Daily Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1828-1831, 1829-04-17
MR.. PEEL,s SPEECH.
; OF COMMONS, FrnnuAnr s, 1899.

and, 1t also gives Mr.. Peels for abandon
ing his former course ofpocy upon this question, we
present Ito our readers entire ss ~
Mr.. Secretary PEEL.--T trust the HONORABLE
Member who spoke last Mr. Moore) and the Noble
Lord, the Member for tho County of Buckingham
(Lord Chandos), and the two Honorable Members
(Sr &. Ingis and Mr.. Bankes), who preceded them
in the debate will do the Justice to believe that
Of all tho painful sacrifices which public men are call
ed upon to offer up for what they consider the public
good, the most painful is that sacrifice which they
are compelled to make IN separating from those with
whom they have been long acting in concurrence,
and promoting certain course OF proceeding. say
again, that the being compelled toseparate from men,
for whose integrity of motive and recttude of prnci
pe entertain the most profound respect, is with me-
of all sacrifices the most painful. trust, however,
it would be admitted. that Minister of the Crown
stands in situation somewhat different from that
ofother men; that in that capacity he has access TO
information that is not be obtained by others but
above all, that he stands in such relation to the
Grown, and under circumstances of nature SO deli
cate, that he snot at liberty to free himself from that
responsibility by which h. s compelled, without refer
ence to party or personal obligations, honestly and
furry, and conscieutiousy, to give tho best advice
in his power upon the Measures which ought to be
pursued undor state of things extraordinary as
iat in which the Government of this country now
finds itself Ndced. (fear, hcar.) With respect to
the question OF Catholic Emancipation, whatever re-
sefyations may have been hitherto adhered to, con-
ccve that such compacs and such reservations do no.
all relieves Minister ofthe Crown from the neccs-
sty ofoering in the exercise Of the duties OF his of
fee, the advice which such contingency of circun-
stances demands, from being responsible for the
consequences of that advice There arc no reproach-
offered me by those with whom have held these
opinions, that can take ILL., for admit that shall
retain those opinions which have always protested,
and only ask whether it may not be possible
tain those opinious but yet to feel unwilling to press
them to nm extent which would prove incompatible
with the interests of the state, If those who have
hitherto held those opinions can be brought believe
that the prosecution Of them is likely prove more
injurious to the general interests Of all parties and
the Protestant abismcnt ITSELF than the consde-
ration of the question WHOLE contend it is
duty to give that advice which to best adap-
ted the exgencies of the times and believe
chat there is less of evil and less of danger to be ap
pretended from fair, calm consideration, at the
present moment of the condi of the people of Ire
land whole, and by united Government, than
could find in any other course which it would be
possible to devise. | pretend to new lights upon
this subject. / maintain the same opinions now /
have always held in this House. see in the same
which have before dwct, when have been under
the necessity of stating my sentiments upon the
question; but have now no hesitation in declaring
conceive the pressure of present evils TO be so great
that am willing to endure the risk of contingent
dangers, rather than ensure eontinuance--perhaps
a great aggravation--of all the evils which at pre-
sent exist lflear, hear, hear repeat, maintai in
the opinions have often expressed; but see in The
position of tho Government, and in the stnte of the
Legislature, and in the disunion which has al
ways prevailed in that Government and IN the
general bearings of this question upon all the
great interests of the country, so much dam
ger, that L willing to accent almost any alter
native rather than endure their Continuance. Hear
For nearly five and twenty years-since, I believe,
the year 1304-there has been always a division IN his
Majesty's Councils with respect to the propriety of
Catholic Emancipation. The Government of the
country had at intervals, before that time been COM
posed of persons who made common cause in their
resistance to those claims; but for the last twenty five
years, men of different opinions upon this question
have taken part in his Malesty's councils. When
Mr.. Pitt returned to Office in 1904 notorious that
he maintained opinions upon this question very different
from his colleagues, but yet, on grounds which ad.
united Of explanations he admitted the members of his
cabinet to resist the claims of the Catholics. In the
year 1908, when the ministry Of Mr.. Pitt was broken
Up, and the coalition took place between Sir Fox and
Lord Melville, the administration formed on the
principle of neutrality, and that principle, which was
found to be unavoidable, had been admitted in
to the construction of every subsequent minis
try down to the present hour. That an adj
IHnistration has been formed of persons holding
different opinions upon snch subject is, therefore
notorious and although man feels more deeply than
do the evils of such principle, believe to be an
error which is unavoidable, aud which have shared
IN common with all those who have preceded me for
the period mentioned. believe, indeed, il was i'm
possible to form an administration under any other
circumstances and that however painful might be the
situation in which such circumstances placed ndivd-
uals or however preudicial the disunion proved TO
the interests of the country the plea of unavoidable
necessity permitted to override every other con-
IL was natural, ! ADMIT. That DURING a
state Of war, when labouring under the difficulties
and depressions which attendant upon n sudden
translation TO state Of peace the consideration ofthe
weight due to question ofths description should be
postponed, and that men should merge their desires
forts settlement in their anxiety to promote the other
pressing interests Of the country. l say, however
that the reasons which operated 10 such an extent
then cannot hold good now. This question is second
10 no other which can be brought under the attention
~ the Legislature. There is immediate and pres
sing danger now which prevents US from giving it's df
hcuecs our full attention. (IIear, hear.J This
therefore, is my first positIonthat however expedi-
ent, or however allowable il might have been for the
government to profess neutrality upon the Catholic
caIfs in othss times such state things IS utterly
out ofthe question now. At when there scarce
iy an individual IN the empire who does not express
an opinion upon the subject, and who is not even ma
king il the topic Of his every days DISCOURSE cn it be
SAID TINT the government is not to be called upon to
express It's opnion' (fIcar) really do think that
for the safety OF the interests Of Professionalism il is
necessary for The government to abandon IFS ncu-
traity. Besides the enbarrassments attendant unon