Star.
London, England, 1813-03-02 00:00:00

14otse as to the Sentiments of a great statesmip, 'Mn
Pitt, on 'hie:gloat important subset. After, however,
„I, ;exciting considerable expectation, the %Allele turned
out to be simply this that Mr. Pitt had not told
somebody or other that he had formed any plan in
his own mind, with respect to the mode in which the
claims ought to be conceded. The fact was, that the
question was never fairly at issue—it never could be
brought fairly to issue—during Mr.. Pitt's life. Every
one knew the obstacle that had existed to its being so.
How then could it be supposed necessary that Mr.
Pitt should form any detailed plan tespecting it ?
EveryAxiiitical plan must vary *hit the circum-
stance f the moment. It would therefore have been
absurd, had Mr. Pitt formed a detailed plan, which
he knew it was impossible to bring forward at the
time at whiCh it might have been formed, and for
Which, therefore, it must have been peculiarly and ex-
clusively adapted. Besides, what was there in the
declaration by somebody, that Mr. Pitt had not com-
municated any plan to him ? Many circumstances
might bade prevented such a coMmunieation. Mach
depended on the character of the individual himself.
Ile mightt.hatte been a Man of a scholastic mind ;
ingenious.. finding objections ; and to whom, there-
fore, it Would have been imprudent to communicate
2' plan, Which could uoi be expected to be free from
vitlikbility to objection. Notwithstanding, therefore,
the statement of the Hon. Gentleman, he (Mr, W.)
could not help thinking, that the supporters of the
Catholic claims were still entitled to enjoy the be-
' nefit of believing, that Mt. Pitt's was a concurrent
opinion. 1-lb rejoiced at this far the sake of the mea-
sure—he rejoiced at it perhaps still more, for the sake
of ,Mr. Pin, on whose memory the imputation of hos-
• tililty tb Catholic liberty would in his opinion have
been a Most foul and indelible stains Of what ma-
terials were the prejudices against the Catholics com-
posed t of such as in their nature could not be last-
ing: ,-- The opposition to Catholic emancipation
must be trifling and transitory—the national bless-
ings which it was calculated to occasion would be
great and permanent. The opposition to Catholic
ematcipation arose frton causes, many of which
had in a great measure ceased to exist. The first
of these had been ignorance with respect to the'
state of the Catholics themselves, and the character
of their faith. In a few years this would be wholly
removed. The second cause of opposition had
been that unfortunate predisposition in the Rdyal
mind which it had been found impossible to remove,
and the impulse arising from which (as must be the
case, with every impulse proceedinglrom such high
authority) had riot yet lost all its power, although
Muth decayed and weakened. A third cause of op-
position, growing in a great measure out of the last,
had been the steady and uniform hostility of Go.
vernment to emancipation. This cause had been
much diminished, and was every day diminishing.
Then came to be considered all the ancient hereditary
prejudices—against the Roman Catholics, founded
on the events of the reign of Queen Mary, when
the CathOlic religion was unquestionably a religion
of persecution. But in all this he could see nothing
permanent ; nothing that a little time might not di-
minish' to utter insignificance, if not wholly remove.
If any thing further, indeed, were riecessaty to prove
the different footing on which the question stood,
from that on which it had stood at a former and no
very distant period, it would be the altered and feeble
tone of the enemies of the emancipation ; no doubtful
evidence of their anticipation of failure. Some of the
most favourite arguments that they had been wont to
use were laid aside. What had become of that mise-
rable and mischievous sophism, founded on the Coro-
Pation Oath, by which it had formerly been attempted
to deteive the good people of England ? It might
perhaps still be found lurking in some wretched
and contemptible pamphlets; but from the convet•
sation of all rational men; from the debates in that i
House, it had long ,disappeared: What had be-
tome of the abuse that had formerly been heaped
upon the prbfession of the Catholic religion ? At
length that was acknowledged by all, which was
before knovht td the best informed, that the Catholic
religion had been that of some of the wisest, most
learned, and most virtuous men which the two islands
had produced ; and that the religion professed by our
forefathers to whom we were indebted for the esta.'
blishment of our dearest rights and ptivileges' ought
to be treated with respect; and indulged with tolera-
tion. These were the sentiments that had advanced
with rapid and certain strides. Every day produced
new friends to the cause of civil and religious liberty,
and such a cause never lost a proselyte that it once
obtained. Why then was the opposition continued ?
Did the Anti-Citholica think they would very essen-
tially tnove the Protestant faith by exasperating the
Catholics of Itelaud ? bid they think they would do
Much good by continuing to urge topics calculated
Only to increase and perpetuate the irritation that at
present existed in the Catholic mind ? Or, on the
other hand, if, by exaggerating the defects of the Ca-
tholic character, and by falsely representing the dan-
gers of concession, they should contrive at last to re-
itimate the expiring prejudices of the Protestants, and
induce the Legislature to delay the measure of conci-
liation until it had lost every thing of grace and favour,
to be *twig from than in a motnent of danger anddis-
may, would they imagine that they had benefited the
Empire by the postponement ? Surely not. Surely it
\with/ be most, wise to abridge that interval of feverish
feeling which must. always exist between the period at
which *measure of civil liberty tri u mplied in argument,
and the period at which it was adopted and carried
into effect by the Legislature ana the State. file
woul4 readily admit that the subject was one of
much difficulty ; and that, whatever steps Parliament'
might think fit to take, they would encounter serious
nbstasles in consequence of the difference of religion,
and still more in consequence of the natural separa-
tion of the two countries. Four millions of dissenters
horn the established religion, even were they diffused
over a large and connected empire, it would require
some consideration so manage with wisdom. But
when these four millions of Dissenters were confined
to a distinct and separate portion of the empire; when
they .united a national to It sectarian characters there
mast necessarily arise, in spite of every precathion;
• Ststarbances, from time to time, which Wiling but
falliearance in the leaden date vat ;bus parties could
repress. The question for the Legislature to deter-
Iliac would be, how best to extricate the subject
film this difficulty ?' There were two great objects
64 a most be attended to in any arrangement for that
surfeit--the happiness of the States and are seigliti
..,