The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1807-05-26

fwer tie purpofe for which i had been intend
cd (; the refult of which was thxt they though,
itbetter to drop the bill altogether, with fome
reiervations, of which he propt(-d to take
fome notice before he fllouli at down. In
withdrawing the bill, it appeared that hey had
made two rsierves fra, that they fiauld
heat liberty to declare their opinions on the
general policy of the meafure, as we'll ON the
Withdrawing the bill, as on the event of the
Catholic Petition being prefsnted. The fecond
referve was, that as a Government, they fhould
be at liberty to bring the fubjeet, from time TO
time, under his MajeRy's confederation, by re-
commencing fuch meafures as they might deem
proper to be adopted. Where any individual
) contents to give up any meafure, he had no
doubt Alright to propofe conditions but in
this cafe there were two parties, and though
the Minister'S had right to propofe conditions,
the 6tuation of his Majefty was not to be for
gotten.
He fhosld not fay that they had not confc-
entioufly Propofrd thefe referves, but he afked
their Lordfhips to confider what would have
been the htuation oft King, if he had acced-
ed to the proposition. What would have been
the cffeS3 of fuch an afFent, but to divide the
unity of the executive ? Would it not be to
dettroy the Contribution, one of the wife max
inns of which was, that the King could do no
wrong. thereby eating a veil over his facred
character (. Would it not have the effect Of
eating the whole odium on his tnsjeRy, of re-
filing the meafure, and of giving the whole
popularity to his Minifters Was his Maiefty
TO wait until the time Mould arrive, when his
Mnfters might think it convenient to bring
the queltiop again forward with more profped
OF effect He was not aware of any other al
Tentative his Msjeity had, when they had refuf-
ed to Withdraw their ftatement, or to make a.
ny promfc refpeefing the future, but that
yuh he aA all pfeH Ny,k
pinion had certainly been known to his Maicf
" on this fubjeet, but bis Majefty could not
forward, or whether his opinions upon it might
not have derived additional ftrength from the
decilion upon the queflion by the greatelt ma.
jorities that had ever been known upon any
public qucfion. But when they had given up
their half meafure, 1t was rather extraordinary
that they ,hould reierve the power of bringing
forward the whole quefion. All that he had
authority to rate on the part of his Maiefy
was, that the meafure which had been brought
IN was widely different from that which had
been fan9ioned by his Majefty, as firt propof-
ed. HscouId diifincfly fate with reference to
this frhject, that until he had been called up.
on, in conjunction with his Noble and Learned
Friend lord EIdon,) by his Majehy, he was
ignorant of this tranfaction.-But having been
10 called upon by his fovercign, he fnould
have ihrunk from his duty, if he had not yield
ed obedience TO his commands. He was fully
aware of the weight that was to be derived
from the fuppost of all the great ntereits that
had given their countenance to the late Admit
niaration he was fenfible of the fpIendid ia
lsnts OF the Noble Baron, and of the great en-
ersies that were necei1ary for the Government
IN the prefent criEs, but he fliould have fhrunk
from his duty. if he had not been ready at the
call Of his Majelty TO come forward on a quef-
ton which he thought neceaary, for uphold
ing the dignity of the Crown, for maintaining
the intereas of the country, and for maintain
ing the public etabihments, which he looked
sPon as intimately connected with the profpe-
rity of the empire.