§ Mr. Fremantlein the absence of his right hon. friend (Mr. Grattan), proposed to postpone the motion relative to the Catholics of Ireland to the 14th of April next.
The Chancellor of the Exchequerthen rose and said that upon a question of so great importance to the empire at large, he had already thought it his duty to give notice, of his mention to move for a Call of the House, in order that there might be as large an assembly as possible of the members, to discuss and decide on that subject. He was aware that it had been stated, that this motion would meet with the general, if not the unanimous support of the country; but he remained of the same opinion which he had before entertained and expressed, that those who indulged in such sentiments were deceived. The more and the deeper he could dive into the opinions and feelings of the majority of the people of this country, the more he was convinced that the measure proposed was one which would, in all its stages, meet with their disapprobation. He had no objection to accede to the proposed postponement; but if the discussion were fixed for the 14th, he should content himself with giving notice, that he should move the Call of the House on Monday, the 13th of April,
§ Mr. Whitbreadsaid, that he was as anxious as any member, that on the approaching discussion there should be as full a House as possible. So far the proposal for a Call had his perfect assent. He was not at all surprised at the conduct of the right hon. gentleman in the notice he had given; for if any thing could mislead the people of England on this subject, they would be misled by his measures. From the solemnity with which the right hon. gentleman had given his notice, and the observations with which he had accompanied it, it appeared clear that the whole influence of the executive government of the country was to be employed, for the purpose of opposing the claims of the Roman Catholic petitioners of Ireland. From what had passed that night, he could also understand, that in the applications made under the advice of that right hon. gentleman, to those who were on fundamental and vital principles opposed to his system of government, that right hon. gentleman "apposed that those parsons to whom that 1240 application was made might have acceded to it, though he (Mr. W.) was well convinced, that they would rather do any thing,—that they would sooner die, than sacrifice their duty and their principles, to join and support that right hon. gentleman's system of administration.
§ The Call was then fixed for the 13th of April.