Star.
London, England, 1825-02-19 00:00:00

were told it was only applicable to the Catholic Asso
dation. In one case only he had opposed the appearance
of a pet son at the Bar of the House. The Right Bon.
Secietary (Mr. Peel) had accused the Catholic Associa-
:ion of procces.ing in a mode contrary to the practice of
Commits of Criminal Justice, by instituting inquiiies,anft
t•erding the accused to trial with the disadvantage of
an ex-parte investiyation hanging over them. Now the
fact was ciirectly the rev...lse in the English Courts. In
a case of libel, for instance, whe.e an information was
applied for, it was necessary that all the Judge; should
deliver their opinions seriatim, declaring it to be a
libel, before the accused iould be sent to trial before a
rely jury. A much gr;rver charge had been brought
against the Catholic Association which was the tact
that Mr. Hamilton Itowan had been spoken of by them
in terms of respect, arid had beer enrolled in the list
of their membeA. The character of that person had
already been vindicated by the Ilimourable Member for
Cork (Mr. Christopher H. Hutchinson), with the tpitit,
talent, and eat nestne,s with which he always stood up
in the defence of an. assent friend—(Hear). This
charge had made a great effect on the House :when it
was stated, but he (NI:. Broighoun) now pledged trim.
self to prove that it was a charge that told in favour of
the Association rather than against it, and he would
thew the hazard of trusting to ex pane stvements and
unexplained documents. The charge brought against
the Association WAS, that they had said of Mi. Rowan,
that he was entitled to the respect aid love of his countrymen, and
yet Mr. Rowan was nothing more nor less than an " attainted
traitor." Now, in saying this, the Association had not gone a step
beyond the fact. No man in Ireland, was more respected than him.
(A Memlser exclaimed, " No.") " I offer to prove it," says Mr.
Broughafit. " I join issue upon the fact : Whoever says No, gives'
me his vote." And who established the fact of Mr. Rowan being so
respected in Ireland ?—Why, his 31ajesty's Government—(clear,
heat). Mr. Bowan was a wealthy Country Gentleman, of hig'i
character, beloved by his ft lends for his virtues, and by the country
fur his patriotism—(hear). In the stormy period, front 1793 to
1798, when so many per sons in Ireland were oused by their wrongs
into excess, it was no wonderthat be was included in the same Act
of Attainder which struck at the Fitzgrralds and others, without
conviction, without trial, without even being heard. }L.: was af-
terwards pardoned by his Prince, he returned to the bosom of his
family, he became once more the dispenser of benefits to his tenan-
try, and the darling of his neighbour hood and the country at large,
and above all Served on every Grand Jury—(llear)--and con-
stantly acted as a Magistrate—(Cheers). This " attainted traitor"
acted in the commission of the peace, under the superintendance of
Lord Manners— (Citeers).—Lord Manners, the very pink of loy-
alty, and Mr. Saurin, the minor tutelary Saint of Ireland, kft an
" attainted traitor" on the judicial bench, no doubt in order that he
might play rho tyrant over his Majesty's subjects. But still more,
Mr. Rowan was in the constant habit of attending the Vice-regal
Courts—(Hear)—and received there with favour, not only by Lord
Wellesley, but even by Lord Whitworth—(hear). This was the
man on account of speaking well of whom the Catholic Association
was to be put down and suppressed. lie hoped that he had now
redeemed his pledge, and shewn the necessity of inquiry, and the
incalculable danger of hasty legislation—(Hear). No honest or re-
flecting man should vote on this subject without previously acquaint-
ing himself with all the facts of the we.. He once more solicited
the House to lay aside all animosities and party spirit, and to avail
itself of an opportunity which might not occur again of Conciliating
Ireland. 'There were, at this moment, within the walls of the
House, the individuals who possessed the confidence of the Catholic
Association, and consequently of all the Catholics of Ireland (the
Learned Gentleman alluded to the circumstance of Meurs. O'Con-
nell, Shiel, Sir Thomas Esmond, &c. being then under the gallery),
and was it not better that they should be treated with kindness than
with severity; that they should be called to the Bar of the House as
witnesses, and be allowed to state their case? If they failed in
making out a Case, why then the House would act justly and con-
stitutionally in yauing the measure, and would in doing so contribute
to the tranquillity of Ireland. He was authorised to say that they
would prove that the whole conduct of the Association was neither
an infraction of the letter, nor an invasion of the spirit of the Bri-
tish Constitution. They offered to produce all the letters, papers,
documents, and every scrap of writing which bad ever belonged to
the Association. Amongst these testimonies there was no black
book, no book of prosetiption or exclusion. The Learned Gen.
tleman concluded by intreating the House to inquire before it de-
cided, and said, that if in the teeth of the explanation he had fur-
nished, respecting Mr. Rowan, they refused to hear the Association,
the responsibility would be upon their heads—( Hear).
Strangers were then ordered to withdraw, and the House di.
vided. The numbers were.—
For the Motion 89
Against it 222
Majority against it —133
The other Orders of the Day were then disposed of, and the
House adjourned,at Half-past One o'Clock, until Monday.