Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1827-05-04
BRITISH HOUSE OF COMMONS,
MARCU o.


BRITISH HOUSE OF COMMONS,
MARCH 6.
.4DJOUR.NED CATHOLIC DEBATE
MIR. Secretary CANNING rose a, half pat
Two o'clock this rning, and spoke 10 the fol
lowing etfect:--" Sir, af.-r the prolracted discus.
sion to which this debate has been already ex-
tended the House has security in my discretion,
az well in my pre-. Inability 10 address them
at considerable Length that shall not trespass
long upon their attention. Indeed, am principally
induced TO rise les it rn'sh appear dsrespeciul TO
The House aud unbecoming IN me ere / 10 all
stain from stating (at least shortly and succinct-
iy,) the g ound, which give my vote this
nigh. In doing so, think II may not he nexpe-
dent 10 recall the attention of the House more &C
cura,ey than il has been called during the erei;cr
p ri Of the discussion, 10 the question Immediately
Before the consideration of the House. The 10 .
noufabe Baronet (Sir K EurdetD who brought
this question forward. Introduced i, with gene.
ro.ity and prOdisay of argument and remark,
which prevented him from conEans himself mere
" to the motion itself 10 The accurate statement
of what the substance OF the PROPOSE ion is. OF
that omission on the part of the no lourabe Baro-
net, I must say very unfair advantage has been
taken in the of this discussion. Because
the honorable Baronet did distinctly state
that the present proposition was Oue that merely
kej of you, the present Hou'e of Commons,
whether you DO, or DO not, e.tertain the same
oInon as your predecessors OF the importance OF
considering this important question, did not
peci that liier efore, objection would h,ve been
made TO him for having omitted TO fill up he de-
tails of measure in preliminary resolution of
ptiacipls hear, hsa!]. | sh'uiI NOT have ey-
peceJ ih:. misconsiruction OF sTguuien; from a
meuber who had oaly sat in this House for the
first time; but confess a little prepared
TO have an example of such confusion, re. BIZ
judicial accuracy (cheefs and Laughter } The
speech Of the right honorable gentleman (the
Master OF the Roll-) has been partly historical and
partly critical. The histoI zeal part, The adnis-
sion Ct the right honorable gen leman himself,
.as inappiic able 20 the present question; and 7
shall presently shew that MS critical part moi
less inapposite (hear, hearD. The right honoura-
bic gentleman began, continued, and ended bis
speech by complaining that no securities were Of
fei ed on the part OF The Roman Catholics. If the
right honorable gentleman reqrIrei securities
how they 20 be prcPounded! In what? In
a resolution calling upon you TO declare whether
you will Affirm abure lie inherited opinion of
youF predecessors. Wien he House declares its
opinion in affirmation or negation of the necessity
and importance OF considering and entertaining this
measure, then will be the line Tor deiiberatinC on
the measure in its de ais then will be the time Tor
considering what Bill and what provisions il will
he 81 oper to introduce; but until 'hsi time ar
riyes, honorable Gentlemen might, without i'm
pTOUTiety, restrain Oh lNelT surprise
chat the honourabe BaTonet has not, in the first
instance, introduced in all It's details to
the House The honorable Biropet had done
right in emitting TO do He would have only
perplexed and defeated Lis object If he i.ed en-
numbered il al this stage Of The di:cussion, with
ali the topic. et ceteJd, which Iuis ht have been
Cleaned and collected from the DeIuge TO The Re-
volution (besr. and laugh). What right has
the right honorable gentleman 10 require that the
aiouiI he curumbpreI 9th
now, a motion which only embraces a sin
pIe proportion, TO take into consideration the
laws affecting Roman Catholics, with view of
relieving them from the civil disabilities under
which they lsbouf, Is this proposition sub
initted merely for the purpose OF idle and oiiose
curiosi'y? No; but because, since Ibis question
was last discussed, aud a decision come 70 upyp
II, a dissolution has taken place, new ParIia-
ment has been returned, and general impres sion
has gone abroad, that change OF opinion has
taken place-a change, however, IN which ut
terly disbeieve (helr, hear) The course pursued
By the honorable BTonet The correct one;
for by admitting the principle Of the measure, the
House would come TO iaifer consideration of il
afterwards; as the honorable Baronet, by obtain.
ing an admission of the principle, laid the foun-
dalon Of its being more fsvourably cntsftsined in
ils future stages; and a., without such admission
he would have been altogether without the hope
of fortunate result Becsuge detailed scheme
Of securities has not been brought forward, the
light honorable gentleman has thought proper to
accuse ME Of abandoning the idea Of secoriiies,
which at one time regarded necessary ac-
compartment OF any measure Of relief TO the
Roman Catholicsi and upon this he has founded
charge Of Inconsistency against me. Sir, I have
not altered or abandoned any sentiment or opinion
Lsye entertained respecting this important mes
sure. Why does the right honourable gentleman
say have abandoned the notion of the nergs.itv
Of securities? What proof has he that I have
done so (cheers)2 Where is the evidence of ms
dsreliction (renewed cbeers)' do moi know
whether or not the right honorable gentleman was
in Parliament ia 1912, when first voted Ter this
MEASURE. (Ii was intmsted across the Table TO
Mr. Canning that tie Master Of Tie Rolls was
not then in Psrliament). Welii a. the right
honorable gentleman was not then In Parliament,
VIII furnish him With iIcff sbridgment of the