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

and was taken on board a French ship, with a MT.
. Lew ens, µho was a teeresentative from the United
Irelimen to the Ft ench Directory. Nol, he (Mr. Peel)
would nik, if the sentiments conveyed in the Add* ess to
Mr. Hamilton It wan eete to be raj posed general
amongst the six millions of Itish Catholics, what was
tl'et e which could convince the Pt otestants of Ireland,
or of England, that there was no danger to be ap-
pi ehersded from a body who, on the same day that
it had recommended the necessity of a large and ge-
ne, al subscription—on the same day that they had
spoken' e f the hatred to Orangemen, had voted arch
an rt.:dress to an attainted traitor?—(Cheers). Vas
it at ail an exaggeration to call such an act suspi-
e:ou-, or to look with distiust, and even alarm, upon
those who adorted it? He would call upon those nho
had condemned the Constitutional Association, whe-
ther they v. (arid, alter what be had read, say that it was
for the interest of the Romani Catholics that their affairs
should be con.'ucted by such a body? Was it for the
interests of Ireland that such an Association should be
asters e.l to exit? No sophistry could justify the acts
of such a body: Would the Hots. Member' for Knares-,
bormi,-;11 (Sir .1. Mackintosh), the public professor of a
public institution, attempt to justify such a proceeding
in aid of civil-liberty ? The House were told of the
pleat numbers and respectability of the Association.
It was said to consist of Catholic Prelates, Pre.s,
and Baronets—ol many Protestants of noble families,
and great posses ions—of many distieguished mem-
bers ef high and le.oned professions—of commercial"
men of g: eat wealth :red character—of country get„
demon, I arme;s, traders, and substantial citizens."!
lie would not deny tac greet restwetehility of many persons cosh
sleeted the Aseociaiimi hut be would ask. was not such a
body. with such power and irfloener, one of the worst calculated l
to conduct prosecution-in Ireland? Ile'would contend, that when
the conduct of particular individuals, which might be considered
obit ctionaLle, was thus publicly discussed, with a view to subse-
qnent prosecution, it was almost impossible to look for an impar-
tial trial. It was nut iu any private sue wises of his own, but in
the recorded acts of the Association, that he looked for grounds for
passing this Bill ; and feeling that be was not making out a case
for Parliament, but acting upon grounds that were strictly parlia-
mentary, hr should, with that coillideoce which the sense of right
always inspired, give his vote most conscientiously against hearing
the Petitioners at their bar—(,olld cheering).
Mr. C. 11. HUTCHINSON said he had frequently
in that Ilouse objected to the ire egularity of mentioning the names
of individuals. The Right Honourable Gentleman had named
Haniiiton Rowan. -He did not know a more respectable Gentleman
in Ireland. lie did not stand ten ward the advocate of traitors pro-
swatted by the Government, but certainly some of the United Irish-
men were most respectable characters. The object of the pen-
Caner§ was to be he ad at the bar, and his opinion was, that they
oneht to he allowed to give an answer to the House ou the charges
preferred against them in the Speech from the Throne. They had
been told at the ()talon that they might expect justice from Parlia-
ment, and justice they ought to have. The House should pause,
before they refused the deli gates of six millions of Catholics the
privilege of being heard. It wes an insult to the Catholics to rebise
t t hear them. His hope was, that the Right I Immutable Gentle-
man would let all men go to Heaven their own way.
Mt. Secretary PEEL explained. foe Hon. Gen-J
tleman bed said he (Mr. Peel) insulted the Catholics of Ireland.
Nothing he had uttered could warrant that observation.
The Hon. 1. C. CLARKE, (the Member for Kil-
kenny,) said he tl ought Ireland would be perfectly tranquil, except
for the Catholic Association. which produced, not actual disturb-
ance, hut agitation. Ile would support the Bills and vote against
the Pentium
Sit J. SEBRIGHT was asliatred, that at this time
cr day the Ilouse should be discussing a question wising out of
their own prejudices. Ile believed in his ean,cience that the Ca-
tholics of Ireland had done nothing which every man who heard
him would not have been priud to have done. He should there-
fore support the motion of his (.earned Friend, to give the Catho-
lics an opportunity of being beard in their own defence.
Mt. :SCARLET!' delem!:•,..l the con4stency of the
cpinities be had formerly given on the Coretitutional Association,
and the supeurt which he had prepared to give to the motion of his
Hon. :led Learned Friend. ileeped never contended that the Con-
stitutional Association was illegal, but that it was not consistent
with the practice and spirit of our Lew. It was one of the most de-
licate function, of a free Government to judge what species of poli-
tical t ffoices should be prosecuted and what be suffered to pass
without censure. A libel which affected nu individual, but which
affected the State, such a prosecution did not belong to the indivi-
dual hut to the State, and he must say, that there was nothing in
the conduct of his onourable and Learned Friend, the Attorney
General, and his predecessor, which did them so much honour as
their abstaining from prosecuting those offencetwhich had been
salt cte d by the Constitutional Association. With respect to the
question befute the House, be thought that no answer had been
given by the Right Hon. Gentleman (Mr. Peel). He should
therefore feel it his duty teesupport the motion. It had been said
that notoriety was a sufficient ground fur the House to legislate
upon ; but that was to hint quite a novel doctrine. Ile had heard
th it notoriety was a just ground fur euquify, but not fur passing a
law of such a renal nature.
The ATI ORN EY-G EN Elt AL said, he rose in con•
sequence of a remark of his Honourable and Learned Friend upon
that rart of the Right Ilonourable SClrrtarrsspettlt which accused
the Ceholic Association of an improper interference with the ad-
ministration of public justice. Ills I lotiourable and Learned Friend
had mifapprebeeded the argument of the Right llonourable Secre-
tary, for les Rt. lion. Friend had thrown overboard all disputed facts
about this Association, and rested his argument entirely upon docu-
ments which it had openly and repeatedly :acknowledged—(dear.)
With regard to the argument by which his Learneel Friend had
defended himself front the claire': of inconsistency in voting against
this Bill after his attacks upon the Constitutional Association, he
would merely remind the House, th..t his Learned Friend had con-
tended that all prosecutions by associations of individuals were
illegal. Prol.aley his ',veined Friend had since that time altered
his opinion. For his own part he contended, that the Coustitii-
tional A-si dation, though peril city legal, et as still very int-
poliiic—(ilear, hear).--it would he in the recollection of the
House that such lied always been Lis opinion—( llear, hear). Now
es here was the similarity between the Constitutional and the Cacho.
lie Assad ition ? Of whom did the Catholic Association consist ?
It coosisted of titter parts out of four of the population of Ireland.
'Could any one doubt for a moment that such an Association did not
represent the Roman Catholic population of Ireland? But lion.
Gentlemen asked whether any one could doubt of the effect
which such an Association mitst have oft the administrati tttt of justice
In Ireland ? It was justly asked, whether such an Association was
not calculated to encourage spies and iliformers? Did the deficiency
• of the means of this As•ociation exist in reasoning, or arguments, or
facts ? Was it not, said his Right l ion. Friend, with great truth and
reason, an Association celculated to produce the most dangerous
consequeeces? Let the House look at the documents which were
before them. They b..d been loou*it tot ward by the Catholic As-
sociation themselves. It was further objected against that Asso-
eietion, that they reported on their own progress and their treasury
that their party was daily tnlareing—aed that their communion
was in all respect. increasing. Nothiag could be a more striking'
or irremediable evil than that it ceiseteetty recited that diversity of
fears and expectatious among the peeple w loch they were taught to
entertain on the great question of Cetholie Emancipation. The
Hon. and Learned Gentleman coecluded by rapt essing, in forcible
terms, the decided opposition taut he was inclined to give to this
question—(Loud cries of 't Qttrbtiun,cpictiiotl)."
Mr. 13ROUG 11 tINI rose to 1 t.ply.—He said, he had
tever pi esented himself sk ith greater art xrety to discharge
his duty. The very able speech of the Right Hon. Se-
crera; y, all n.ust admit, was calculated to make a strong
impression, in the sincere tone with which it was ut-
tered. Still I.e was to contend, that the speech of the
Right Hon. Gentleman, able as it was, could not drive
him one inch from his ground. He (Mr. B.) having
adverted to the precedents he had cited in support of
Itis motion. maintained that those • cares had not been
altered in the bearing they bad upon the subject by any
had heard on the other side. He had been
801 l belofe the Douse was not levelled at the
To whom, then,. did die arguments they had
iply ? Why, the Catholics in genet al; yet they

thii.g he h
told the B
I Catholics.
heard app