without
reservation, "the Roman Catholics of this kingdom," sufficiently proved
that it was meant to include the whole body of Irish Roman Catholics.
One of the most powerful pleaders on the other side of the question was
Mr. Peel, whose speech made a deep impression on the house. "If I
could be satisfied that any of the privileges withheld from the Roman
Catholics of Ireland, were so withheld in violation of the treaty of
Limerick, it would very materially influence my judgment in deciding on
the present question. But after having examined into this matter with
the greatest attention, I feel a more perfect conviction that that
treaty afforded the Catholics no claims to have their disabilities
removed. There were various articles in the treaty of Limerick, the
first referring to the Roman Catholic gentry and the others to the
inhabitants of Limerick generally. Now what he meant to contend was,
that political privileges were never in the contemplation of either of
the parties to the treaty. It had been contended that the passage in the
first article, which stated that the Roman Catholics should be allowed
the free exercise of their religion without disturbance or molestation,
in the same manner as they had been allowed it in the reign of Charles
II., meant that they were not to be subjected to any disabilities on
account of their religion. Now, with regard to the construction which
was to be put on these terms, it appeared from every writer of that
age, that, by the free exercise of their religion, was merely meant
toleration instead of political power. That such was the meaning of the
expression was clearly proved from the mouth of King William, one of the
parties to that treaty, who, shortly after the making of it, stated that
he was willing to grant to the Catholics the undisturbed exercise of
their religion, but not political power: that they should enjoy freedom
with respect to their persons and estates, and the exercise of their
religion; that with that they ought to be satisfied; and that he could
not comprehend how, when they enjoyed this, they could feel themselves
justified in disturbing the quiet of the kingdom. The true construction
of the treaty, as proved at the very time of making it, was not that
which was now put upon it by the friends of Catholic emancipation." With
regard to the general question Mr. Peel confessed that he distrusted the
Roman Catholics. He remarked:--"I do not find fault with the faith o