The Statesman.
London, England, 1823-03-05 00:00:00

first chapter of the first volume of the .statute-book, in
Magna Charts, it was expressly declared-o'od. rin-
g/lea/la Recleiia libera sit et habeat jure sue integra et
libertates sues illeesas. (Hear, hear.) At the period of
.he revolution, when the coronation oath was established

i: was not thought inconsistent with the rights of the
.u" jest, to require from the Crown, in the presence of an
archbishop or bishop, a positive and solemn engagement
to maintain • the Protestant reformed religion, and to
•pres rye to the bishops and clergy the rights- and
liberti a'o which they were entitled. (Hear.) He de-
nied the position, therefore, that the church of England
meant no more than a congregation of Quakers, or and other
I sect voluntarily associated; .aid refused to accompany
I the Hon. Gent. one step its his inquiry, because he had not
explained the principles on a hich he intended to proceed.—
His sophistry could not impose upon any member who had
sat only a week in the house. He could not deeive the
weakest man, by asserting that his object was the same as
that of the primate who slid that the church of Ireland had
been much mistinderstood.—(Hear, hear.) His first resolus
tion was enough to show what his real purposd was.. It de-
dared that " the property of the church of Ireland at present
in possession of the bishops, deans. &c. of Ireland" (As if
they were mere and absolute intruders)" is public property,
lender the control,' add at the disposal of the legislature, for
the support of religion. and for such other purposes" (per-
Imps for defraying the deficiences in the civil list, or for
paying off the national debt) „as Parliament, in its wis-
dom, may deem beneficiaL"—(Hear.) Ile (Mr. Peel) was
the last Maitiete deny the competence and jurisdiction of Par-
liament, tilt would say that Parliament could not legis-
hie upon this property in the way proposed, consistently
with 40y 'of the principles oa which it had hitherto procced-
ed. If Parliament interposed in the manner required, there
would bias end at once to all the security of private pro-
perty.—(Hear.)
M. DENMAN was not disposed to wait till the evils
complained of were at:eutpted to be re formed by those
a ho opposed this motion, as if he did so he feared there
would be no chance of their getting any resorm at all.—
lle irate nothing in Ihe Act of Union which ought to
preclude thVea from considering what principle ought to
he applied to the Government, of the Irish church. He
}redid with dismay the reference made to the Coronation
Odell. He thought no argument drawn from that source
could prove v ry concil:atory., as that had for a Ion"; pe-
rio I prevented a foie: discussion of the claims of the Ca-
Viol es It was unfortunate that the Right tion.Denr.
had wade any reference to the Coronati, n oath. lie saw
no objecion w con.idering whether the resenu-s of the
church could n it be made more comlucive to the good of
the chore's. What ha I been &twain the cote of the Cu-
racy MI. These first principle a had been referred to in
order to make a b-tier provisimt far the remuneration of
the c'ergy who performed the duty. The hon. gentleman
concluded by casting some censure upon the strung ex-
pr. ssioos the right honourable gentleman (Mr. Peel) had
applied to wiiat had fallen from the hoe. member for
Aberdeen.
Mr. PEEL explained. He had nee r used any argu-
ment founded upon the coronation oath.
Mr. DENMAN expressed his satisfaction at this as.
surance. •

Mr. PLUNKETT said, as to the nature of church pro-
perty, his opinions were well k sown. He should there-
fore Ilan that part of the subject entirely; but in ie•
ference to Vie regoLitiona non before the house, he

. . _
could not help expressing in terms as strong as the
English largusge Afforded, and the rules of Parliament
allawed,his reprobation of the utter desperation and folly
of the principle asserted. (Much cheering.) sloth as
he regarded the interests of Homan Catholics of Ire-
land and of the emp:re, yet if their success were to en-
danger the Protestant establishment, lie would ding the
eghts of the Catholics to the winds, and abandon their
range for ever.