apex. It was also denied
that there was anything peculiar in the nature of the proposed measure
to require a special appeal to the people, since it was incorrectly
called a violation of the constitution. That constitution, it was
argued, was not to be sought for solely in the acts of 1688: its
foundations had been laid much earlier; laid by Catholic hands, and
cemented with Catholic blood. But, even taking the compact of 1688 to
be the foundation of our rights and liberties, yet the most diligent
opponent of the Catholic claims would be unable to point out in the Bill
of Rights a single clause by which the exclusion of Roman Catholics from
seats in parliament was declared to be a fundamental, or indispensable
principle of the British constitution; that bill merely regarded the
liberties guaranteed to the people, and the protection of the throne
from the intrusion of Popery. To the objection that the measure now
contemplated was unconditional concession, concession without a single
security for the Protestant establishment, it was answered, that
principles of exclusion were not the securities to which the established
religion either did trust, or ought to trust. The real securities of
Protestantism would remain, unaffected by this bill, in the unalterable
attachment of the people, who, though divided on minor topics, would
unite in resisting the errors of Popery. The house, it was said,
should also look at the great security which they would derive from
the generous attachment of the people of Ireland, who, after ages of
oppression, would find themselves restored to their place in society.
Moreover, the securities which the bill contained were not so nugatory
as they had been represented. Mr. Peel said, that when he looked at the
petitions sent from all parts of the country, he could not help being
struck with one extraordinary coincidence. These petitions prayed for
those securities; and the prayers of them were similar, whether they
came from the county of Wicklow, or from the county of Armagh, &c.;
that it was impossible to arrive at any other conclusion than that those
prayers, and the terms in which they were conveyed, had been suggested
by one common head and source. And what were the securities prayed for?
Why, the first was, "Put down the Catholic Association;" the second,
"Correct the elective franchise of Ireland;" and the third, "Abolish for
the future the order of the Jesuits in this country." Now the bill whic