Daily Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1828-1831, 1829-04-16
CATHOLIC EMANCIPATION s. MR.. PEEL.

pshed disciple of Mr.. Pitt consented To sit down in
orothc.y friendship with the man who anticipated for
rmset, as the greatest Of all posthumous honors.
some such cpitaph as ths-"IIore lies the enemy of
William Pitt, it could not in reason =, doubted tat
many perfidlcs of the same enorDlty would follow.
Crimc Is contagious; and the example of brilliant
man rs contagious. Hence nobody was surprised
that such people the Goderiches and the Dawsons
men of that order, who have any principles in
proper sense, should lay aside their own professions
as unconcernedly IA an questionable coat. Nay,
except for the Indigenous OF the contrast IL was
not very surprising TO find that same Lord Anplreea
who, but four years ago, had talked fappcalup 20
the sabre in the contest with the Irish papist. abso
uteiy hallooing EDWARDS the dogs Of the Catholic
Association to further outragcs. Being therefore 80
common case, nay, common even in an excess
sive degree, we may be assured that this particular
apost0cy of Mr. Pcel's labor with some sirnal
aSgravatons, or could not At this stage of our en-
perience, have reused so profound a DISGUST. All
hearts Turned against him with scorn, even the
hearts OF those for whom ne has made shpwreck OF
bis honor and his concicncc. And with reason; for
The agravating circumstances of his case are thcse;-
first, that he had been more indebted to the cause
which he has BETRAYED than any other apostatc of
our times and secondly, that he, OF all apostates has
the most cnnGnly failed TO make out any shadow of
case for h!'nsc or any colorado show ofcxpcicncc
Tor the new policy he has adopted. For his ohiru-
tons 10 the protestant cause they are familiar to all
men. That cause it which raised him tn tho ia
your ot Oxford; and that favour it was, united with
MS family wealth, which planted him and rooted him
back to the university that mark OF distinction which
originally created opportunity ard advantage to his
very moderate talents: It is easy to make merit of
iaying down the ladder which has long since raised
him TO his present emincncc. But, unless he could
restore the profits OF his trust, man ofhcnour could
not have thought himself at liberty tn renounce the
trust 1t IS circumstance very trivial by comparison
but the same In spirit, that late as last autumn SIR.
Pcci accepted dinner from the people of Manchcs-
ter nc an expression of respect TO his public merits
well knowing at the time that first and foremost of
those merits were held his services and professions
agninst Popcry. His behaviour on that occasion
sealed our suspicious he accepted the Manchester
homage, but IN silence; allowed himself to be cheer
cd. Landed, caresscd, for acts which in his heart he
had during two months retructed; returned thanks,
and appropriated the applause, but in such obscure
terms to leave 1t doubtful wlctheri might not be
by mere nadvcrtency that he took no special notice
Of that single question which at that moment DOS
scssed the m nd Of bis whole audience. Was this the
conduct Of an honest man,
but now let us hear Mr.. Peels apology; not for
such duplicty, utter his resolution had been once
taken to changes that admits of no apology but for
this resolution. The dangers, perhaps, from Popery
nave passed away, or have greatly declined? BY no
means Mr. Peel believes them to be what he ever be-
ievcd them. In this respect his opinions have under
gone no change. But whereas heretofore, he limited
his view to that sole danger he now sees another in
the opposite direction, and, he thinks greater;
and between two dangers he would make MS election
for the less. But it is impossible for Mr. Peels
friends 10 deny that the evil which he now describes
as the least however, nothing less than ruin 70 our
Protestant constitution, abiding, at least, by many
former speeches of his, not shorter or less corent
than any he has delivered in this session. Where
the least evil, therefore, is conessedly as much as
ruin, and no choice allowed but between two ruins
man Of sense, in neutral position, win see little
ground for any choice at NIL; aud a rood man. who
happens to stand in no such liberty of indifference
viii allow to the mItves or cunsisIcncv truth and
honor, weight capable Of restoring the equipoise
many times over"
The folloIinn nasso copoI,,.;o
Under Providence the first great champion which
we may look to = the nation itself iacensed and a
ARMED, and ready to in any direction where it
can do with proprcty and effect 1t i, peculiarly
unfortunate that the pretcnsons Of the Pspsts should
have been brought forward under the anspiccs ofthe
Duke OF wellington unfortunate both for himself
and for For himself, bccansc that cause cannot
gain much from his counteuuuce as he will lose hv
connection with that cause. For us, hocause at the
same time 1t ~ inevitable that such a sanction should
tend to abash and break the energy of the Protestant
resistance for those even who admit no shadow of
right in the Duke of wellington to Judge upon this
question are yet checked in their opposition by the
respect and gratitude 10 which, on other accounts
they acknowledge his inicfcasiblc claim. Hence az
the very outset one great advantage is lostior had
It been any other minister who vontured to propourd
this measure than such national bcnefactor az the
victor OF Wateroo-ycs, lid il been even Chatham
or the Of Cbaham--assuredly tho vsry first sten
taken would have been 20 meet by thousands and by
ten thousands, by cies AM counties, and to carry
for the instant dismissal from his councils of nil those
servants who might have advised him to such runous
projects, AS it is the nation cannot apparently move
With effect until these projects shall have taken some
definite parliamentary shape
At that stage we cannot doubt that The thunders
Of national Indignation will b. poured In efectually
and snch storm will perhaps hca: upon that cmi-
noncc which the Dakc of Wellington occupies r.,
may make him wish himself, for comparative ouict,
back again in the hottest fields ofSpain In the next
place we rely on the tried fidelity Of the House Of
Lords This will be osslcd with the same arts and
influences ny have already triTmphed over the virtue
Of Mr.. Peel and Others of hat NC may be assured:
but still we have much confidence in the Inspiring ex.
nmples Of the Eldons, the Ncwcastlcs and Winchcl-
seas-patriots as conscientious &C ever honored n
Christian land. And there is this advantage on the
sldo ofthc upper houscas security for their honour
that the proportion ofmen made 1nprincpled by am
hilton is there much smaller than amongst the aspir-
Ing Commons. Lastly we reckon upon the Catholics
themselves. That they will agrcc with sincerity and
good faith TO tho securities Which will and Unjust be de-