Star.
London, England, 1827-05-02 00:00:00

£a

thlf reference roininiettlikopf the noeeseity of &log an explana
lien to a part of Ida flight lion. Wieners' speech respecting
that
year. which, If overlooked, would lead to fortify a coorission, that
as pas bad before said, -arose from mistake and misapprehension.
His Eight Hon. Friend, when be had referred to what had been
his conduct In the year 1812, bad omitted sufficiently to distinguish
one part of that year from another. He WO not brought the books
wills Sim, -because be was pot prepared for ouch a retrospect; he
had, however, sent for them. His Right Hon. Friend had said that
in essigoiug his (Mr. Cannipg's) reasons fa May, 1812, for not
joinlog Lord Liverpool's Administration of that year, he • had
othothered his .con opinions; and yet bad, oo the eitd of June,
tortfird vote upon the Catholic question by a great •majority.
..-s/liat his. Right Honourable Friend aboold have,• stated the
fact as it bad really occurred. Did nothing' intervene be-
tween that month of May and the 22d •of June? On the 25th of
May Lord LiyerpOol had called upon him, and had been pleased to
elk his leave for proposing his name as a /dember.of the new Ad-1
odeistration. He believed that this application bad been first made
to him on the 22d. What was his reply? instantly asked his
Noble Friend, whether the Catholic Question was to be considered-
= open one in the Cabinet? or whether the policy of the Government
eintineed uochanged upon that subject? Lord Is's reply was, that his
own Opinion remained unchanged upon It, and be was not aware of
ttity alteretion in the opinion of his colleagues. Now, how did the Ca-
tbolicQueuion stand then? Why, exactly as it 'did in the unre-
stricted Regency, during Mi. Perceval's Administration, Ind when
both Laid Sientouth and Lord Castlereagh pronounced their un-
qualified opinions against its contideration. He had just received
the records of the debates of the day, and would read the re-
corded words of the Ministers. Lord Castlereagh had then said
(in the adjournet debate upon the Catholic Question, April 24,
With respect to the vote I shall give to-night, my Right
Wm. Friend (Mr. Perceval) has truly stated, that the Cabinet are
upanimous In their opinion, that the question of concession to the Ca.-
thoSesicoold not now be cenvenienly agitated, our any loqulrybe gone
into upon the subject of the legal disalatiee of his Majesty's Cat
tbolic bubjects in Ireland, wits the hope of coming to any ulti-
mate and satisfactory arrangement," Surely the feeling of the
Nut at that lime was one of general resistance to the-discussion of
the Catholic claims; the individual members of the Administration
were then agreed to go with the majority, and that majority had de-
teristined against the ni ; hence he refused to join them when
solicited by Lord Liverpool—(tear), Bat what bad followed
'Undo the short month which intervened between Ilajand June
qn the 10th of the letter month the following question- and
aoswer would be found in the records of the debates of that period,
which would shoW the material alteration that had just then taken
race in the position of the question, as avowed in an answer given
by bird C,astlereagli to Mr. Spencer Stanhope ;—" Mr. Spencer
p!anbore rose for the purpose of putting a question to the
Noble Lord opposite. He wished to know if it was intended,
on the part of the present Ministers, that the same policy in every
respect should be observed by them in reference to the Catholic
Skteedtsit. which bad been observed by the Administration under
the ertodutt of a late Right Honourable Gentleman? Lord Castle-
reagh said, that be felt some difficulty in answering the question
lof the 'Honourable Gentleman literally, the arrangements for
the new Ministry sot having been yet fully completed. But as to
. the spirit of the questioo, he thought be could be more satisfactory.
.re could say this frosts his knowledge of those employed in
in-naps that Administration, that generally their sentiments rat-
-Enabled the same. Upon a former occasion, they had thought,
inductive even of those who *ere favourable t. the measure.
that the present was not the time for diaeussing that question ;
..sind in still tinplate so, that recent decision of Parliament formed
a leading consideration in influencing the adoption of that opi.
:nen. The sense- of Parliament haviri been, at least fan the pre-
sent, definitively pronounced, they thought that any immediate
- ['Tired discussion would ouly create irritation, without being pro-
ductive of *rising wend. Hewes aware, however, of the growing
elaange in favour of thosoclaims, and in submission to that change,
and the reatsentiments of certain members of the Government, it
bad been resolved upon as *principle that the discussion of this ques-
- Mon sbbuld be left free frees all interference on the part of Govern.
laCtitaand that cverymember of that Government should be left to the
free and unbiassed ssiggestions of his own conscientious discretion.
lee, then, how the matter stood. On the 25th of May all the
limbers were united in resisting the Catholic Question. On
the lOsb of June the reverse was the positive fact; sod in that
difference would be found his (Mr. Canning's) justification
(Hear, pear). To come, hos , directly to the point at isiue
*pectins the present situation of the Government. It re-
Pained, in• fact, exactly as it did when Lord Castlereagh
spoke in June, 1812—exactly as he himself had described it
on repeated occasions in the successive years which had fol-
lowed, in the debate upon the state of Ireland in 1825, on the
sleben,' in the same year upon the Catholic Claims, when he
had used these words-4 I declare that, in office as well as out,
/ ant at perfect liberty to moot this question whenever a sense
of duty impala me to do so. Whether I shall do so while in
office, whether I shall do so if out of office, and whether in either
use the fit time for doing so may appear to be come, are points which
I reserve for the decision of my unfettered judgment." On that
footing the question, so far as he was concerned, still remained—it
was exact:, stn the same as that during which his Right Honour-
table Friend (Mr. Peel) had acted as his colleague for years, al-
thou2it be had lately withdrawn front him. It was in that state that
he did nut shrink from, but willingly accepted the support of other
Gentlemen, •notwithstanding the opprobrium which MU at-
tempted to be cast upon him for receiving such assistance—
(Hear, bear!) After this statement, perhaps, it was hardly neces-
sary for him to state how the Catholic Question now stool ; never-
theles,, he had no difficulty in giving the fullest explanation spots
that point.--(Loird cries of Hear!) The Catholic Question now
remained ap open sobject, as it had done during Lord Liverpool's
late Administration,—it remained one on which each member of
the Government was at perfect liberty to exercise his own judg.
tnent..either to support or oppose it ; and with this further under- '
standing, that Ratty member of the Administration wished to moot
it himself, be was bound to state at the same time distinctly, that
Ise acted iu his individual capacity—(Hear, bear). So that the
f.:atbolie Question stood thus far exactly in the same, state in
which ii had done for the last 15 years; and it was only in that si-
tuation, reserving the right of private judgment, according to the
conscientious belief, that it could stand with a reasonable chance of
nltimate success in this country. He looked alone for its progress
to the good sense and good feeling of the people of both countries
,--(Hear, bear). And that progress cosild only be retarded by
py inconsiderate effort to provoke opiuhni among one class, or stifle
It with the opposite, at the risk of a convulsion in one or the other
part of the United Kingdom—(Hear, hear). Ile tree'', avowed
he was not retrieved to precipitate convulsion in either, therefore
lie would not raise hopes that might be marred; nor bold out too
sanguine expectations, without seeing a moral pro.pect of their
being realized. lie remembered fell well—and to do so there was
po steed of carrying his memory far back—the interpretation put
talon carton's covet s,ions in Ireland, and bow much had been made
to tore. upon particular words. And this recollection instructed
hits not to use them, unless he was fully prepared to fortify thins
eirinemiently by acts. Much, then, as he valued carrying this mea-
sure for the tr. nquil sty of.lreland, and be estiroated it at a very high
t ate, lie would out provoke, even fur that purpose, the sort of passive
resistance which might be feared,be aroused in this country—( Hear).
Against that feeling he confessed he was net prepared to run. If
he wine asked, did he therefore despair? His prompt answer was
t‘ No." It the parties comported themselves calmly,and refrained
foni that tactioea conduct which was likely to provoke an active
resistance, then would lie be persuaded that the mind of the people
of England, or of such portion of them as were hostile to that ques-
tion, would be gradually brought to take a more rational view of the
subject, and that the well thinking part of them, who, witbenistaken
though consciesstious feelings, entertained prejudices of a particular
kind, would look back with surprise on the apprehensions they had
previously Isar hoofed, and concur in the justice and reasonableness of
a course ot policy which they had previously rejected—.(Hear,
bear, heat). With these sentiments, he was prepared to ray,
that be would not prematurely stir up the feelings of the people
Of England fur a theoretic though easels:lel good. He expected the
dawn of a better day, but he would not precipitate its appearance.
. lie knew that the present darkness would (sod be hoped speedily)
be succeeded by a light which would illuminate the prospect • and
knowing this, be would not, for the sake of freedom of conscience,
Vets the conscience of others--(Cheers). He spoke out thus plainly
Isisiotintions ; and when he was taunted with thwarting the views of
his Sovereign by an Hots. Member (Mr. Dawson), who bad not
;oared to enter the very penetralla of the Royal breast, to probe the
speculative opinions which:rested there4his (Mr. Canning's) answer
was that he had not, and be would nut violate the Royal conscience.
He would venerate it in the present Sovereign, as he had dune in
the late King. lithe Hon. Member asked him, whether he looked
Upon the coronation oath as involved in the consideration, he
would plainly tell him " No"—(lioar. hear). That was the an-
tral* given by Lord. Liverpool, gaff the arguments with which
be should combat such, *volt !bow be had derived Irons his
Noble Friend, and the Friends of .the Hon. *miser himself—
(Hear): Let him then bear no mote gst. the acanatitm that he
Meant to press this question sternly upon the feelings of Eno*.
Pen. It he were asked, whether be thought tbalr r'ilFdite°
upon this point bad slept, be would say, he Wriest it was a
ileep from which, if prematurely aroused, they might bR awoke
With gigantic strength--(llear, bear.) Still the 'object muse be