n the king
from consenting to such alterations as parliament in its wisdom might
enact. Earl Grey also entered at great length into that important part
of the question, which related to its bearing on the act of union with
Scotland. On every ground, he continued, the right to make the change
was clear; and, in his opinion, the justice and prudence of making
it were equally obvious. The great object of alarm seemed to be the
political power which the bill would confer, and which, it was said, was
the object at which the Catholics had all along been aiming. The bill
would certainly bestow political power; but, he argued, it was power of
the most legitimate kind, and that to which they were justly entitled.
As to the effect of the bill on the state of Ireland, he would not say
that it would at once give tranquillity, and remove all dangers; but
he felt sure that without it it was impossible to have tranquillity and
freedom from danger in that country. By the system of exclusion, lie
said, they had produced more than one rebellion in Ireland, which
had been extinguished in blood; but had they, he asked, induced
tranquillity? By no means. On the contrary, Ireland had been growing
worse and worse every year, requiring a larger military force to keep
the people obedient to the laws, and that in a time of peace. Was this
the mode of making that country a useful portion of the empire? Was it
the way in which we should be preparing for war? But, it was urged, if
you pass this bill, the church of Ireland is destroyed, and Catholic
ascendancy virtually proclaimed. That church, unfortunately, was placed
in a situation which could not be freed from dangers of one sort or
another. The great obstacle to its triumph had always been, that it had
never been the church of more than a small minority of the people of
Ireland; and that it was the church of so very small a minority, he
verily believed, was owing to those very laws which they now sought to
repeal. Take them away, and the number of its disciples would increase,
not from the spirit of conversion..... for any open attempt in that
way would be impolitic--but from its superior reason, and from its more
wholesome tenets, which would come more fairly into play as soon as it
should be relieved from the invidious situation in which it at present
stood. Take away the false protection, of exclusive laws, and superior
excellence would prevail in the conflict of argument. The debate was
clos