The Sun.
London, England, 1829-03-05 00:00:00

posure—to the desertion of even that dependent
portion of society which may still have been forced
to endure such creatures—to the horror of being
openly loathed and cast out—no criminals can be
quite insensible.—Times.
Independently of the merits of the question which
now agitates this empire, the mode which the Duke
of Wellington has adopted of bringing it to what he
calls a " settlement" is certainly most objectionable.
That the Minister should not only conceal his senti•
ments up to the very eve of carrying them into exe-
cution, but write a letter to the titular Primate of
Ireland, expressing his conviction of the unreason-
ableness of the present time for attempting a " sut-
dement" such as he had then determined in his
own mind on proposing, was like any thing rather
than the direct and straightforward mode of pro-
ceeding for which his Grace bad heretofore obtain-
ed credit with the British public. The nation had
a right to expect candour on the part of its
Statesmen, relative to a question of such mo-
mentous interest. To attempt to take the coun-
try by surprise was as impolitic as it was die-
ingenuous. A people of generous habits, but
stubborn resolutions, like the English, naturally re-
volt against circumventing policy or despotic dic-
tation. When the Duke of Wellington had re-
solved upon making the Catholic Question, for the
first time since the dethronement of James 11., a
Government measure, he -could not too soon have
informed the nation of such an intention, and invited
their cool and dispassionate consideration of the
subject for some future time ; for instance, he might
have given notice, in the beginning of the present
Session, that his Majesty's Government had come
to the determination of proposing a Bill relative to
the Roman Catholic disabilities in the ensuing Ses-
sion, and that they did not wish to take the people
of England by surprise, but, on the contrary, that
they were desirous they should take the subject into
their most deliberate consideration, being convinced
that the more the people examined the subject the'
more they would be satisfied that the proposed mea-
sure could be carried into effect without endangering
the security of their constitutional rights. This
sort of proceeding, on the part of Ministers, would
have been not only the more honest, but the more
qolitic course. If it be possible at all to settle the
' puestion upon any permanent basis, this would have
smoothed the way to such an adjustment. By a
mode of proceeeiog so frank arid conciliating, the
pride of Englishmen would net have been wounded.
The passions of the people would not have been
roused, whatever advantages the advocates of con-
cession could expect from the calm exercise of rea-
son would have been obtained—and whatever adjust-
ment could have been agreed upon would have been
of the most satisfactory and permanent nature.
But what is the character of the proceeding which
the Duke and his colleagues have adopted ? It is
one which treats the people of England as the ene-
mies, not as the friends and supporters, of the Go-
vernment. It is very well for a General to take his
enemies by surprise; but to adopt the same tactics
. towards his friends is not quite so proper. There is
no question on which the people of England feel so
. deeply as that which they consider involves the se-
. curity of their Protestant institutions; and, whether
their opinions on this subject be right or wrong, it
was rather too much even of the Duke of Welling-
ten to expect that they would surrender those
opinions at the "word of command," and "wheel
to the right about," not because they were convin-
ced, but because they were ordered.—Morning
, Herald.