The Statesman.
London, England, 1810-08-16 00:00:00

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iaterisie

prie:y of granting the elective franchise to the great
b•►:ly of the people; but now, since the coact.
tucut of that measure, which has laid our country
pro,trate at the feet of England, to talk of danger
t.► the essentially Protestant Constitution of the
Empire, from the Catholics of Ireland, or froM
►he whole People of Ireland, is destitute of chit
s;:liblunce of plausibility, which the seriousness and
gravity of parliamentary debate necessarily re.
quire.

The whole of this conduct reminds us irresisti.
hi.), of some expressions of Mr. Gait AN, at the
period of the Union. " If you want to know"
said the Irish Patriot " how far a British Parlia-
ment is adapted to legislate for Ireland, look to the
Prime Minister—a capital understanding—trans.
rendaut eloquence—and yet, with these two migh-
ty advatktages, he has uttered nothing upon the
,übject of Irish affairs, that would not disgrace the
lips of au ideal." We find, however, that. there
are men, who, without either of these advantages,
ern talk as wisely as o'er Mr. Pin did upon the
liiairs of Leland.

Upon the speech of Lord CAITLEREAGU we offered
~erne comments immediately at the time of its pub-
lication ; we ventured to pronounce it a master-
piece in its kind, and equal, if not superior, to
the most splendid effusions of that noble orator, at
duly former reriod of his political career. We,
perhaps, might have gone farther, and decieved
that, as the occasion demanded a peculiar obscurity
d language, the power of his " cloud.compelling"
rhetoric was exerted with the must unrivalled sue.
cess. " Theologise etiam iu rebus, quas non
ucculeret, seta nature, site adsuctudine, so:pasta
temper et obtcuro verha ; I.IIIC vero nitcuti, ut
senses sues penitus abdcret, in incertum of ambi.
goons maxis iniplicabantur." Some errors, how.
ever) will slide into the most laboured compositions,
and to show that we are.not blinded by our partia.
lily to this consummate master iu the science of
adomochy, we shall observe that, in a moment of
forgetfulness, we are willing cuough to presume,
he has absolutely degenerated into downright mean.
leg, and given a handle to his enemies to come to
something like a conclusion from what has escaped
him. The passage we allude to, is where ha insists
that nothing like a pruilise, direct or implied, was
held out to the Catholics that their emancipation
would be the consequence of the measure of a Le.
gislative Union, and that, of course, so disappoint.
meat could have been felt by them upon the rein-
lion of their claims. Such is his meaning, as far
as we have been able to collect it from the eon.
text ; but, as if kindling in his progress, and in the
wantonness of paradox, he rashly adds, 46 if there
bad been any real disappointment, As did sot de.
SKIM 1116 noose of A STATESMAN, or AM INOSIIST
NAN!" As the hero of Le Sage observes, upon
a similar occasion, Path:malice Oat conoainquanie,
and the political Lordly of Lord CASTIA:IIEAGU
being no more to be doubted than his integrity,
the conclusion against our Catholic countrymen is
lrresistible.

We have now, as far as it was in. our power,
gone through the analysis of the arguments, sired
by Ministers and their adherents, upon the discus.
&ion of this momentous (potion. It is unnecessary
to advert to its fate; but we cannot help making
same observations on the manner in which it was
allowed to linger, during its progress through the
three stages of its travel in the House. The Mem.
bers of the Cabinet might have learned, from their
political friends from Ireland, with what anxiety
the decision of this question was expected here, and
how much the public mind was tortured by the
suspense of uncertainty, if they had not surmised it'
themselves. Yet, the Catholic question, an bun.'
dred times more important than the Inquiry into
the Expedition to Flushing, was taken up on the
Ifith of May, laid aside again until the 25th of the
IMMO month, when, in consequence of a trivial
diecunion relative to the practice of the English
Court of Chancery, having gained precedence of
it, it was postponed until a late hour in the even-
ing, and being necessarily again abandoned, was
not resumeJ until the sth of June, (no day being
allowed for its discussion from the ordinary routine
of business) on which day it received its coup dc
grace from the hand of a sapient and patriotic Ad.
cninistratiun. The Impatience with which the Irish
Members were heard was remarkable, a'nd among
others, Mr, Helium., of the Counts of K.:!rry,,
was absolutely prevented from. proceeding to utter
his opinion. jli fact, the interference of Irish
Members was considered in the light of intrusion;.
and after Mr. HERBERT b.►d bee'h refused a hearingi'
an attempt was made to force the House to a pre.
Mature decisioq, which would have been successful,
tot for the manly spirit evinced by Mr. II
sptr ; who, untwithitanding the clamour and up.;
roar with which ho was received, insisted that, as
the !lo► s. would not then listen to an Irish Mem.
Ver, the debate should be adjourned : and, though'
speral efforts were used to evade this demand, and
although it was stated Gy Ministers that no other'
day could' be spared, wniild not be driven from hit
flu 'pose. Mc, If oxen t NSOO, as he could notarbtairi
tin earlier day, accepted nine at the end of soother
1101$ (Or its resumption,
• [To he continued.)

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