§ General Montague Mathewpresented a Petition from the Catholics of the county of Tipperary. The presentation of this Petition was to him a most pleasing duty, because it proceeded not from the Catholics only, but had the support of every one of his constituents, whether Protestant or of any other religious persuasion. Before he should move that the Petition do he on the table, he begged leave to trouble the House with a few observations. It had been for a considerable time in his possession, but he thought it more prudent to defer its presentation until the period of the cessation of the restrictions on the Prince Regent should have arrived. This was merely according with the wishes of the Catholics themselves; for they did hope, and they had reason to hope, that some change of men as well as measures would then take place; but they had been disappointed, the "new era" had arrived, but their wishes bad not, unfortunately, found a reality in the choice which had been made. The peace and tranquillity of the empire was still without an anchor; the Catholics had been disappointed, and the country was in danger. Since, therefore, the change that the Irish people, and he along with them, had anticipated, had not taken place, he did not conceive himself justified in withholding the Petition any longer. The House had already heard from the intolerant minister, that should a favour able disposition towards the Catholic cause arise in the Prince Regent's mind, then he would make his bow and withdraw. The House heard this declaration, the like of which never was addressed, perhaps, in the history of the world, by a bigotted narrow principled minister to an enlightened Prince, or a high-minded generous people The hon. general then recomended to his countrymen not even yet to despair—not yet to cast away their last hope. Of one thing they might be assured, that their political friends would never desert them, as long as they pursued the constitutional course which they had hitherto followed. The wisdom of 1087 the Regent would still, he trusted, be triumphant over bigotry and political folly, and they therefore might in time expect better results. For his part, his feeling was little less than detestation for those odious ministers. He had nothing to fear, nothing to hope for, but the approbation of his oppressed countrymen, and therefore with these feelings and with these hopes, he would leave no stone unturned—he would exert whatever little influence he possessed to accelerate the downfal of these weak and intolerant ministers, and to assist the measures which would give happiness to Ireland, security to England, and perhaps peace to the world. But as long as the present Chancellor of the Exchequer and his diabolical phalanx continued in office, they could not fail to bring on the country the greatest evils—evils which must finally lead, not to the subversion merely, but to the subjugation of the country. On the fate of the Catholic question depended the fate of Ireland—on the fate of Ireland depended the fate of England—and on the fate of England depended the fate of the empire and of Europe. When the general Petition should come before the House, he would then further declare his sentiments.
The Petition was then brought up and read; setting forth,
"That the Petitioners have frequently though ineffectually, applied to the House for relief from those penal laws and restrictions which still aggrieve and degrade the Roman Catholics of Ireland; and that they are fully convinced of the justice of their claims, and determined to persevere stedfastly in asserting them; and their duty to themselves, to their families, and to their country, impel them once more to solicit the serious and earnest attention of the House to the important subject of their Petitions; and that the Roman Catholics of these realms are well entitled upon every principle of right and justice, to an equal participation of all the benefits of the constitution, in common with their fellow subjects of every other communion; they are unconscious of crime, and undeserving of reproach; their services, industry, properly, numbers, their meritorious and patient demeanour throughout the severest trials, must powerfully recommend their cause to the, favour of an enlightened legislature; and that the Petitioners solicit then this equal participation; they desire the abolition of all the restraints upon liberty of conscience, com 1088 plete toleration of the members of all religious persuasions in their respective modes of worship, without the galling restraints of civil disabilities, privations, or exclusions; they seek permission to adhere to the religious faith of their ancestors and of their country, unmolested by penal laws, which injure and irritate, and shielded against the ignominy, insult, and humiliation which the Roman Catholics of these realms are now compelled to endure; and that these objects, which the Petitioners thus peaceably pursue, they feel and know to be perfectly legitimate and laudable; they would cheerfully concede the free enjoyment of civil and religious liberty to all mankind, they ask no more for themselves; and that, thus earnest though temperate, confident but respectful, they humbly pray the House, that all the penal laws, disabilities, restrictions, and privations of every kind, which now aggrieve and degrade the Roman Catholics of these realms, may be utterly repealed and abolished, that justice may thus be rendered to a faithful and deserving people, security restored to property, and strength and concord to the empire."
§ Ordered to be upon the table.