The Sun.
London, England, 1829-02-11 00:00:00

CATHOLIC ASS()CIATION.

Mr. Secretary PEEL then rase and addressed the House
as follows I shall preface the appeal which I am
aboat a m.tke to the House, by reading that part of his
Speoch which refers to the p irtirul ir 'subject
which I 'on about to present to your i,lice—(Here the
Right Hon. Gentleman read Our following part of h's Ma-
jesty's 'z, eech):—

_
" T' -• state of treland has been ate object of his Majes-
ty's co-t•inttett solicitude.
" Hi- Majesty laments that, in that part of the United
Kingdo ti, an Association should still exist, which is dan-
germs the /oe, peace, and inconsistent with the spirit
of the t loustitutinn, which keep,' alive discord and
among-•. his 11,ajesty's subjects, anti which must, if per-
mitted :as continue, effectually obstruct every effort perma-
nently •:o imocove the condition of irelind.
.• Nl,,,jesry confidently relics on the wisdom and on

the sur)ort of Parliament, and his 3liaesty feels a—
sured !sat comammit to h m such po,rers as may
enable tis Majesty to mnai,mtadv his just ..mithority.
g. nisll.•jestyr,.e.fintwommis. that wham this es,ent,mal ob—
ject 4111 have been accomplished, von shotil‘i take into
your &liberate consideration the whole condition of Ire
land; Ind that yea should review the L•ovs which impose
Civil 1 isaliilities on his Majesty's Roman Catholic subjects.
"Vat will consider whether the remora' of these
disaltirtios can be effected consistently with the full and
perma-ent saYurity of our EstAlishments in Church and
State, with the maintenance of the Reformed Religion
established by Law, and of the rights and privileges of the
Bishop; and of the Clergy of this Realm, and of the
ChnrCies committed to their charge.
" 7- mere are institotions which must ever be held sacred
in this Pr,t,sstant Kingdom, and which it is the duzy and
th, determination of his Majesty to preserve inviolate.
" His Majesty most earnestly recommends to you to
enter upon the consideration of a subject of such para-
moont importance, deeply interesting to the ;Jett feelings
of his -u,:ople, and involving time tranquillity and concord of
the United Kingdom, with the temper and the moderation
which will beat ensnre the tinceessfnl issue of your deli-
berations."

It is now rink duty, Sir, to jn,tify the allegations con-
tained in that Speech, and to drinonstrate that if the
peace of Ireland is to he maintained, it will heroine ne-
cessary to increase the power of the execiiiire.—
(Cheers.)—l coinmenced this morning to _ revise my

view of the acts and prereeding; of the Ro-
man Catholic Association ; and I began my ta.k with
the impression that it might be necessary for me to refer
to them, in order toillnstrate this position, but on subse-

quent reflection I foind that I might be spared
t•he task, for those acts and proceedings are so fresh

in the recollection of the House that it will not
he necessary for me to refer to any acts of violence.
Whatever may be the opinion of Hon. Nurnberg in this
Hones, as to the remote causes which gate rise to the
Assaciatinta, who think that while those disabilities coo-
tinue, the Association ought not to be put flown—( Hear,
hear, hear,)—or of those who think that the mere
exercise of summary authority would ha sufficient to con-
trol aside an association,—which ever class may be right,
or whether the truth lies between both, I will not discti,s ;
but thole must be an unanimous opinion, that such an as-
soitiation is incnntistentwith the exercise of regular authority.
I ask only for tine admission, which I ronceive is already
canceled by the cheers from the opposite side of the
House ; that the existence of such an association is
not consistent with the exercise of regular authority.
Sir, can it he doubted that the Romar• a:athelie Asiocia-
tion is ►n its proceedings inconsistent atit:i the spirit of
the Constitution ? Can it be denied that it is inconsistent
with the ►maintenance of tranquillity or public safety, that
the physical strength of Ireland should be organised by a
regular correspondence in meetings of bodies of men through-
out the kingdom ? Whatever may be the ditierence of opinion
upon this question, 1 am confident thin House will attend
to the appeal by his Majesty to it, and will enable him to
maintain his just power th►•onghnnt the empire; that it
will enable him to maintain his declaration, that the Ca-
tholic Association must be prohibited, and that any future
meetings of it mast be ecnaidered an offence against the
laws of the country.—(Great applause.)—Sir, I hope
that clime- who now look forward to the approaching
settlement of the Catholic Qneatien will feel with me that
this Association during its continuance nine in iteelf op-
pose an inanperable barrier to the approach of that desirable
period.—( Hear, hear.)--While the passions are excited to
the extent to which they are and have been in Ireland, it
w►ll be utterly impossible to conciliate in the manner that
mast he done to afraid the security to the eonntry that all
must desire. I appeal, therefore, to this House to Aar
that the time is now come when those Atianciations must
be put and end to._-(Hear. )--I appeal to those who think
with me, that the time is now come when conces-
sion ainst be made to the Roman Catholics, whe-
ther thy must not immediately come to the conclusion
that it is for the advantage of the country, and for the pub-
lic security and peace, that these associations shonid hence-
forth aaaea.—(Hear, hear, hear.)—Sir, I think it will be
necessary, as a vinduation of the measure I mean to pro-
pose, that I should make some iiheervations with respect
to the present state of society in Ireland, as constituting a
demand far that security which, the Bill 1 shall have the
henorrr rf proposing is calculated to give.—( Hear, bear. )--
I niter into that inquiry, with respect to society in
Ireland. with another view, and not a little important to
me personally, namely, for the purpose of attempting to
convince those Hon. Friends with whom I hays uniformly
concurred as to the danger- of all concession, that I have
not altered my opinion without reason, or without due con-

specting the present state of society to the House, with a
view to the object now before it ; but I shall entreat those
Hon. Friends to whom I have alluded calmly and delibe-
rately to consider, not merely whether it is or is not eat-
pedient to add to the poivers Which the GoVernMent at
present possess, but whither it It possible to go on, in the
present state of thing's In the eaiiie manner we have hi-
therto crone? I shall call upon them calmly and dispas-
shit! itely to consider what is the prospect before us,
if the Government continues as it has hitherto been.,
!nerdy passive, while the Houses of Loteh and of Com-
mons have been every yeetasttpota This great question, com-
ing to different road opposite conclusions.—(Hear.)—l
slealt eali upon them to consider these details, and then
say, whatever may come to pass, whether we can continue
to go on dividing npon this question—we, on the one side).
just strong enough to prevent all eoneeasion--the other
side just strong eneogh to resist tnCeesafe!ly all attempts at
the imposition of Parther restraint or rontroul.
I say, in one year with a majority of six against the claims
of the Catholics—dividing on the following year with a
majority of four in their favour—l take any Hon. Member
to consider the details I am about to lay before the House,
and then say whether the course which has for more than
sixteen years been pursued on this qtiestion, and which
has during that time been taken and justift-d by all public
men of all parties, I should ask them whether that course
can be any longer pursued with even a chance of maintaining
the ptiblie tranquillity.—(Hear.) —I say we cannot go on
any longer. One side or the other must give way.—( Hear.)
—Some one must make sacrifices.—(Loutl cries of hear,)
hear.) We may go on in the course we have been pur-
suing—we may maintain exactly our position towards those
respecting whose privileges we have been discussing, but I
never spoke with a more firm conviction than now, that if
we do so we shall not consult the security of the country;
above all we shall not maintain the security of Protestant
subjects. (Loud cheers.)—lt is because I feel that,—it is
because looking back to the past, and forward to the future,
I am perfectly satisfied that if the par ties upon this
euhject remain so taptally balanced, a gigantic pourer
will arias out of those parties that will be superior
to both —(1-lear.)—I de not abandon my opinions—but
change my course, for the purpose of getting all classes to
re-unite. I say again, that confidence in the public mind
a suacessful stability in the Legislatnias will ultimately be
gained to ourselves by concessions to the Roman Ca-
thelies. We cannot deny the stubborn fact, that in car-
rying en the Government of the country it has been found
' impossible to exclude those who are declared friends of the
Catholic-3. It cannot be forgotten, that notwithstanding
the strenuous opposition of his late Majesty, when the
pressure of public affairs rendered it necessary, men were,
in the year 1804, called to the Councils of the Sovereign,
and placed at the head of affairs, whose opinions were
known arol openly avowed to be at variance with those of the
Sovereign and their eolleagoes. In all the times of danger
and of diflellty which have pressed upon the country for
the last 25 years, it repeatedly became necessary to
call in the aid of those who were friends of the Catholics.
Mr. Pitt and Lord Melville, and Lord Castlereagh and
Mr. Canning, had all been called to the conduct of public
affairs, although their opinions were known to be favour-
able to the Catholic Claims. I say, therefore, the very
circumstance that, during the whole of that period, men
were called to held high and important situations in the
Government, although their opinions were known upon
this subject, proves beyond question that we cannot hope to
form any Government pledged to eternal hostility against
the Catholics, if that hostility was practicable; and that I
am convinced no Government of that kind could be formed
which would command the confidence of the people. If this
be so, they. let me entreat my Noble Friends to listen to
some details of the state of Ireland, and between this and the
time when the subject shall coma on again for discussion,
maturely to consider whether the country shall be con-
tinued to be governed by divided councils, ur whether
somtohing shoold not be done to terminate this eternal
conflict between the two parties. (Great cheers.) Sir,
know the general unwillingness of the House to hear sub-
'teem. of this kind, but I believe the paramount importance
of the subject will prevail over every uzher feeling. The
House will see in the statements I am about to nia:ze why
I am inclined to think there is more advantage in attempt-
ing a safe and honourable adjustment of the Roman Ca-
tholic. Question than in remaining just as we are
awl have always been upon that subject. I have
extracted from the 'painful details of correspondence which
has pressed upon the executive officers of the Government,
within the hart six noniti.s, to a umoll greater degree than
it ever did before, some specimens which are not un-

fairly seleored, and which will not alarm the pride of
one, but will su wait to my Hon. Friend as lover of
justice, and men interested in promoting peace and coui-
f,,rt aiming mankind, that a most input tans period has now
arrived. 1 shall present three extract', tirst as to the
next, as to the state of Ireland ; and.
thirdly, as to those whose interests we are bound to
prowess, 1 mean the intarest of individual Protee-
i-,tots.—(Grc,:t cheers )—lt was at the cloSe of last
Sessioti I curie to the conclusion, that it was become ab-
solutely necessary to institute an investigation into the
whole state of Ireland, with a view to some adjustment of
the differences which prevailed among its population ; but
I confess, that at the time I formei that resolution, I did
not foirn any expectation of having my oiiinione of the
propriety of concession so confirmed, as they have been
by the documents before me.—( Hear, hear.)—l am nut
going to say any thing which ought to create alarm. 1
am not going to say that if the Government hail thought
fit to contrail or to coerce, it could not have done so,
and mild not continue to do so. I ant net going to
use any a-gurnents with reference to a state of war,
or to use any language which may in the slightest degree
be construed into intimidation. It is bkause we are at
peace—it is bee. ,-.se we are at peace that I say we ought
not to hoe the opportnuity of setting this question at rest.
—lt is because we have n,,t for the last 300 years ken in
such a state of tranquillity. It is because for 300 years
our relations of amity have not been knit so closely with
all the Powers of the world as they are at this moment.—
(Hear, hear.) It is because the Protestant spirit of Ire-
land has sheen a determination to resist and to stcrifice
every thing in a struggle rather than their honour.—
(Hear, hear.) It is because we are happily in such a
situation as to be able to take any course which to us
appear fittest and best, that I ask you now to give the
subject the most mature consideration, and entreat and
implore yon not to throw away the opportunity thus
happily afforded you.—(Hear, hear.) In the course of
September last whole hands of peasants, amounting to many
thousands assembled in many parts of Ireland for purposes
h irdly defined, but endangering the public peace, and which
no man could view withoeit the utmost apprehension.—
I select the letters I am now about to submit to the
House from no persons who have any local connection
or any interest or earthly object to induce them to mis-state
the facts. The first letter I have is from Tipperary, dated
the 17th of September :
" Sir,—l have the honour to inform you, that on Sun-
day, the 14th inst., there were three parades or assem-
blages of the peasantry, dressed and arrayed precisely as
described in my former reports heretell, viz.—at Temple-
more, 17 miles hence, between 3,000 and 4,000 cavalry
and infantry, having drums, fifes, and barmen., and attended
by about 10,000 people, the majority carrying green
branches; at Killenaule, ten miles hence, 1,500 cavalry
and infantry, accompanied by about 6,000 attendants, with
green boughs ; and at Caber shoot the same number. No
disturbances occurred at any of those meetings; they have
been generally addressed by some influential person of their
own class, who, after alluding in violent language to their
political disabilities, and desiring them to continue united
for the attainment of their object, then recommended them
to relinquish old feuds, obey the laws, and thus render the
interference of the policendnecessary. Although the usual
appearance of those assemblages is ridiculous, yet they can-
not be deemed contemptible, because they are in direct
opposition.th the admonitions of the priests, or interference
of respectable farmers of their persuasion, who now find
they cannot restrain or prohibit this display of force
mustered by parishes, and encouraging among them the
worst of characters.

" William Gregory, Esq., &C. &c."
This was not, indeed, a violation of the law, but it was
found necessary to check and contront such proceedings.
Iteentirse was not bad to the demonstration of a superior
force, tint a proclamation was issued against each meet-
ings ; and if that proclamation bad not been obeyed, he
had no hesitation in saying that it would have been ne-
cessary, however painful the alternative, to have bad re-
conrse to force. It would be asked, whether tho,e as-
seinblages alarmed. and intimidated the Government?
To that he would answer, that they did not ; because
they provoked an immediate demonstration on the part
of the Protestants ; and the apprehension was, not that
the Government would be stormed,—not that the Go-
vernment was in danger, hnt that vengeaure would be
carried to a great height between two parties natives of
the sante country, and differing only in respect to their
religion. Government wished to prevent such meetings,
either of Catholics or Protestants, and a proclamation,
which must he known to every one, was published.
Another gentleman, Major-General Thornton, addressed
the following letter to Government :
" Armagh, Sept. 30, 1828, half-past four o'clock p.m.
" My Lord,—With reference to my letter of yesterday,
I beg to acquaint your Lordship, for the information of
the Lieutenant-General commanding, that in the coulee

0.
certainty that had no ihtention of coming here this
day, and is consequence sent off a communication to that,
effect to every neighbouring town or -person supposed to
have any leading influence among the Protestants, to pre-
Bent their proposed assembly here to-day,, in that multi-
tudinous crowd which was expected; but, notwithstand-
ing all the precautions taken for that purpose, and the vast
numbers prev.nted front coming here, I am informed by
the Sovereign that about ,0,000 had marched in, which
they lid in separate divisions, according to the directions
from whence they came, with drums and fifes, some few
flags many with orange and other coloured ribands, and
a large prorrtion of them with fire-arms and other
weapons.
" The great body of them, however, have now left the
trikh on their return home, and do duul!t is entertained
that the day will pass over without any serious outrage
being co rll3litted.
" The two companies of the bfith Regiment intended
for Newry, which were halted here this day, will ac-
cordingly proceed to their destination to-morrow.

" I hare, &c.

(Signed) " W. THORNTON, Major-General."
The consequence of these movements was a determination
on the part of his Majesty's Government to suppress all
such demonstrations, if it became necessary, by force; and
It- had no doubt that by force the Government could easily
hwe effected that object. An Honourable Friend near
him said he was perfectly sure that such meetings might
hive been put down by force. But he (Mr. Peel) would
ask, if the application of force had been successful, " where
would we have been then?" (Hear, hear.) To be sure,
the Government could have vindicated its authority by
force—it Waa certain to succeed ; but who could think
on the consequences without shuddering ? Instead of this,
they issued a Prochmation, which ran thus :

" A PROCLAMATION

" BY THE LORD LIEUTENANT-GENERAL AND GENERAL

GOVERNOR. OF IRELAND.

" ANGLESEA.

" Where" in certain counties in this part of the United
Kingdom, meetings of large numbers of His Alajesty's
sulijects have been lately held, consisting of persons hetli
on foot and on horseback, coining together fi oin various
and distant parts and places, acting in concert and under
the command of leader., and assuming the appeal anee of
military array and discipline, or exhibiting other masks
anti symbols of illegal conrert and union, to the great
danger of the public peace, and to the well-fousided terror
and dread of His Majesty'a peaceable and well-disposed
sebjects.
" And whereas we have received information that in
other parts certain persons have been passing through the
country, provoking anti exciting the assemblage of large
bodies of people, for no purpose known to the law, to the
great terror of His Majesty's subjects, and the endangering
of the public peace and sefety.
And whereas the meeting and assembling together in
ouch numbers, and in such manner as afoialaitr, and thereby
occasioning such dread and terror, and endangering the
public peace, is a manifest offence and an open breach of
the law, and such unlawful assemblies ought therefore to be
suppressed and put clown.
" And whereas many well affected but unwary persons
may be seduced by divers specious pretences given out for
the ho'ding of bulb assemblies, and in ignorance of the law,
t i frequent the same.
" We, therefore, the Lord Lieutenant-General and
General-Governor of Ireland, being resolved to suppress
and put down sueli illegal meeting., and to prevent the re-
currence thereof, have thought tit to issue this Proclama-
tion, solemnly and strictly warning all his Majesty's liege
subjects from henceforth to discontinue the holding or at-
tending any such meetings or assemblies as aforesaid ; and
do charge and earnestly exhort them, to the utmost of their
power, to discountenance all meetings and assemblies of a
similar nature, and thereby to prevent the dangers aad mis-
chief euus,quent en the same ; and being determined And
resolved strictly to enforce the law, and the penalties
thereof, against persons offending in the premises, do charge
and commend all sheriffs, mayors, justices of the peace, and
all other magistrates, officer., and others whoiu it may con-
cern, to be aiding and assisting in the executiou of the law,
in preventing such meetings and assemblies from being held
and in the effectual dispersion and suppression of the same,
nil in the detection and prosecution of those who, alter
this notice, shall offend in the respects aforesaid.
" Given at his Majesty's Castle of Dublin this 30th day
of Septeieber, 1828.
". By his Excellency's command,
" F. L. GOWER."
Providentially, the advice they gave in that proclama-
tion was not neglected ; and let any one consider this
system which prevailed in so many different parts
of Ireland ; let him consider, that a mere spark might
kindle one of the must fearful confligrations—a con-
flagration to he quenched only in blood. And then let
that person tell him if he did not rejoice with bins that
the proclamation was obeyed, and that it Was not neer*,
sery to have recourse to weer. (Hear, hear.) Would any
one tell him that it was fear—that it was cowardice,—
that it was a discreditable feeling, from which this procla-
mation emanated ? lie trusted not ; he trusted that no
man could doubt, that the feeling which dictated this pro,
claination was the dread lest it should he necessary to have
reepuree to a power which must have been effectual. This
was the dread which his Majesty's Government entertained
when they viewed the present condition of Ireland ; and
though it had been called cowardice and fear, he looked
von it as illegitimate and honourable apprehension which
the boldest and the bravest might entertain and not blush
to avow.—(Cheers.)—He would read to the Honse the
terms which were used by a distinguished officer.—one of
the bravest among the brave,—a man who had distin-
guished himself by his skill and valour on so many occa-
sions that it would be doing him injustice to name any
specific instance. The gentleman to whom he alluded
was General Thornton, and these were the terms in which
that gentleman expressed himself :
" Armagh, Sept. 28, 1828.
"My Lord—lt is but fair in me to confess that I pure
p seta, used such language, with a view of better securing
the ardent 00-operation of that gentleman, to prevent, on
the pert of the Rumen Catholics, any breach of the peace
et blonaghan, knowing as I did how highly their feelings
had been excited on the 23d that., by their having been dis-
appointed in their intention of proceeding in procession
through the town of Ilallibay, and uncertain as I was of
the degree to which their irritation had been increased by
the casualties which unfortunately occurred to two of their
persuasion on the night of that day.
" It therthre appeared to ins to be my paramount duty
to use any and every means in my power to prevent a col.
lision between the two parties, from which a flame would
have inevitably arisen, and extended itself to a limit, be-
yond the possibility of conjecture ; as the Lieutenant-Ge-
neral is aware that there was no adequate military forte at
hand, which in such a ease could have been interposed, as
its total amount at the three poets of Armagh, Monaghan,
and Clones, including the gaol guards at the two first-
wientionKl places, only amounted to about 100 rank and
file. Nor was there another soldier to be obtained at Mo-
naghan beyond that number, nearer than frem a distsree
of 25 miles.

" I have the honour to be, &e.
" WM. THORNTON, Major-General."
General Thornton had ne apprehension of the military,
bat a legitimate fear lest a civil commotion should Brier,
in which even victory itself would be a most dreadful cala-
mity. Like an honourable man he strove to avid that
which every well-wis►oer of his country would have re-
gretted if it had happened. Thus mneh, then, for the
danger to which the tranquillity, the public peace of Ire-
land, was exposed. And now to tarn to the condition of
pirate society in that country. This, he confessed, was
the part of the subject that deceit most heavily on hie
mind. Dreadful as were civil commotions to those who
engaged in them, they could excite no fear in him, no
feeling in him hat that of commiseration for the unhappy
persons who suffered by them. But when he looked at the
state of society in Ireland, and at the eonditioa of the Pro-
testant inhabitants of that country, his mind was filled
with appreheneion. He would ask any man to follow him
is the statements he was about to rend, and tell him if
such a condition of affairs could be allowed to remain.
The letter he was about to read was addressed to Lord L.
Gower :--

" Nov. 10, 1919.

" The eonstut travelling to which I am now subject
has prevented tea transmitting earlier, for information,
thu need report of ontrages, &e., during the preceding
month. The enclosed detail and snmniary of oceurrences
exhibit several instances of rattle houghed, three litunings,
*ix calm of 6rnis taken, six threatening notices, one dwell-
ing levelled, fourteen houses attacked, five persons assaulted
two of cattle stolen, one barony only in the county being
free from crime. 'fign cases of deeided resistance to the
ordinary process of t:ie law in civil matts-ra of property,
obliged the Sheriff to call out the military, in conjunction
with the police : the first stfiir at -, on the 80th ult.,
where I attended him with SO police and 60 regular in-
famy ; he also bria,7ht a military and police foree, accom-
panied by a magistrate ; authentic information having been
received of the determination of the peasantry to resist with
arms the Sheriff, who had been forced to relinquish a
flamer attempt to execute an Were on those lands ;
and, on the 6th instant, the Sheriff was called upon by
writ of assistance to protect, with military, &c., a Re-
ceiver Irons the Court of Chancery, who had been threat-

endeavouring to distrain for rent, &a., under a decreer of
Court, 40 military were brought to snpport the potlea on
this duty, aadin both these eases the Sheriff fully succee,ll-,
ed, from the awe produced by the forces employed. TCe:
animosity ?leiter! against those who hare joined 13rtuartvick
Clubs still prevails. Suspicion of belonging to such a
society is snfficient to produce insult to the higher, and
want of employment to the lower, orders. (Cries of
" Hear, bear.") Recommendations for exclusive dealing
are privately and publicly diss3esninated, and thus invidious
distinctions arc fomented between Protestants and Room
Catholics, _ _ _

" In the barony of , on the 22d ultimo, the
labourers emp!oyed by the - were compelled by a
body of 5(10 men to leave his potato digging ; the same
body dictated similar laws to the workmen engaged by
three different Protestant gentlemen in the same re-
mote part of the county, and some difficulty in proem--
ing potato diggers has been experienced by other Protest-
ants. But I trust the discretion of the priests (who have
published their disapprobation of such combinations, in the
address circulated by them in on the 26th ult.,
copy of which I have transmitted) will correct this mon-
strous evil.

" I um led to believe the division of parishes into hun-
dreds, with officers celled Pacificators' and' Regulators,'
is proceeding ; but I conceive the vigilance of many
magistrates is directed attentively to such proceedings and
the general excited state of the country.
(Signed) cc
Now, he would not ask, what force could be applied here—
what rigour of Von law would remedy such a state of
things? Was there not the clear indication of a diseased
mind throughout the as-i & of there oceurrenees?—(Cheero,
and cries of bear.)—lle knew not what legal remedy could
be effectual under Fnrh circumstances, or what hope could
be reasonably entertained if they were to remain in the
relevant position they had occupied for so many years
past. Again, as to the state of society, he begged the
attention of the House to the following letter :
" Clogher, Dec. 23, 1826.
_ _

" Sir-1 have the honour to Inclose you a copy of an
examination sworn before the magistrates at Angher petty
sesairnis on this day, which oar be corroborated by the tes-
t tony of probably $0 other• respectahle persons. .
I have to acquaint you, that party feeling has its-
crearsA considerably in the town anti vicinity of Angher,
in this district, and has arenuied such a formidable ap-
pearance as to cause a dread of the most alarming conse-
quence to the peaceable and well-disposed inhabitants of
that neighbonrhood.
" I am further to acquaint yon, that on the day men-
tioned in the examinations, there was a fair held in Augher,
on which occasion I assembled all the men of my district
for the purpose of keeping order in it, and succeeded in
doing so, and by the direction of the magistrates (pre-
viously received) I cleared every person out of the publics
houses, aril had them closed up by five o'clock, when all
was perfectly tranquil,' and I can almost say th it not an
individual, except the inhabitants of the town, remained
in it after that hour.

" I am to add, that the party which entered Augher, at
eight o'clock, about 500 men in number, came horn the
neighbonrhood of Through, in or on the mountainous
borders of the county of Monaghan, and were, I ender_
stand, all Roman Catholics; they cried out Through fur
ever ! Augher is our own.' The inhabitants then made
an effort from their houses to drive them ent of the town,
and I am inferrited wounded many of them, none of whom,
or their friends, have as yet come forward to make any
statement teepecting the matter. Intelligence of the at-
tack on Augher having reached seme of the Protestant
party in the neighbourhood, they, I am informed, went in
!towards morning for the purpose of supporting their friends
in the town, but as the party who entered early in the
night'had retire'., she matter ended.
(Signed)
Would any one say that they were not bold,—that they
were wanting in courage, because they sought to put an
end to occurrences like theie? Could they, as honest men,
help feeling a deep interest in these details? Could they,
as Ministers,. let them occur flay after day without any
-attempt to put a stop to them? Here they found parties
wounded, and yet neither they nor their friends came for-
ward and applied to the law for redress. Could any agitate
of things be worse? his Hon. Friende, who had expressed
their astonishment at his conduct, must, he thought, cease
to be smprised that he, who for the last four months had
been perpetually reading details of which these were at best
a very incomplete specimen, had become convinced that it
was better, because more humane and less dangerous, to
attempt an adjustment of the question which dividetrlre-
land, than, to leave matters in the wretched condition in
which they were. He again said, let those who told them
they were afraid, look at these details; let them consider
the soadition in which the Protestant residents are in that
country. They lived, not as we did, but in residences in
remo's places, and exposed to the greatest dangers. The
autlues of the attacks upon them he held in the greatest
ahherrence; bat was be to stop there? Was be to be
content to pity them, and leave them still unprotected?--
(Cheers, and cries of bear.)—The next letter he should
read bore the date of the 6th November :
" November 6, 1628.

" bare to report that last night threatening no-
tices were posted up on the house of and on other
places on the Townlands (which are situated within a
mile and a half of this pi,ct), desiring nos person to at-
tempt working for 4 tlie accursed -, as otherwise they
should be treated with the utmost severity.' The conse-
quence is, the gentleman, who is extensive in farming, is
left by all his workmen, who esy th.y regret it, but would
be afraid their honsee would be consiatned, or some other
harm happen to their families if they tvould, as they
arty, sgo against Captain Rock.' The only cameo I have
heard assigned for this exclusive system being acted upon
in this ease is, th:t some days ago -- attended a
Brunswick Club Meeting, and enrolled himself a mem-
ber thereof.

(Signed) "
(Loud cries of " hear, hear.") It would be unjust in hint
not to state that the gentleman referred to in this letter
would nut have attended this dub if it had not been for
the threats which had been conveyed to him, and for the
preceding provoestien he met with. He thought himself
bound to state this, lest the contents of the letter should
produce art effect which, from peculiar circumstances, it
ought not to produce. Thus a gentleman, in extensive
bnsiures, who had committed no legal offence, no act for
which he could be called in qnestion, was deserted by all
his workmen, upon whom an influence was exercised
which they were afraid to resist. He thought it necessary
that these fasts, which were material to a correct under-
standing of the subject, should he brought before the
House, and, he hoped, therefore, that no apology would be
thought necessary for his reading them. The following
letter was.addres.ed to Major Warburton :
.

" let Nov. 1828.

Sir,—l have had tho honour of receiving your letter,
covering one front Mr. —. I called on him yesterday,
and front the information I received, as well as front my
personal observation, I regret to say Mr. —'s statement
is too true.. Ile has a number of Roman Catholic tenants,
and altbongh they have no lease, and knowing he can dis-
possess them whenever he pleases, they all -have refused to
work for him. Ile told me if they persevered he was de-
termined to turn every one of them out, and to send for
Protestant tenants. I reasoned with him on this subject,
and told him I thought it wonld he a very imprudent pro-
ceeding at this time, when the minds of the people were in
such a stile of fermentation. Ile seemed to agree
.in opi-
niOn with me, and said, if he teas obliged to have reconrse
to such harsh measures, it would he with much reluctance;
but he saw no other alternative left. lie should either do
that, or leave the 'conntry."—(Lond cries of " llear.)"---
This was a remedy which had not unfrequently hest re-
commended, and which had been resorred to on many
occasions.

. .
• "In short, Sir, it would he almost impossible to give a
frill statement of the unfortunate situation of affairs in this
neighbourhood. Until some -measures are taken to ream-
ed,. thase party feeings which at prevent exist to such an
alarming. degree, I would most earnestly and respectfully
suggest the necessity of augmenting the police stations at
and , and —; that constant patrols
would be kept up both by day and night for some time,
until the violent party feeling shall subside, * * It
would be a Most fortunate eirentnatanme for both parties if
a reconciliation could' be effected, for so violent is the feel-
ing eXisting.at present, that a Piotestant could not go a
mile from Ilia own dwelling without running the risk of
-personirvirderee; of 4Veiltaps loss of life; awl on the otherband, if the Catholics were literally famishing, they would
not work a day for a Protestant. I have, &e.
(Signed) 6.
• Another letter ran thns:—

" November 1, 1128.

" My Lord—l have the honour to enclose a i eport from
Mr. , detailing the state of public feeling in the
neighbourhood of —. 1 shall write immediately to
him to try every possible means to reconcile the parties
I fear, however, it is hopeless ; and that the excitement
will rather increase as the winter advances ; the people
there very seldom have much agricultural labour during
the winter, and are so far independent of their employers,
and at liberty to show hostility.
With respect to Mr. ----'s suggestion to increase
the polire force, I really have not the power, without
stripping other statious, or withdrawing them altogetha

,and to send such, might only exptose other distlict.i'to
dignrbance, by with awing- men from them. I re-
quest the honour oT,hl:lAxcellency's instructions on this
poirakl
•- -(Signed) `

" The Lord L. F. Gruyere &e.eace.
After such descriptions, as thole that I hive read, end
after snch a detail of facts as, in a case of this importance,
I felt it to he my duty to etibinnt, it was manifest that the
only alternatives that were left, were either a reemuse to
harsh measures, which in many instances have been applied
as a remedy, but which, if unaccompanied by any effort
at the reconciliation of parties, would be ineffectunl in the
present instuice ; or to aim at that reconciliation which,
attended with repression of societies c ilculatrd to keep alive
excitement anti may, under all the circum-
stances, be most applicable to existing evils. With this
view the measure of this evening, intended to be the
foundation of legislative proceedings, in brought forward
in reference to these three objects—First, the state of
public tranquillity; secondly, the intercourse in society
between man and man ; and thirdly, the condition of
individual Protestants resident in that country. Unless
some steps be taken towards a change earl amelioration in
three three objects, and if the periodical recurrence of the
collisions and violent coneussioas of parties be not aver'c-i,
I will not say that I apprehend any immediate conse-
quences to the security of the British Government ; hut I
do say, that so diseased a state of variety in Irelaell must
be dieastrons to that country, and such as no Government
should suffer to continue without the application of come
remedy. I am aware that there are some who, admitting
the facts which I have stated, yet do not concur in opinion
with me, that they supply an argument for the adoption of
a conciliatory course of policy. They only see in those
statements grosinds for the repression of the Catholic As-
sociation, and the curtailment of the forty-shilling elective
franchise. But although there are those who approved of
such restrictive measures, and although it might be grati-
fying to individual consistency to abstain from the recom-
mendation of a couciliatoty icourse, yet, could I, as an
honest man, approve of the adoption of restrictive measures:,
convinced, as I was, that the adoption of them alone would
fail in the accomplishment of the objects we had in view,
and would he effectual only in embittering and exasperating
the very evils which it is our duty and onr desire to avert.
(Cheers.)—lligher motives than the consideration, I tttist,
of personal objects of any kind—the pee:amount sense of
the duty which a man owes his country—prompted me to
the adoption of that course which I now recommend
(cheers), and acting from a sense of what I deem to lie 4ne
to the condition of Protestant establishments and Protee-
hut interests, as well as for the other objects I have
stated, I submit to the House, that the details which I
have laid before it conmita a juetifieation of the mea-
sure which I propose for its adoption, and entitle
the executive Government to call for some effectual
powers to enable thent to grapple with the neecssitiss
with which they have to ematend. In havires recourse to
the measures which it is now the intention of Government
to propose, it is that hereafter they might not have oeca-
sion to call for nteasuree of greater severity—to arm the
Executive with any extraoidieary powersefar athe employ-
ment of military force which the House might be jealous
in conferring as well as Government unwilling to ask.—
(near, hear. )__The only task that now remains for me
to perforin is, to state the nature of the nteasnre which I
mean to propose for the suppression of the (7otholie Asso-
ciation.—(Hear, hear.)—ln bringing forward a provi-
sion now for the purpose of interdicting the proceedings
of this body, it will be manifestly necessary to guard
against the shifts and devices which were successfully re-
sorted to, to defeat a former enactment for its suppression.
I am aware, front the experience we have already had,
that to suppress snch an Association by an Act of Legisla-
tive authority is a proceeding of extreme difficulty ; and
in this opinion I am sure the House will concur, that no
attempt should at all he made to suppress it unless that
attempt be effectual.--(Hear, hear, hear.)—lt is better
by far to do nothing at all than to do that which is likely to
be evaded and peeve ineffectual. (Loud cries of hear. )—To
pass an Act which would run the least chancre of teeing
evaded, would only have the effect of increasing the evil
which we were desirous to remedy. In 1825, an enact-
ment was ;eased for the express purpose of prohibiting the
meetings of the Catholic Association. It so happened, how-
ever, that that enactment was so wide and so general in its
provisions as not to interfere with societies formed for the
purpose of promoting religious worship, and of advancing
education, agriculture, and other useful objects. It is per-
fectly notorious that the real objects of this enactment were
gradually defeated, and that the proceedings of the Associa-
tion were continued in prosecuting, asit was said, " all pur-
poses notylSrobibited by law," without infringing on the tech.
nical provisions of the law. On the present occasion it is not
intended to resort to a similar course ; for although the enact-
ment were made more binding than even the law of 1825,
means might be devised of introdneing all the usual topics
of discussion under some heed which might not be enume-
rated in the purposes prohibited by law. In any measure
which be passed, if the same course of legislation were
adopted, -.home objects of necessity might not be contem-
plated by the Legislature for prohibition. Thus the ap-
plication of an effectual remedy might be defeated. It has
been deemed advisable, therefore, to depart from the course
which precedent points out in this instance—a course more
effectual for interposing an insuperable bar to the eon-
tinuance of the evils which it is the object of the present
laW to correct. The measure now recommended to the
adoption of the ironer, proposes to place all assemblies for
political purposes in Ireland, tinder the eognixance of the
Lord Lieutenant. It leaves to his discretion the power of
sanctioning all assemblies, and the approving of the pur-
poses for which they are convened. it further entrusts to
his discretion, the power of suppressing ail Pitch assem-
blies, of which notice of meeting has been given, that he
may deem dangerous to the public safety, or inconsistent
with the due administration of the Government ; and that
two Magistrates, for the purpose of enforcing his antho-
rity, may be empowered by the Lord Lieutenant to dis-
perse any assembly which his Excellency may disapprove.
It is farther intended, by the proposed measure, to prohibit
the receipt of rent, money, or any sums under whatever
name it may be denominated, to be pleced at the disposal
of individuals without the sanction of the Lord Lieute-
nant. These tvere the heads of the proposed enactment,
and, as may be supposed, the penalties were moderate.—
As this was an Aet investing the Executive Government
with extraordinary powers, it muy be scarcely necessary
to add that the Act was not one of a permanent
nature. (Cheers.) It was intended that the period of its
duration should be limited ; satisfied that if it were neces-
Petry for the public safety that the measure should be con-
tinued, in the event of the measure which was expected to
follow the present enactment not producing the hoped for
tranquillity, the House, would have no hesitation in re-
newing it. (Loud cries of " hear, hear!") The last
Act for the suppression of the Association, was limited to
two years, and at the end of the third Session. I propose a
shorter period for the duration of the present Aet. (Hear,
hear !) I propose to limit it to one year, to the end of
the then next Session of Parliament. (Hear, bear.) I have
thus attempted to discharge the duty imposed upon me. In
the first place, I have attempted, in departing from ordinary
for ins, to submit a measure, temporary in its nature,
which, though it confers extraordinary powers, is called
for by an extraordinary necessity ; and secondly, in stating
the object% which demonstrate the necessity of this mete
mire, and the gronnds of its justification, I have ender',
voured to reconcile it with the objects of the act of legis-
lation by which it is to be followed, and to submit it to
hlSrenlapopdrees._-
Suppress-
ing House in such a manner as may not in any degree ob-
etrnet the success of that greater measure. He eon-
elg
litidpedi;oftgyerionooevi,
Angetfoocrialetitiovoestorerbr.ikng
eteimn a
liDesillin for
[The Right Hon. Gentleman sat down amjd loud cheeri
from both sides of the House.' •
Lord ALTHORPE had always been opposed to granting
great and extraordinary powers to any individual, or even
to any bodies of individuals. On the present occasion, it
was proposed to invest such powers in the Lord
thateredLienten hean
r ofopposedas
tot
and
proposition.general principles
The preface of the Right
Ireland, on
Hon. Genaleman, however, to this proposition wee with
him a reason for offering no opposition to the measure lie
had proposed. The Right Hon. Gentleman had spoken in
a tone of moderation likely to conciliate every party, and
he felt great satisfaction on that ground ; hut he felt mere
satisfaction in finding that the Right Hon. Gent. saw the ab-
solute necessity of another measure for the pacification of Ire-
land: For bin sown part, he had banked upon that measure so be
one of such immense importance, that it left all other poli-
tical questions far behind it. That opinion had been con-
firmed by the statement which the Right Him. Gentleman
had that night made,—confirmed to such a degree, that in
spite of his reluctance to such a proposition as that now
before the House, be felt it impossible to refuse his assent
to it, as it wait to lead to the other. This measure would
powers
respect
give extraordinary powers to the Government of Ireland,
but lie was glad that they wonld he given only to the Co-
vet n mint. —( Hear, hear. )—Flehwe-aws
ogaliaddbtehartestil)ioenesxibelreeitsoe
of those powers u-ere committed to a responsible per son,
and not to magistrates. Wittliwhattheevm. erWith
tbeLord
ord
to
that
tutennoaoisite
for
mightthe laretteinevexesotettiton of
the proposed measure, he thought its greatest merit" was,
that it was only to continue in :force for a short time, and
he thought, though what he was about ter say might. tip-
; pear paradoxical, if it were desirable that a Ineaeuie of

nfthe powers proposed to be granted by this measure mat
it the least unobjectionable, because it was impossible that a
any House of Commons, or any Parliament, could wish to
draw into a prevalent a measure granting powers of so etc:
traordinary a nature. Notwithstanding this, he gave ho
assent to the measure with reluctance.

tag

Mr. VILLIERS STUART, as a Member of the MEW
ei Ition, agreed to the enettenre proposed by the Right Ho
Secretary opposite—(Hear)---end the only consideration
which indnced bin to support that measure was, that it
was to be followed by one of conciliation. He begged the
House would believe him when he said, that in becoming
n member of that Association„'kehad one object sad but ore
object in view, and that was to endeavour vs effectually et
possible, by a union with the Catholic Body, to work oat
their release from those political disabilities nnder which
they had so leng and so unjustly labonred. He felt eon-
vinced from his Majesty's Speech at the opening of Par-
liament, that that object was obtained, and he hoped that
-Min;sters wid,' exert all their influence to procure the
repeal of those disabilities. Ile considered Catholic Eman-
cipation as already achieved, and therefore the House would
see that mit oceitpation as " Associators" was gone. fie
might perhaps be petunitted to regret that thin Association
was net allowed to (lie a nattirel dtetb, as it *mild have
done with the cessation of their pelitical
Without the repeal of those disabilities, any measure whlith,
the llonee might adopt in the plenitude of its wisdom and
ingenuity, weed very little avail. The power of the Cal:
tholie Association consisted in moral Poeinst
the mast ingenious Of Parliamentery,enaettnenia !lette )4°
better than waste paper. The Catholic Aescitiation owed
its life to the existence of abases, and its dissolution would
be conteinporaneons with it. He could have no adequate
motive to oppose the measure, hut he begged to be under-
stood as supporting it on the distinct pledge that Govern-
ment would use all its influence to effect the removal of the
disabilities affecting the Catholics. He was aware that the
present was not the most fitting opportunity to make anY
further remarks ; hot while on his legs ho could not refrain
from offering his acknowledgement and congratulation for
the wise, liberal, aid enlightened line of policy which 11
had pleased his Majesty to recommend Parliament to per'
ens. He expressed a hope that the details of the measure
might pore worthy of the grand principle involved in the
measure, and might be cramped as little as possible with
any unseemly clauses in the. shape of securities, being ootia
vinced that the best, and indeed the only Recruit), fur to
Protestants, was in placing our Catholic fellow-subjects on
precisely the name footing as oureelves. The Hoe. Gan"
tleinan concluded by observing, that he should not feel die-
posed to oppose any securities which might not trench on
the just label ties of the Catholics.

Mr. STANLEY begged it to be distinctly understood,
that neither he, nor any of the gentlemen on his side of
the Hone?, acceded to the measure, considered as a (tab-
stantive one, and standing by itself, bat because they con-
sidered it a preliminary step to relief. It was not eliegnesed,
that though the Bill intended to be brought in was for the
suppression of all dangerous associations in Ireland, dot
reify one was aimed at—the Catholic Assoriation. lie
eertainly did not mean to defend all the proceedings which
had taken plate in that Association, bat he never eoola
consent to stigmatise them with all those epithets which
had been employed against them in the speech from the
Throne, and in the answer to that addreee. It was Tell
true that the existence of such an institution was incon-
sistent with the spirit of the Constitution. It was incon-
sistent with the Constitution that there ehonid lei oppees-
Rion and exclusion, which gave loom for institutions of
this kind ; bat it was not inconsistent with the spirit of
the Constitution that those who were oppressed should ,
make their grievances known, and endeavour to strengthen
themselves by a anis), in order to employ effectually the
means they possessed, which were feeble when used by io-
dividual, but powerful in a collective empathy. It was
dangerous that such institutions should exise—it was dan-
gerous that the people should look to a power distinet from
the Government, and monopolising the affections of the
country. This was dangerous, and it was necessary that
Parliament should take into consideration the mode of
putting an end to suelt a system. Butire thought, by the
measure before the House, end by the line of eondeet
adopted by the Right Hon. Gentleman opposite, the
power, the danger, and the very existence of that Associa-
tion wire at an end. He had often felt it his painful date
to differ from the Right Hon. Gereeeinan
.upon mime
questions, and upon uone more decisively than upon this
vital question of affording relief to the Catholics; bat he
should feel ashamed if lie hesitated to come forward and
express his opinion that the Right Hon. Gent. bad -done
credit to himself ey adopting the line of conduct he had
done on the present occasion. (Cheers.) The Right Roo'
Gent. was placed by the force of eireumstaneee its' a veil
embarrassing situation. He had sacrificed his prejeeliete
to the good of his eountry,—he sacrificed the power,. ie"
fluence, and reputation which he enjoyed with a large
party in this country—he had sacrificed all this, and had
yet, in his (Mr. Stanley's) mind, preserved a consistent
line of conduct. He found himself placed between two
difficulties, ficen which it Ware impossible for him to *sari'
cite himself. He felt it necessary to abandon that owes
to which he still conscientiously adhered. He had no
option left but to take a choice of evils. He did choose,
and at a great sacrifice to himself, and proved himself to'
perior to that feeling of pride, which would dignify e
pertinacious adherence to an opinion once expressed, by
the name of consistency, and showed that he was not
afraid to be thought to have been bullied. (Hear.) He
might, if he had chosen to retire from office, received the
praise of his party, as the victim and martyr of Protes-
tantism. But by so doing, be would have done mach to
render difficult the settlement of teat question, which wee
necessary for the peace and happiness of the empire. He
would, perhaps, have committed the country, for the par"
pave of receiving that which was with some men- the
principal object—the praise for consisteney. He however
felt it his duty, for the sake of the peace and welfare of bb
country, to alter his eonduct at the risk of losing his OW
reefer. At such a moment as the present, it was impoe-
silee that any man on his (Mr. Stanley's) side of the House
could for a moment stop to inquire by whom the greet.
measure of granting civil liberty to the Catholics was se"
complisheil. Let us congratnlate ourselves that the cane
of truth, of justice, anti of liberality had at length re-
vail,cl ; and that little opposition was now made to the
settlement of this gre it question, except by a faction as in'
significant in its numbers, as it was little distinguished for
talent, who continued a persevering opposition to any eettle-
ment, in defiance of circumstances and of time; and Slbo,
claiming to themselves the exclusive praise of loyalty, in-
dulge in vituperation and seditious language (hear), and
who, in their printed °tons, published such declamation'
as put to the blnsh the minor effusions of the most petulant
of the advocates of Ireland. He considered the proposed
measure of coercion as intimately blended with the promised
one of conciliation; and nuleis he did so consider it, he
never would give his consent to it, as ',it would in hie
apineon, not be nugatory, but worse than 'nugatory—de;
stractive to the tranquillity of the empire. Yet he cool'
not go so far as to imagine that the effect of the re'
peal of the existing disabilities would be so instantenee
one as at once to remove all that distress and difileulty
which a long system of misgovernment had entailen
on. Ireland. It was in the power of nothing shell
of Ormaipotenee at once to call light out of darkness
and bring order out of chaos. It was in the power of the
Almighty alone to 'Wed his will at a word,—to say "
greatlet
tths greathcire ,alh,eiliig.
question,' light, and there was light," and to command the
winds and the sea to rest, and " immediately there was Is
calm." It
whichnnothrtsudpuproinsegd thenothaltong a psetteldemodeuthi/,
continued to convulse the whole of Ireland, which bad
been the canto of agitation and disturbance, interrupted all
the soeial Mafioso, broken down the polities' institittione:
poisoned the fountain of jestice at its very source, and
made the oonstitetion, as it were, a dead letter,—iteeetse
not be supposed that the settlement of this question, toe
the repeal of the existing disabilities, would pat an end et
once to much a state of things. It cannot he supposed that
men accustomed to consider the law not as a protection,
not as a wholesome restraint, but as a severe and arbie
trary curb, should at once fall into the habit of trancptilliti
and obedience, or look at the same law with the sane,
feeling he wan happy to say it was regarded in this part 4°
the empire. In the present state of Ireland, it wee no!
only expedient, hut absolutely peeeseery; ethet,thereallioela
be a strong government,—that there 'should he segoeetele
ment capable, when all the causes of injuitice onetell rest
grievances were removed, to make the people feel that there
was a power, strengthened by jestiee, able to maintain
the law. Ile did not hesitate to say, that ie as Recouipi7
flying measure with seceneiliation, Ministerscould not
have dens less than ask for the powers they had. If the
BwR
would have m
tnha
nent hofarscitpasetkiomedaonpfienposarrtperintmhfreainngegrarantnepot
as
constitution, but as a temporary deviation therefrom,
ing those powers necessary at the present moment, he age
sewed to it with the strict understanding that the measure
of conciliation would follow dose atou the heels of die
woes,* of coercion. (Cheere.)
Sir E. KNATCHBULL gave the Hutt. Gentleman who
of justice to those who were of different opinions' to
himself. lent his Hon. Friend had aeopted. another COUTO
si thatu:irte rtioskleiocnred.
Fitrfizdsi:.roeurlidtphaanyde fairness, and
oat the
heu melemewted
and had stigmatised his opponents by calling them for
tiun, gad bad accused them of lieiog guilty of ottfitioli4
grunting
f,
t 'toe.

'1 adi ni

aid." [ `,l a 201

-7E.... r 7.1
r racy ',tarn

AMWRY
renuy to amnit h.

concurrence thereto, but he was afraid his opinion was no,
founded on the same grounds as those adduced by the Right
' Km. Secretary or the Hon. Gentleman who had last
spoken. He did believe it to be essential to the safety of
the country and thehononr of the Crown, that the Catho-
lic Aesosiation should no longer be suffered to continue.
lint had not that Association long been an evil to Ireland,
and if the act of 1825 was not sufficient for the purpose
of putting it down, was it not the duty of Government to
aPply to Parliament before now for addition powers ?
Bat the Right Hon. Gentleman had said that within the
last six months new eircurrestanoes had arisen to make this
application necessary, and that he was further induced to
'couple this measure with an ulterior one. Ile saw no new
eirenmstances, and the Right Hon. Gentleman hail id orm,-
ed him of none, which would not have justified him in ap-
plying to Parliament at a notch sooner period for addi-
tional powers. With respect to the great question of Ca-
tholic Emaneipetion, he had heard nothing as yet to in-
duce him to change his opinions.e--(Hear.)---e-He thought
it was impomeible but that, in the course of last summer,
when the Right /lon. Gentleman was cheered throfighteo
England as the champion of the Proteetant caet-e, while We
knew that he was about to propttse this rireasure, it nets
impossible but that his tnittd tiltiSt hate felt reel paih. lie
knew it was the ditty of ail men, wh'eil `coliVineed '6f
error, to retract; but the Ri l,t 16, Gentleman statue,
that be still enteettliet thh !Ame opinion on the qneetien of
the Colhbile truism, though the circumstances of the coon-
i.VYr-eeve oomjselied hit t 9 adopt a different course with
iterteet to it. The Right lion. Gentleman anticipates,
with inrush confidence, the re-union of the Protestant mind
after the proposed measure was carried. lie (Sir Edward
Keatchbull) trusted and hoped that re-union would take
Arse ; but he regretted that it would not take place on the
'authority of that man on whom he had hitherto relied, and
Who, to his unspeakable distress, had change., the course
which he had before adopted. Ile could assure the House
that though the Right Ilan. Gentleman had altered his
' 'Opinion, he (Sir E. Knatelibtill) still retained his former
sentimente.—(Hear.)
Mr. PEEL rose to explain. The Hon. Baronet had
charged him with allowing himself to he sheered throngh.
out the country as the champion of the Protestant cause,
at A time when lie must have been conseions that he ine
Eended to propose the meaenre for Catholic relief to Par-
liament. He deelared to that Hon. Member, on his ho-
nose, that at the time to which he alluded, though he
(Mr. Peel) had made up his mind to the conree which be
should adopt, yet he had every reason to expect that he
isnuuld express his opinion in a private capacity unfettered
"Y office. But there was a eiretimstanee which left him
to alternative but to express that opinion in a public ea-
Pueily. The time was not yet come when he could folly
• explain that circumstance.
Mr. G. 1140 ORR rose to express his assent to the men-
tore which had that night been proposed by the Right
Hon. Seeretary. He had frequently advised the euppree-
. eien of the Catholie Association, and perhaps it would be
in the recollection of the Heuer, that very nearly twelve
taontles ago he had the honour of entering most fully into
the details of this vital subject, on presenting a petition,
praying for the very thing which Government had now
determined to de. The Catholie Association, he consi-
dered, by its proceedings and inflammatory harangues,
was dangerous to the public peace, and inconsistent with
the spirit of the Constitution. It bail gone farther than
any body of men, and had shaken the foundation of civil
liberty and social order, and be implored the advocates of
the Catholic Claims, by their remonstrative; and perena-
*ians, to accomplish, if possible, the extinction of that
k "dy. He scarcely felt it neeeesery to say, that in sup-
porting this measure, he did so for very different reasons
than those which influenced the Right Hononrable Mem-
ber who introduced this measure, the Noble Lord oppo-
eite, or the Hon. Member for Preston, who snpporte'l the
"'Amore because it was necessary to the success of an ulte-
rior measure. He gave the Right Hon. Gentleman the
fullest credit far every statement he had made respecting
the state of Ireland, but he would ask, from what source
had this state of things arisen ? If society was disown-
i?ed, how had lit been effected? It was the consequence
of the Catholic Aeeociation.—(Hear, hear, hear. )_lf the
• Public peace was endangered—if the social ties had been
dialoived throughout the country—who was it that had
had operated this mischief? The Catholic Aesociation.—
("af.)—lf a peaceful population had been converted into
4 military colonisation, to whom was the country indebted
for it bat to the Catholic Association? Was it possible
that any man who had attended to the proceedings of the
Association, should not feel oonvineed that every rebellious
te4a, are intended to intimidate the Government originated
- Lta it ?—(Hear.)—Why, then, was the Association suf-
'-'ered to proceed so far 9 In asking this question, he was
far from imputing blame to the Right Hon. Gentleman.—
' fHe sous willing to give him credit for the ;statement that
fonnd it impossible, with divided councils, to carry a
tttstire of imperious necessity through the Hoare. Bat
what sourer of serious reflection did this facto pen with re-
etet, tto the great measure soon about to be introduced.—
ruat a practical illustration did it not afford of one branch
°I the wells likely to attend on the measure called Catholic
emancipation. If the principle so frequently laid down'by
the Right Hon. Gentleman were rorrect—namely, that
the Catholic* introduced into hie Majeety's councils and the
"gislature would be always actuated by the desire of pro-
in.9tiog their own peceliar interest, in opposition to the
general interests of the country, what waive of division
411,0'1 disunion would emancipation be. Parliament was now
upon to purchase a measure of imperious necessity
"Y the surrender of Protestant rights. The Right Hon.
6entetafY had, last Session or the preceding one, presented
;petition against concession front the general body of the
r°testeate of Ireland—.persons of the highest rank and ta-
lent, and perfectly competent judge* of the state of the
r°aatr3
Right • That petition was numerously signed, but the
non. Gentleman might depend on it, that the sig-
,:tifea to the petitions which were about to be presented
drat
be still more nnmerone.—(Cheers.)—He trusted
mat tire present Bill would not operate eo as to depress the
nCharacteristic spirit of constitutional loyalty displayed by
• klejeet▪
y's Protestant subjects in Ireland. He needed
11°ts he was sure, to impress on the mind of the Right Hon.
~„_
rutlernau the necessity of guarding against the introdne-
-1"u into the Bill of any clauses, provisions, or language
tifl!jell could give offence or tend to discourage the constitu-
d-nwd loyalty on which dependence must be placed for the
Cence of Ireland in every point of view, military and po-
rde,L__,
t Hear, hear.)
th 'all' J. YORKE did not intend to follow the last speaker
urntigh his long, learned, and luminous speech. (A langh.
.e roust protest against an Hon. Member oe the other
.118, who had declared that all those who voted for the mea-
:',"fe et preaent before the House, were hound to support
e one which was expected to follow. He considered the
remit meager@ to be the brat act of the Apostles. (A
kt„gb,•) His principal object in rising, was to ask the Hon.
plumber of the Catholic Association, whom he saw in his
11 emee, (mttch laughter), whether he was present in that as-
-0;71 on the last occasion on which it met previously to
1,6 grtat agitator" making his apperwance in this country ?
Hon. and Learned Member who spoke last had attri-
Aced the most extraordinary influence to the Association.
„aording to him, the Association bad succeeded in making
1,%59 Poultry, and potatoen clamorous for the removal of
*abilities. (A laugh.) Never was there such an extra-
:rdinary
power ae this. Now, he wished to ask whether,
'll the occasion to which he alluded, the " great agitator"
p!ie would not mention names) did say, that unless
nnqua-
fied Ene,,,,,ipation were granted, the Association would
?Intim', to meet; and, furthermore, that when he came
into that House, which from an exceedingly long letter
'Which bed been published, it appeared he hoped to ammo-
Dlieh by getting rid.of Parliamentary law and relying on
"a *outman law, the first thing he would do would be to
propose the dissolution of the bated union ? He was not
41Pare that the Hon. Member of the Catholic Association
ever the way had employed any of his eloquence in soothing
me ardent temper of the " great agitator." On another
, Zteation it was reported that the " great agitator" said it
11" term him only six hours to get rid of the Bill, tjhe
"ociing of which occupied the Ministry six weeks in
BP6•
If his Right Hon. Friend did not take care how he
1711 ed hie new
Bill, perhaps this person might again slip
14 *telt oat of the collar, and set up another Catholic As-
• -Amnion.
'Or. V. STUART was not present in the Association on
4:4°ooaeion alluded to; but as the "great agitator" had
ted in town, he might perhaps satisfy the gallant mem-
-4°ll the points with respect to which he required in-
don.
thee • A'. 0 BRIEN said, that Government, by taking
16 lemur, of everaneipation into their ovin hands, had de-
t; !fed Ireland from it faction already revelling in the an-
eee',/41, tees triumph of a civil war. He spoke the language
it "fie Catholice of Ireland, when he declared that they felt
Coal for the been offered them.
te,°,ll MILTON did not feel himself called upon an-
AZ for what any person might have said in the Catholic
~,,7eiation, bat be would answer for himself, and say, that
ejelattathe present measure were followed by unqualified
sho netpation, he could not give his approbation to it. He
11.444 he could prove also to his gallant friend, that he
nbound to give his assent to the measure that wasex-
ett*l_ , to follow the one before the House, because he had
ch est that he considered the present Bill as only the
itn4rtr of the acts of Ministers. Now, if there was a
chaPter, these must, he apprehended, be a secund.. Pie