition, it was with-
drawn by Mr. Leslie.
Air. CHICHRSTER preiented a petition frotn Bel-
fast in favour of the Catholic Claims.--Ordered
to lie on the table.

Mr. CARTWRIGHT presented a petition from the
Archdeacon and Clergy of Peterborough against
the Catholic
On the [notion that it be read,
Mr. WesTsitH maintained, that it was uncon-
stitutional for any set of men to combine for the
purpose of inflinowing the Legislature.

Mr. Paef., with great warily!), declared that it
was impossible for him to hear 'such an assertion
without entering his solemn protest against it.—
Was there any man in the House but the Honout-
able Gentleman hardy enough to support the doc-
trine, that it was unconstitutional on the part of
the clergy to some forward with their peti-
tions on sny subject before the Legislature ? '
In what books had the Honourable Gentleman
read such a doctrine ? Who, that advocated
the right of freedom of opinion and discussion,
would say that the Clergy were not entitled to
take their part in the present question ? Was it
nor sufficient that they were excluded trout sitting
in that House I Were they to be precluded trout
expressing in respectfhl terms their sentiments by
petition ? Such au assertion was peculiarly unfor-
tunate when made" on a night on which liberty
and toleration were to be so powerfully advo-
cated.' But he must do the Catholics the justice
to say, that they And their warmest friends never
expressed such opiniOns. On the contrary, their
wishes were directly the reverse. " The peti-
tioners came forward in their corporate capacity."
Such was the objection. They did. And what
was to prevent them from doing so) Whatever
might be the capacity they thought proper.to as•
sume, they had a pet feet and unquestionable right
to offer their respectful opinions to the House of
Commons.

Mr. METHUEL observed, thvr the Right Hon
Gentleman who had juin sat had tully ex.
prvesed bis aeui He lids the greatest