Star.
London, England, 1813-03-03 00:00:00

a riptide* GC** arguments writich he had be&
urged, He liras nob unaware that this was a new
Parliament, antrtherefore could not be said in strict-
ness to be. Wend to redeem any pledges given by a
former Parliament ;—but when great and impor-
tant national objects were the subject of discus.
sion, it was usual to take a higher strain of more.
lity,and not to confine one's self to mere techn'cal dis-
cussion. The House had certainly the power to de-
part from the pledge of the last Parliament, but
se thought they would not satisfy themselves
by making it a mere question of power. It
was in the recollection of every body, .that upon a
former occasion, it was held that the dissolution of
Parliament did cot abate an impeachment instituted
by the House of Commons. It would appear some-
what strange to the country, iftthe doctrine held out
to them, was, that all that was harshand accusatorial
it their powers were to continue after a dissolution,
but that every thing of a milder and more agreeable
nature was entirely taken away by a dissolution.' In
the consideration of the question, one could not forget
the condition of the Government, divided as they are
atmoug themselves upon the subject. It was, how-
ever* sufficiently well known, that a great prepon-
*ranee of opinion, in the present Government, was
adverse to the discussion of the Catholic Claims ; and,
therefore, it was of fearful consequence to the coun-
try, that it should be supposed ,that Government
could at any time interpose a dissolution between a
pledge, f that House and its accomplishment, for the
purpose of getting rid of the pledge. He conceived
hin;isell to be fully as responsible on the present oc-
casion, as the Right Hon. Gentleman (Mr. Grattan)
Who had bi °ilea forward the motion. He had most
willingly surrendered to thp Right Hon. Gentleman,
the task of raising a superstructure on the foundation
which he had laid in the last Session. He had sur-
rendered it to him with all the reverence which his
great talents demanded, and with all the confidence
which his moderation had so fully justified. From
th,e'moderatiog and temper which that Right Hon.
faeutleman always displayed, the Catholic cause had
gained great advantages, To another Honourable
and Learned Gentleman who sat near him, (Mr.
Plunkett), he thought it unnecessary to add his feeble
testimony to the general marks of approbation with
Which his speech had been received by the House.—
. In that admirable speech, •the Hon. and Learned
-Gentleman had not only displayed the talents of an
accomplished orator, but had shewn throughout, the
profound views and comprehensive mind of a great
Statesman. To his mind, however, it appeared that
the principal excellence of it was, his utterly disclaims
ling and rejecting that meretricious popularity to
which so many aspire. This enabled him to rebuke
the excesses of those whose cause he was so power.
fully advocating ; and it taught the Catholics, that
while they might look with confidence to him as their
friend, while they condocted themselves with temper
,
and Moderation ; yet that he would be as ready as
any man to join in repressing their excesses. This
moderation had already disposed many Members to
ihink more favourably of the Catholic claims, and he
thought the impression would be carried into the
Committee. Those who objected to the present
;notion might, as he thought,' be divided into three
classes. The first were those who had concurred
in the vote he had the honour to propose, and
Yet now saw reasons for opposing the present motion.
Of this class, or to speak more accurately, of him (a
loud laugh.) (Mr. C. alluded to Mr. Bankes), he must
say, that he stood phccnix-like, alone and unmo-
bested. The second class were those who were not
ound by the pledge given by the last Parliament. Of
those he should say, generally, that their reasons
ought to be received with some qualifications. Al-
though they might not be bound by the decision of
last Parliament, 'set it could not be supposed that
they were the best acquainted with the subject, or the
best qualified to give advice upon it. The last class
be might divide into two : those whose objections rest-
ed on circumstances that were transitory and tempo-
rary ; and those who could not conceive that in any
times, or under any circumstances, the Catholicsclaims
ought to allowed. His Right Hon. Friend (Mr.
Yorke) had mentioned some of those circumstances
which might induce him to vote for the motion—the
first was supposing Bonaparte were tar die.-cin this
circumstance observations had been already made,
that it was not necessary for him to repeat—the
next circumstance that would make him favourable
was, if there should be no more tumultuous meetings,
no more irritation or angry feeling on any side ; when
desire of 'relief was extinguished, and hope had
sickened and died, then, in his new milieniurn, his Right
Hon, Friend would come forward to grant that which
to no longer desirable or sought for—(laughter.)
When all jealousy between Protestant and Catholic
was extinct—when all sects and parties were in per-
fect harmony, and lay_ down together like the leopard
and the kid—(o laugh) —then he would come with
his healing hand to cute those disorders which were
felt no longer.—(Laughing.) The other condition
bn which he was disposed to relieve them was, in fact,
if they should cease to be Catholics. Now, although
the good will of his Right Hon. Friend must be of
groat value to any body of men, those conditions ap-
peared too high a price for it. He ridiculed the idea
of the Catholics not being bound by oath ; nothing
could, in his mind, be more preposterous or more
just. 66 Time was, deo when the brains were out, the
man would die, and there an end ;" but in th;s case
some persons would have them believe, that though
the Catholic swears to support the Government, he
should not be entitled to credence; and that when
he falls bravely fighting the battles of his country,
and defending its best and dearest interests, he, in
reality, meant to subvert and over turn its Constitution.
Notwithstanding the variety •f petitions which had
appeared as coming from the Clem) of this country,
he could not but acquit them, as a body, of -I;eing
actually concerned in such uncandid and partial pro-
ceedings. He would, however, desire those who did
resort to- sucterneans, ta consider the high and van.
t ige ground' tin which they stood—to reflect that the
glorious Constitution of this country was a system of
checks of one part against the other ; and that it
most particularly behoved them to forbear from using
the mean and .sordid Channel of misrepresentation as
beneath the dignity and respectability of the sacred
character they held in the'community to which they
belonged. With repect to the petition of the refugees,
,be (Mr. Canning) ',bought ii nag) t have been well
ispared : they had certainly no occdeion to interfere
ilia the subject, and he would put it to the House—'

rary ; and those who cot
times, or under any circun
ought to allowed. His
Yorke) had mentioned st
which might induce him
firs; was supposing Bon
•, , Circumstance observation
that it was not necessa
next circumstance that wi
was, if there should be no
no more irritation or angr
. no
of relief was ex
sickened and died, then, it
' Hon, Friend would come
Was no longer desirable
When all jealousy imtwei
was extinct—when all sei
fect harmony, and lay_doi
and the kid—(o laugh)
tt. his healing hand to cute
felt no longer.—(Laughi
int which he was disposed
if they should cease to be
the good will of his Rigl
groat value to any body o
peared too high a price fol
; of the Catholics not bein
could, in bis mind, be moi
just. 66 Time was, that mil
) man would die, and then
ti some persons would have
i 1 the Catholic swears to st
should not be entitled tr.
be falls bravely fighting
and defending its best at
!reality, meant to subvert a
)1 Notwithstanding the vari
appeared as coming 1 rom
be could not but acquit tl
actually concerned in sod
ceedings. He would, ho
resort to ,ucti'means, to
t ige ground on which the
glorious Constitution of tl
Ichecks of one part again
most particularly behoved
l the mean and *sordid Chan
7. beneath the dignity and
character they held in tin
! belonged. With repent to
be (Mr. Canning) %bong
spared they had certain'
I ca the subject, and he w
•