Star.
London, England, 1825-02-15 00:00:00

1,-..
•••• • •r .
Certainly; if convenience atone were suicient to jab*
such a neeasnre,we might have proposed* long ago. We
might have proposed it last year; but we did not think
that we were justified in proposing it tietilthe conduct
of the Society rendered it absolutely necessarj,. Last
year the Catholic Association had not assumed the fortis
it has since assumed. Mani of their most indefensible
acts had not taken place. That, for instance, on which
so mdcit has already been saiJ,that I feel almost ashamed
of again mentioning it—l mean &heir interference with
the administration of justice. The Hon. and Learned
Member for Nottingham seemed to think that he had
fully answered my Right Honourable Friend on 4
thal part' of the subject, by drawing a distinction
between persons prosecuted by such a Society as the
Constitutional As:cciation, and "such a Society as
the Catholic Association—that the former prosecuted
political Jibe's only, and that the latter did not interfere
with political questions. But the H•mourable and
Learned Gentleman entirely forgot that, in Ireland,
whatever question the Catholic Association took a part
in, it i•istairtly and necessarily became a political ques-
tion. Let it he an assault, let it be a rob!very, let it be
any . ther offence, political feeling immediately mingled
with it. .. The Catholics," say the Association, ‘e can-
not get justice without our interference and aid." 13y
that declaration, and by the acts which followed it, the
Catholic Association have constituted every case in
which they engage, a political question ; and thus have
they exposed themselVes to every one of those theore-
tical arguments which the Honourable and Learned
Member for Nottingham urged with such force per-
haps, against the Constitutional Association. Sir, I
perfectly concur with the Honourable and Learned
Gentleman that it is not desirable that, either here or :
anywhere else, there should exist an Association for the
purpose of instituting prosecutions by subscription—
(Hear, hear, hear). I was never a party to the Consti-
tutional Association, and I have, therefore, a greater
right to condemn the Association against which the
proposed measure is particularly directed. But the
Honour able and Learned Member for Knaresborough
says, that the prosecutions which have been carried on
by the Catholic Association have been of little import.
ance, and dwells much on the acquittals that have
taken place. But the Honourable and Learned Gen-
tleman forgets all the antecedent proceedings—(Hear).
He forgets that the Catholic Association assumed the
fact, that murder had been committed; he forgets that
they sent an agent to conduct the prosecution of the
man so prematurely declared guilty ; he forgets the
extreme unfairness of a trial under such circumstances,
circumstances entirely at variance with the sentiments
of that Address which the Honourable and Learned
Gentleman cr innsented on in terms of high Praise. Did
that Address stand as the sole act of the Catholic Asso-
ciation, it might justly deserve Iris eulogium ; but % hen
we fills' persons laying down principles of that kind at
one moment, and conducting themselves in direct op-
position to those principles at another. it is uifficult to
speak of such inconsistency in any other language- but
that of disappr4baonn. With regard to the expression
contained in that Address, of hatred to Orangemen, I
have reallybeen quite surprised to hear the attemos that
have been Made by Hon. Gentlemen to explaio it a way.
In the disputes between the Catholics and Orangemen,
whether recent or ancient, whether accide' tat -I other-
wise, why should poison thus be poured into ev -t y cup?
The meaning of the phrase was lin teeth intelli.
gible to the persons to whom it was addre.se 1 ; and to
say, that to hate Orangemen was merely to declare that
they were not partial to their oppressor,, is a warping
of the expression, which, I repeat, surpi ised me ex-
ceedingly. It is said that the Address, to which lam
now alluding, is peaceable in its character. But recol-
lect how recent it is. We all know what was the lan-
guage antecedently held by the Association. That
language was not very peaceable, nor were the acts by
which it was accompanied very peaceable. I do not
wish to remark harshly on the conduct .1' individual
members of the Association ; nor do 1 fir # moment con-
tend, . that the violence or absurdity of Mr. ('Connell,
or Mr. Dromgoold, or any other person. is any reason
why we should not.do what is just and i ight. That
violence or absurdity would never prevent me . from
voting for the Catholic Question, but *hen a e find
violence, not only in words but in acts, manifestid by a
body possessing so much po..er over the whole Cat!.o.
lic population ut It elud, 1 carnet help then at i ill, uting
great importance to the circumstance. I cannot avoid
seeing its inevitable danger; its tendency to excite
great animosities and tears on the part tit those Against
whom the feeling is shewn, and to ptoJuce cr-tintero
associations, the manifold evils of which 1 all. sure I
need not point out. But then, Sir, we are told—, Do
but pass the Catholic Question ; there's the remedy ;
you will hear no more of the Lathotic A,sociation?..„
In the first place, Sir, I do not believe tilat, to pass
the Catholic Question would produce general sad:.
faction in Ireland. Although I am a friend to that
question, I do not believe that its triumph would
create univprsal content. It would cm taioly iersicive
a grievance ; and, as far as that goes. wi uld do -
good ;., but we must never forget, that while we are
removing discontent in one part, by passing the Catho-
lic Question, we may be carrying fear, and, for aught I
know, discontent, into anodic:. part. By such a step,
the situation of the Protestants of Ireland would cer-
tainly be reversed. They are now possesed of the
ascendancy. That would be at an end. The very
circumstance of their inferiority in numbers would by
no means tranquillize their minds; and it they found
that the Catholics, not content with the acquisition of
political power, wished for religious, and were anxious
which it is uot impossible they might be) to over throw
the existing Church Establishment in Ireland., such a dis-
covery would naturally create just, uneasiness and alarm.
I really, therefore, do not know anything more likely
than chat, it the Catholic Question were carried, that
system of Associations, which seems so coi gem*, to the
country, and, at all times, to be so much to its taste
ead °so tduebnftas ilioltcnyw'wowou would
dill id
bedo
the part of the Catholics. The different parties would-
ibttoyh act ho Cu greatnPt (e Or e.t xea s tts es
0 can It) .t, :I
t; Pi
( bute,nrsii a
on
rbgal'c
followedaArir eicarried
wd
exist. It would therefore be, of all absurd policy the
ilsheecosmagneeexbaistpeteriaatneidatoasintdiest.hwe
osuamideezviusitletiiiitatpaitejpurdcisenee It
most absurd, to leave the Associations in lreland. as
they now are. %Vele we to pass the Catholic Question
to morrow, I think the peace and tranquillity, and
safety cf Ireland, would require that Parliament
should pass an Act, putting down Associations in Ire-
land, which, under whatever pretence they may
be formed, are always an evil. Ss far am I there.
fore, front conceiving that the proposed Bill will be
injurious to the Catholics, that, as their friend, I think
the house would act
tcwards them were

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.iittllCS, Ulat, as tnetr trend, I mint _
act most unwisely and-injuriously
at to reject it. harp we have been