The Sun.
London, England, 1829-03-31 00:00:00

what was the balance of dangers against which they were
to provide under such circumstances. To make the in-
quiry satisfactory, they ought to adopt that course which
was recommended in his Majesty's speech, and upon which
he had solely given his assent to the Address of that
House in reply to it; they ought to examine into the
state of Ireland, and ascertain to what extent that power
had been executed by the Government, which gave
them the means of suppressing all illegal and dangerous
Associations, and all meetings which were - calculated to
inflame the public mind, and to disturb the public peace.
By that examination, they would have an opportunity of
satisfying the country of,the necessity of such a measure
as was now before the House, and whether proper reme-
dies had been adopted to subdue existing excitements and
remove existing evils.—(Hear, hear.)—All this ought to
be done before the House was called upon to assent to a
Bill so objectionable in principle and so defective in its de-
tails as that which was now about to he hurried through
the House.—(Hear )—He believed there was not an indi-
vidual in that House who would not admit that there was
an intense feeling of animosity in the people of this coun-
try against the Bill. It may be said that this animosity
was caused by the attempts made to excite them. Now he
wished that time may be allowed to allay this excitement.
If it he tree that all the intellect of the country was to be
found arrayed upon the side of those who advocated eman-
cipation, he asked that time may be allowed for this in-
tellect to produce an effect upon the great mass of the
people, so that they may be made acquainted with the de-
tails of this measure, and reconciled by argument, and by
reason, to the necessity of the changes which it content-
plates.—(Hear, hear.)
Mr. HYDE VILLIERS could not concur in the senti-
ments of the Hon. and Learned Gentleman (Mr. Moore),
and of the Noble Lord (Marquis of Chandos) who pre-
ceded him, as to the dangerous results that would ensue
from the measure now before the House. On the con-
trary, he congratulated the House that this all-important
measure had now arrived at the last stage of legislation in
that House.—(Hear, hear.)—He thought there was
ground of complaint against Hon. Members who opposed
the remedy proposed by his Majesty's Government for the
evils which were admitted on all sides to prevail. The,
rejected the remedy proposed to them, and yet abstained
from proposing a substitute for it.—(Hear, hear.)—
The way in which the question came before the
House this Session placed the Anti-Catholic party in a
new position. The question came recommended from the
Throne in a communication to the Legislature. To a re-
commendation so sanctioned and enforced, and in support
of an address unanimously carried in answer to that com-
munication, the House stood pledged either to accept the
measure brought forward pursuant to it, or at least, before
they refused it, they should devise some legislative measure
which they could pronounce to be a pref able one to that
conveyed in the Royal recomme edation.—(Hear,
hear. )—Some Hon. Members seemed to argue, that al-
though they assented to the Address, yet they did not as-
sent to this part of it. They contended that an in-
quiry into the state of Ireland should precede this
measure; yet it was manifest that their anxiety fur an in-
quiry into the state of Ireland was only urged for the pur-
pose of evading the question of concession with which it
wait to be accompanied.—(Hear, hear.)—That this was
the object of those who wished to escape from the pledge
which the House gave to the Throne in the Address, was
manifeat from from the little stress which those who op-
pew the measure laid upon the state of Ireland. The
late Attorney-General, in his speech, had disposed of the
subject of Ireland in a parenthesis.—( Loud cries of Hear,
hear. )—The Hon. Member for Dorsetshire had not at all
touched upon the subject of the state of Ireland. The
Hon. Member concluded his speech, which, from the low
fnne in which he occasionally spoke, was indistinctly hearth
in the gallery, by urging the inconsistency of those oppo-
nents of concession who urged the necessity of inquiry
into the state of Ireland, yet in their discusaiou of the ques-
tion dwelt little on the state of Ireland, and regarded it
its by no means forming a prominent and primary topic
in the consideration of the subject.
General GASCOYNE begged to offer a few remarks
to the House on the question. It was idle to talk of it as
a measure beneficial to Ireland generally. It was a mere
delusion to talk of it as one of real practical benefit to Ire-
land. What advantage could the people gain ? Would it
be said that by this Bill Roman Catholics would obtain
better Representatives in that Heuse by being permitted
to elect Roman Catholics? He was sure they could not
get better or more enlightened Representative; than the
Gentletnen now returned to that House. Indeed, his ob-
jection to the Members from that country was that they
eae _re tno national, and not sufficiently enlarged and com-
preuensive in their irglmisuii. aux ...ea: e,,,,
'poke Jut said that he believed this measure was regarded
with great satisfaction throughout the country. He (Ge-
neral Gascoyne) was of quite a contrary opinion.—(Hear,
hear.)—The Hon. and Gallant Officer proceeded to sup-
pose a case of contested election (and one evil of this Bill
would be in his opinion, to increase the number of con-
teeted elections in Ireland) in the city of Limerick ; anti
he anticipated that, iii that event, Mr. Sheil or Mr.
O'Gorman might be proposed in opposition to the Hon.
Member (Mr. S. Rice), who now represented that city.
The humble class of Catholic voters of that place would
press forwatd with natural anxiety to support the candidate
Of their own religious persuasion; but these poor Catholic
voters, on coming forward to give their voice in favour of
their favourite candidate, would find that by this Bill
their votes were taken away altogether.—(Much langhter.)
—He complained that the recommendation from the Throne
had not been properly followed, as the measure of con-
cession should he preceded by 4n inquiry into the
whole state of Ireland, which had rot taken place.
The worst feature of the whole proceefi'in' , was, the de-
struction which it had occasioned of all confidence in pub-
ic men. Did the Right Hon. Gentleman imagine he
would ever regain the confidence of the public ? Did he
he even suppose he would continue to have the support in
that House which was enabling him to carry the measure
through it so triumphantly? Before the end of the present
session, or he (General Gascoyne) was sure before the end
of another session, the Right Hon. Gentleman would find
himself in a very different situation. The support which
he at present derived from a quarter in which no real cor-
diality could be entertained for him, arose from a wish to
gain a particular object. Did the Right Hon. Gent. sup-
pose that no latent feeling of hostility existed in the breasts
of those who had so long been his political oppenente?
This measure being once accomplished, they would resume
their ancient opposition. No matt more admired the
Right Hon. Gentleman's qualities, or the excellence of his
heart, than he did. But his political conduct was a dif-
ferent thing ; and there would come a time when those
from whom he had separated would remember and visit
his delinquencies.—(Hear, and a laugh. )—Whatever diffe-
rences of opinion might exist in the House with respect to
the measure now under consideration, he trusted they
would unite to do that essential service to Ireland which
the introduction of the Poor Laws into that country would
occasion; fur he was convinced, that without some such
measure Ireland would never be tranquillized.
Mr. TOWNSHEND, while he admitted that the mea-
sure was not one to which he was very friendly, was
nevertheless dispossd to risk the minor rather than to incur
the greater danger.
Mr. PEARSE expressed his persuasion not only that
the great majority of the people of England were hostile to
the present naeaaure (an opinion, indeed, which they had
honestly stated). het that the great body of the influential
people of the country were opposed to it.
Mr. J. E. DENISON rejoiced in the triumph which
was about to he achieved in the cause of good sense and

and feeling : and at the happy prospect of seeing the dis-
sensions terminated by which Ireland bad been fur so
many years convulsed.
Mr. HART DAVIS vvonld have supported the 134
had he conceived it capable of producing good ; but view-
ing it as a measure fraught with unmixed evil, he felt it
his duty to oppose it.
The Hon. Mr. CUST felt himself compelled to say that
he had as yet heard nothing to induce him to forego his
repugnance to the measure.
Sir CHARLES BURRELL opposed the measure,
taking a retrospect of the religious history of the country,
from, we believe, the reign of Charles the First to the
present era.

Mr. WILLIAM BANKES confessed that it was with
very great regret, and even with feelings of pain, that he
aine forward to oppose, and, as far in him lay, to ob.
Atruct the measure recommended to the House by that
great man now at the head of the Governmel..t. He
_ .

him a great man, not with reference to his office,
.nor with reference to his power, but with respect to his
achievements ; and, if ever a man deserved the appella-

, .
tion of great, he, in common with every Englishman, and
in common with the whole civilized world, would apply
:t to the Duke, iu admiration of the unexampled pro-
gress of success which had marked his career. He

would yield to no man, either in this or in any
.ether country, in the admiration and gratitude with
which he was inspired, by the security and glory with
which that great man had surrounded his country. As a
private individual, ha (Mr. Bankes) had known that
illustrious person in his retirement. To a certain degree
he had been honoured with a small share of his kindness

and friend%hip, but here he had a great public duty to
-perform ; he was called upon by the country and by his
religion to give his uncompromising, unhesitating opposi-
-11911 to the Bill, He dissented from it on its principle,