Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1827-04-25

parl;amen, We'll, as the right hon. gentle-
49, GO. not ,ben in Parliament, will furnish
h;u, with , short abridgmen, Of the history o.
rhis oues,ion since that time. Twill Denis ms
, ,o; If these late- times Hear. In 1872,
towards the close of the session, ! TOOK the IT.
b.,,y Of moving resolution, the object oil "nien
,v,. ~ lake into consideration in the ensuing
session Of Parliament, the laws atiecu1g our
Roman Catholic fellow subjects, The rar.a'
non, meanwhile, a. occurred last year, was ais-
solved. On the opening Of the New farha-
roent the bill was introduced by Mr.. Gratah-
!, was given to him by me, as thought II was
Il Ne 10 his fame, his station, and MS Vehera"'e
ace. that the bill should be brought. forward ny
him, On my unexpected victory, the greatest
that was ever achieved on this question:, consul
tuting, think, majority In It's favor OF 1919
the Bill was introduced, and into il were moor
porated the securities which deemed hecessa'
~ to the required concession. The right hon.
gentleman lies under fallacy as to The object
and proposed effect of these securities. he
securities were Of political nature-they were
not, as the RICH, hon gentleman supposes, Sc
curi,ies of Church and State. The objects
which these securities were intended 10 attain
were these two-frst, to give to the crown a
certain authority in the nomination OF Catholic
Bishops, and secondly, TO subject the cores
Dondence Of the See Of Rome with the Roman
Catholic subjects of this country, to the inspec-
ton of Government. Hear, hear Various
States in question had had an intercourse and
negotiation with the Pope, which he did not
possess In the existing state Of the law we
could not enter into any such negotiation he
year after he had come into the office which he
then held, he had had the opportunity OF ascer-
tanning the fact. In these popular works which
we're resorted to by the unlearned. he had read
that it was high treason 10 correspond with the
Pope Of Rome Soon after he entered on the
Foreign Office, there came letter from the
Pope addressed 10 our most gracious Sovereign,
announcing the Pope's accession to the Pon'itl-
cate, which letter was accompanied by very
handsome letter from the Roman Catholic Sc
cre,ary of State to him, Mr. CannngD Al
though he had always thought that tire only
way in which the question OF The securities to
be required from the Catholics could be settled
was by a negotiation with the Pope, yet he knew
that it might be as much as his reputation was
worth TO be detected in correspondence with
his Holiness A laugh. At length he be-
though, himself Of consulting the law officers
of the Crown on the subject, and he would now
read to the House the answer which he receiv.
ed. The right hon gentleman here read the an
ion Of the persons consulted, the lst Of Eliz. C..
10, would subject any parties corresponding
with the Pope Of Rome (who claimed a jurls-
diction over this realm) to the penalties Of a
premunre, which opinion was signed "R. Gif-
ford," and 81 S, copley." Great and pro-
tracted laughter.) Now, sir, l began to con-
upon premunire, and, unleaTned as I @ss,
found upon inquiry, that man, attained with
premunire, might be slain by any one. (Laugh-
ter Further. sir, that he was considered 10 he
GU, Of the Kings protection, and beyond that Of
the law for all beneficial purposes. { A laugh
He was unable TO bring his action at law, and
no one was 10 succour a person SO guilty.
Laughter. According TO Hawkins, believe,
there are further penalties connected with sure
.yship
The Master of the Rolls-That is not my o.
pinion
Mr. Secretary Canning-No; it is not the
| RICH, hon. and learned gentleman, but Burns
Justice, which is my present authority. Great
merriment Such were some Of the penalties
incident to premunire, which /, AN ignorant
and unleitered person, naturally anxious to OBJ
tain information on the subject, discovered 1t
was natural, sir, should look to the penalties
| and, looking to them, resolved would not
correspond with his Holiness the Pope. Ac-
cordingly, sir did not write single line in re-
| ply II the communication neither did advise
his Majesty to return any answer. And altho'
sir, from that day to this, have been preclud-
ed from the possibility Of offering TO his Holi.
ness any explanation Of my aDparen, want Of
proper attention and pollteness; yet may now
be permitted to hope that, in more legitimate
| way, my motive may now reach his ears-and
without the fear Of premunire. Laughter |
And with such view ii is, take this opportu.
tunity to assure that venerable person, that the
omission on that occasion was dictated by no
intentional want ofrespect. Having ascertain.
ed, sir, that to correspond with the Pope was
TO put myself in jeopardy, it was not likely that
fact could induce me, with all my admiration
for the laws which yet remain unrepealpd, to
attempt to convey any communication to the
Pope Of Rome. No doubt a similar feeling
pervades The bosom Of my right hon and learn.
ed friend on the subject, and yet, sir, to the.
Pope OF Rome it is that my friend must come
at last, If he really desire 10 effect that security
which might be expected to arise out of the no.
mlnalion of the Roman Catholic Bishops -
Hear, and laughter. With respect to tina, O..
Their branch, when called upon my right hon.
TREND Tor his opinion, and he answered by in.