Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1829-04-24


Of the magnitude of the interests involved i'll il,
the difficulties with which il was surrounded, and
the personal ep,barrassments which il cast upon
huse't. but supported by the consciousness OF do
ing his duty and fulfilling the obligation OF his
oath. He believed that the time had arrived
when there would be less danger 10 be feared for
the general interests OF the empire and those OF
the Protestant Establishment in attempting to ad
just the Catholic Question, than in suffering it to
remain in its present state. As the ground Of this
opinion. he mentioned the facts that he had stated
in previous spcec h-thc state to which the dis.
sen,ons on this subject had reduced Ireiand--;he
Tremendous and continued agitation of the country
from one end 10 the other-the poisoning Of the
sources Of justice, and the interruption Of social
intercourse. II had been said that this
ou story; but II was precisely for that reason lit
was precisely because this state of thing had ex-
listed so long. and because Il not likely
until the Catholic Question was adjusted, that he
now proposed this measure. He next showed that
the different opinions which prevailed in the realm
on this subject, had been the source OF continued
disseutian IN all @he cabinets that had existed in
Great Britain for the last thrty-fiye years. He
showed that il had been the cause Of the dssolu-
ton of every administration from 1894 to 1907.
From that period TO 1872, the cabinet had been
formed upon the principle OF hostility TO Catholic
emancipation; but after 1912. it had been con-
SANITY divided on the subject. This division in
the cabinet had caused the public ailai's of Ire
land 10 be administered by officers Of different
opinions on the Catholic Question, and pursuing
different systems of policy. In the meantime,
the House of Commons, the representatives of
the people, had been nearly equally divided on
tho question. AZ present, he thought that the de-
liberate voice Of the English people had been I'M
equivocai'y expressed in favor OF settlement
He then Showed that the consequence Of this d-
vision among the people, and this disagreement of
those who administered the affairs Of the nation,
had been, that for the last twenty five years Min
listers could not rely the ordinary laws for the
government of Ireland. The measures he was
about to propose, would, no observed. secure an
undivided Parliament, and united Government.
AS to the plan Of putting down the present ssi-
tations by measures of coercion, by recalling the
privileges already granted to the Catholics. by
enacting the old penalties and by taking back the
elective franchise, who he asked, would be bold
enough to undertake the responsibility 'of such a
measure! Even if ministers should propose il,
how could it be carried through Parliament! He
then spoke Of FIVE millions of Catholics i'm Ire
land, and the compact manner i'm which they in
habit the country. the great body OF them dwell
ling together, and asked, how Parliament could
undertake to repeal the privileges of a people so
situated while they left them the trial by jury:
Mr.. Peel next spoke Of the danger which might a.
left in her prcsen, situation. ami finally the pes
si6ty Of civil war Ia Ireland as the result of
non oncession.
Considering the question in religious point OF
view, he was Of opinion that the present system
had INSTRUCTED rather than promoted the spread
OF Professionalism in ireland, and that sense of
honor and spirit Of resistance had prevented
many belonging TO the higher classes of Catholics
from conforming TO the established Church. As
10 the coronation oath, he thought, and had always
thought, that there was nothing in that oath OH
which solid objection could be founded to the
removal Of their Catholic disabilities.
Mr.. Peel, after this, proceeded to unfold the
plan OF concession agreed upon nv the ministry
He stated that the principle upon which i, was
founded, was, the abolition Of civil restrictions and
the equality ofpoliiic3l rights Setting out upon
this principle, he thong t that he had right to
demand the assent of the Roman Catholics to the
other measures which he should bring forward,
for the security Oft the Protestant institutions.
After Mr.. c. Grant aud number OF other gen.
tlemen had spoken in favor of the measure and one
or two az ainst it
Mr.. Brougham rose merely 70 express his entire
and unqualified appreciation oftho bill Of the right
honorable gentleman. It wen, the full and entire
length that any reasonable man ever did or could
demand, for equal justice for bis Roman Catholic
ieiiow-subJects II put an end TO all religious dis
tInciinns to all civil dsqua6cations on account of
religion; in its means Of operaton it was at once
simple and eificacious: it clogged no exercise of
civil or religious rights, and required no securities
but such as the most Jealous Catholic must readi-
iy admit to be parcel of sucn comprehensive rnea
sures; so that il is altogether bill which appeared
TO carry, as far as any measure do, proclama-
ton through the country, that religious discorh
shall be no more-(iIear!) He agreed to the bill
Tor the Acknowledgement Of the 40s. reehoIders az
Many other gentlemen took partin the discus.
sion, amrng whom.
bir HuskssOn stated, in a speech of some leng In
his most cordial appreciation Of the measure of con.
cession. He was happy 10 perceive, that, in the
measure proposed by his right hon. friends. they
had not TO Iook for those imaginary dangers which
mad been so often spoken of in the treCuent discus.
SONS on this subject; aud that the measure was en-.
tirely freed from al. cumbersome machinery which
mad been repeatedly suggested with q view to
meet those Imaginary and pretended dsngers-
(Checrs.)
Afterwards-Mr. Peel rose, and replied at some
length TO the opponents OF the proposed measures
no right honorable gentleman indicated his con-
Duct on this question, in reference to his conduct
towards MIR. Canning in 1927, and proved by re adj.
ing passages from that great mans speeches. that
MIR. Canning hinselfhad admitted, that he (Mr.
PEEP could not Cooperate with him in the 90.
vernment OF the country. The right honorable
gentleman concluded by saying, that not having
heard even an attempt at a reply to the question
which he had invited his opponents 10 answer. he
was completely satisfied that no other courae than
that he had proposed could be adopted
The house then divided. when tie numbers
were
For the motion 31S
Againstit l60
Majority -Is9
Notwithstanding the perfect and entire satisf,c
ton which the bill gives to Mr.. Breugham here.
tofore the great leader Of Catholic fermentation.
MIR. O'CoHneli is yet restless.
MIR. Peel finished his speech at about 10 o'c,oet,
in the evening. In one hour after, the Sun pub
iished the whole speech, seven columns, and nut
copy into the hands Of Mr.. Peelin tbirty minutes
after he had sat down. One of the proprietors Of
that journal. left London a. one o'clock ffpe hours
ter the Mail had let) distributing that paryer in
all directions down the road, and arrived in Liver.
pool at O'Clock, only one hour after the arrival