Star.
London, England, 1822-05-01 00:00:00

•

r-
-eussion. Wh respect -out law that was unjust, die-i
cussion errnatstlintnce ; and, if they agreed
o avoid thatey.not only stopped discussion, but
cduk b( thought and the flight of time.
eierfyear, the passing of everrisour,
brought the great question nearer to its final setdei
Isteut, But .aa tD.thc.suppnsition that the success of
this measure Carried the general question, the same
arguments were to dena, leading in each case to
- the same result, and involving a parallel conelusioa,
he utterly denied. It was the great advantage of this
question that it rested on more practical grounds,
and a smaller basis than that which involved so many
conflicting considerations. Hitherto it had been im-
Seated to the advocates of the Roman Csviholics that
they did not confine themselves to law and fact, bet
. • that they wandered into generalities ; expatiated free
• over abstract topics; that they soared to the heights
of principle, and ranged the circumference of ana-
logy ; but that they touched not the law or the Cons
stitution: he should turn that argument to-day—
nothing should fall from him to justify the introduc-
tion of general topics; much as he respected general
i principles. he should call upon those who would op-
pose his motion that day to analyse the precise subject
of his motion, and the precise Act of Parliament with
which it was connected. At the same time he was
not one to throw aside the importance of the general
question, but anxiously indulged the hope that it
would meet, as it deserved, the completest success.
However, he would strictly, on this occasion, confine
• himself to the motion of which he had given notice,
and look for nothing but the inevitable consequences
that must result from it, and- the necessary pro-
gress of opinion ; be was, therefore, he hoped, in
- a condition to assure thorse who entertained fears
of the general question being prejudiced by this
motion, that there was no ground for their alarm.—
Some there were so high-minded as to be indifferent
to any progress of the parts of a question if the whole
was not carried, Some, again, would say, that it
would be a loss if the question was carried—not be-
cause the privileges were valueless, but because it
would strip the advocates of the Roman Catholics of
some of the most interesting topics of declamation.
He was not of opinion, however anxiously he desired
the success of the general question, that to prevent
the enriching of •future debates, it would be wise to
throw away the advantage of making a step in the
general cause. It this view of the case were correct,
the course which the Roman Catholics had taken was
unwise. Why not go back to the times when all the
venal statutes were in full operation ?—wben'even
the most jejune statement would be eloquence from
the strength of their cause. How much then Must
they lament those concessions made from time to
time, during the auspicious reign of his late Majesty,
which have put the Roman Catholics into that state,
that he had scarcely a specimen to exhibit of those
chains which they wote at the accession of George
111. He supposed they were to regret the statute of
1778, which gave the right of property to Roman
Catholics. He supposed they must lament the sta-
tute of 1791, which freed the Catholic from vexatious
disabilities. He supposed they must regret the statute
of 1795, which took away from the Irish Catholics
so much, that they had little comparatively remain-
ing to complain of ; and he roust be supposed also to
regret the silent opening of the Army and Navy to
Catholics, because, if all these important boons had
been withheld to this day, what a fair debate would
they have had I He did not think, however, that
this argument was much to be attended to, or that
it was exceedingly wise. Coupled with this was ano-
ther feeling, to which he was anxious to pay much
respect. It had been suggested, that some of the
noble persons deeply interested in the fate of this
motion, entertained a certain disinclination to the
partial discussion of the question. To this he should
reply, that the present motion was brought forward
without taking their opinions upon it ; and for this,
he conceived, he need offer no apology. He was not
there the agent of the Roman Catholic Peers—he did
not there represent them. lie felt no delicacy in tell-
ing these noble persons, that as he was no more their
sworn advocate (in the common parlance of a hired
advocate) th an he was of the whole Catholic population
—as he did not defend their rights at their instigation,
or for their special sakes—as their approbation was not
his reward, or the gaining of their favour his motive,
so would he not compromise his own opinions to suit
theirs—nay, farther, he could tell them, that though
they flatly disapproved of the plans he proposed, yet
he would not be turned aside from the path he had
chalked out to himself. But he was glad not to be
obliged to run counter to, or be independent of the
feelings of these noble persons, for he could assure
the House, upon the authority of a letter received this
day from the principal Noble Lord interested, that
no such objections as those stated did exist on the
part of the Roman Catholic Peers—(Hear, hear).—
There was, therefore, no foundation for the report,
and he hoped the refutation would serve to.do away
any impression unfavourable to the success of the
motion which the suggestion was calculated to create.
One word more only he would add upon the subject.
Ile had already said, that in bringing this forward,
he had neither consulted the opinions of the Noble
Lords as to his plans, nor regulated himself as to
time by their approbation or dislike; be had said,
that so little slid he take their concurrence into ac-
count, that he would not stoop to concede a single
opinion to them ; but it was with pleasure he could
add, that there was no advance made upon the parts
of these noble persons ; and be declared upon his ho-
nour that there had not come to him a single sugges-
tion, either directly or indirectly, from the quarter
most nearly interested in the event of this discussion.
The whole matter, therefore, originated with himself;
all the responsibility was his own. He wished to
disconnect himself from any influence arising from
the rank of the parties concerned, and to let is mo.
von stand upon its own merits. He wished the
Howe to look at the question as if it regarded the
rights of all Roman Catholics, and to make no other
difference in their legislative address upon this occa-
sion, than that which arose from the paucity of the
numbers, and the particular rights which the indivi-
duals concerned claimed—(Hear). Another objection
hid been stated, to which he would now apply hints
11. but he hoped to be able to djspose of it _in the
It was said that there was kosnethins peep-
improper in originating in the House of Cum-
Bill that affected particularly and specially
Jeges of the House of Lords. Of this be

• ; had been
.1 Lel, but
outset.
burly int
a
the prix il
i