Constitutional Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1824-1832, 1825-04-19
RtrDtauottU 914DtQ-
TUESDAY MORNING, APRIL 10. 1895.

det, for leave to bring in bill TO remove the dsqual
locations imposed OH the Roman Catholics of Great
Britain and Ireland, has, we frankly acknowledge,
convinced us that we have hitherto been mistaken in
The uniavorabe opinion, which entertained OF his
real character and principles. That he is a of
splendid genus-of extensive and profound political
knowledgc-and of great experience-hat he is pow
erfu and eloquent and unrvaed in debate, upiver
sally admitted but the sincerity of his attachment to
the rights of the British people, and his professions of
devotion to the of British liberty, have since he
was appointed the cabinet: been always distrusted,
and not without reason; for his political career since
that event. has been well calculated not only to excite
but to confirm and strengthen suspicion. He common
ced public life, by enisng uner the banners of the
opposon and his weight of talents, his towering abb
tes, united with the almost irresistible fascination of
his elouence, struck the ministry with terror and dis
may while the nation gazed hun with mingled graft
tude and veneraon, as the frmest aud undaunted
champion of their liberties. He stood forth the Jealous
and able advocate of the Roman Catholics of Ireland
ana denounced the measures adopted By the British
Caoihet towards that unhappy and oppressed land as
unnecessarily harsh and severe, arbitrary and tyrann-
cal: but when he elevated to the highest office
which his sovereign could bcsow-when he became the
confidential adviser of George 18th, and ought conss-
tenty with his former principles and political sentiments
to have recommended the immediate repeal of all the
laws obnoxious to that generous high spirited but i'll
faed people, his lips sealed in silence The euan
cPaioh OF the itonan Catholics from the thraldom of
British tyranny, no longer furnished the theme ON which
he displayed the vast of his enlightened mind
aud those Wonderworking powers of oratory which had
formerly when pleading the cause of truth and ustce
awakened in his hearers every passion and feeling and
emotion, which can sway the mind or influence the
VIII OF man. 1t was then supposed that like Lord
Castlereagl he had abandoned them to their fate He
also permitted the French army to invade the Spanish
territory without even the fomaly of protest. TO in
suit and trample on the liberties of the Spanish people
nay even to reduce that wretced nation to state of
military subsection to France. And lastly the del.v
Oh the British ministry to advise the recognition of the
independence of our sister republics in the South has
been ascrlbed to decided hostility TO liberal principles
and the determination to acknowedce them as s6vere;
powers, was supposed TO be the result not of anv friend
u'Pos'oh oil the cabinet towards them, but of the
influence OF public opinion, which had been enlisted in
Their behalf by the monied interest of the KINGDOM
But the differences drawn from these circumstances ,e
now demonstrated to be erroneous; and the sinrle
ON the Catholic question, would establish his character
for independence of sentiment decision and 6rmnes IF
mInd for liberal aud enlightened principes: il would
even cover If not obliterae forever multitude of mo-
itcai transgressons Enfeebled by disease vet like
the iIlustrious and venerable Chatham on an occasion
scarcely more momenous, he poured forth torrent of
eoquence seldom equalled, in defence of the most sa
cred right of man, the right which no human no1ver
CONFER and OF which no human power Can deprive him.
of "orsmpping hls Creator, after the manner which his
reason sanctions and his heart approves To djsfran
c"'se anu degrade fellow creature for adopting mpl
Guy reiSonS preJudces and religious principles which
are ihstIied INTO the mind at that period of life when
the dawn OF ms intellectual nature has lust common
ced-when he is incapable of discriminating the trptb
blended intimately with error in the instructions which
he receives from-perhaps his parents-at the moment
too, when they teaching him lessons of virtue and
winding themselves around his heart by the tenderness
and9 lection they lavish him. is not ONLY cruel but
odious and despotic Is wonderful that human nature
should be SO fra and weak? Is it wonderful that tbe
laws OF belief should neither depend on the will ofother
sF even on our own? Mr. Cannngs name will hereafter
be identified with the brightest era of English history
gushed statesmen Of his country. His administration
will form new epoch in her annas-he will be admir-
ed and revered by the patriot and phantbropst
age and of every nation-and his fame will acquire adj
dttlonal lustre, when contrasted with the yranpicaI
measures, the fell cruelty and injustice to fallen foe
which characterized the ministry of his predecessor
The British nation may boast that during his admins
raon Tie chains forged in dark age by ecclesiastical
tyranny, were burst asunder-bat the Roman Catholic
was restored TO the proudest rights and privileges of his
English brethren; that the country was no longer de-
Prved of the services of whose talents and abilities
should be employed in promoting and advancing the in
eres ADD welfare of the community that the restrictive
and Prohibory system, which originated in times of bar
barism, when total ignorance of the genuine sources
OF national wealth and prosperity and ofthe true prnc
pies opolitica economy, prevailed was forever abolish
ed, together with all the moral and political evil which
it had engendered; that the recognition of the South
American republics afforded Bcontrovertibe evidence
OF his enlightened policy, and Of his profound knowledge
of the diversified aud extensive commercial interests of