Star.
London, England, 1829-02-06 00:00:00

joyment of peace,which was not likely to be disturbed;
the commerce of the country was placed on a surer
footing; and those branches of the revenue which best
indicated the flourishing state of the country were on
the increase. Turning from the pleasing prospect which
England presented. both as respected her internal pros-
pet my and her foreign relations, he was compelled to
turn to a part of the United Empire which presented a
much darker and less agreeable prospect—he meant,to
Ireland. That unhappy country still continued in a
state of irritation and disturbance which presented a
miserable contrast with the tranquillity and pews
which pervaded every other part of the kingdom....
An Association had been established there, under spe-
cious pretences of obtaining an extension of privileged
for his Majesty's Roman Catholic subjects; but the
course of proceedings which this body adopted seesal .
germs to liberty, 'and inconsistent with the principles ell
the British Constitution. This Association proceeded
to levy taxes, and to exercise a kind of legislative con
trout over the feelings and the conduct of the people rill
Ireland; and-it was the more to be reprobsted, as Is
was supported and assisted by e power of the Ceiba
lic Priesthood, which was but too iften applied t 4 this'
support of the Association in proceedings which did
not prom, to the tranquillity of the criunti y, or the is-
' fluence of the laws, but which engendered religious aid.
mosity, and excited the worst passions of the people....
There could be no doubt that, since the exigence st
the Association, party feeling had si-en to a greater
height than it ever was before in Ireland. The names
of Catholic and Protestant had now become the watch.
word of party, and. religion was made the pretence fir
leelings which were any thing but Christian. Such
being the state of Ireland, he was warranted in saying
that the occasion was extraordinary, and that it requited
extraordinary measures to meet it. Their Lordships
would remember that some years ago an attempt had
been made to put down the Cathoic Association, but
that attempt had not been successful; the measures
then adopted proved insufficient; and their Lordships
were now called upon to grant extraordinary powers to
his Majesty, to enable him to carry into effect the ob-
ject he had in view, which was the complete supine,-
sir n of that body, the existence of which had been so
inimical to the prosperity and tranquillity of Ireland.'
He bad no doubt that their Lordships would Five their
concurrence to any measures introchiced by his Majesty's
Ministers for the effectuation of this most desirabte ob-
ject. At the same time, perhaps, their Lordships would
deem it advisable to adopt s )me measure of a concilia-
tory characters end to take into consideration the state
of Ireland generally, and especially the lasts affecting
his Majesty's Roman Catholic subjects. He knew
that by the mention of this subject a wide field for
discussion- was opened. He had already adverted to
the difficulties surrounding the discussion of thsf
question, arid he again repeated, that he confidently
hupei their Lordships would avoid entering-on t' idis-
cussion of-the question until some specific measure was
introduced In voting for 0 e Address which be would
conclude by moving, heir Lordships would merely ex
press their intention to take the subject into their
consideration. They did not pledge themselves to
vote 1.. r any particular measure; and, in point of tact,
the Address which he would move went no further than
strictly to pledge their Lordships to a consideratint of
the subject. For his own part, though favourable to the
adjustment of the Catholic questroa, he had no limits.
tin° in stating that he would never consent t s repeal
the laws now in f tree unless it could be dune with am-
ple security to the Established Church—(Hear, hear).
He felt it the more necessary to make rhis declaration,
as he felt strongly the necessity of removing the dis-
abilities under which the Roman Catholics laboured ;
but he wou'd never consent to any measure which
granted power to the Cath tics at the expense of the
Protestant establishment—(llear). Unless such secu-
titles were introduced as he thought absolutely neces-
sary t• the safety of the Protestant Establishment, he
would never consent to Catholic Emancipation. He
had troubled their Lordships with his own opinions on
this butryct, because he wished to be understood as re-
serving to himself the right of voting against any mea-
sure which might be introduced for the ielaxatien t f
the penal laws, if it was not accompanied with -ecuri.
lies; and he wished to guard against its being imputed
to him that, by moving an Address pledging their
Lordships to take the subject into consideration, he in
any degree pledged himself to support any specific
measure. In his understanding of his Majesty's Speech,
it by no means c tiled upon their Lordships to pledge
themselves to adopt any particular measure; and for
kis own part he repeated, that he would not tie a party
to any measure of Em incipatioii, unless it was guarded
by securities. All their Lordships were now called
upon to pledge themselves to, therefore,' was, to take
the question into con-ideration; and he hoped that
those , f r:setr Lordships who would refuse to pledge
themselves to that extent were few in number. He
begged to remind their Lordships that the question of
Catholic Emancipation was now brought forward un-
cer circumstances very different f urn those under
v. hico it had previously been brought forward, when
the per son introducing the measure claimed fur the Ca.
tholics as a right what Pal 'lenient would only concede
to them as a favour, and what it could never concede
unless some measure was introduced which tendered this
removal of those disabilities consist: nt with the Coro.
nation Oath, and with the security cf the Church Es.
tablishment. He was aware that he had set offered no
argument to the r Lordships to induce them to adopt
an Address in accordance with this part of his Ma-
jesty's Speech. He would not attempt to offer aoy ar-
gument, for he wished their Lordships to adopt it solely
on the ground that it had been recommended by his Ma-
jesty. He preferred this course,not only because he trusted
that it would prevent a discussion, by which a consider.
ab:e degree of warmth and passion might be excited,
but because he conceived it to be a mark of respect due
to the Sovereign, and that their Lordships would show
a pioper confidence in and attachment to the Monarch,
by pledging themselves to take the subject into consi.
&mann, without needing any further argument in sup-
port of that step than that it wain accordance with the
desire of his Majesty: Whatever might be the fate of
the measure which it was intended to introduce, or
whatever dt-cision their Lordships might finally come
to as to the relaxation of the penal laws, be respectfully
but earnestly entreated their Lordships to adopt his Ma
'jesty's advice-to take the subject into consideration with
out any arguments. He could not sit down without
again expressing his opinion that a discussion of the
•question before any specific Measure was before the