§ Colonel Vernersaid, he should not be discharging his duty to the Protestants of Ulster, if he did not put a question to the right hon. Baronet, to know whether the report was true, as stated in the papers, that Mr. Watson had been deprived of the commission of the peace and the situation of a deputy lieutenant of the county of Antrim, in consequence of taking part in an Orange procession on the 12th of July last?
§ Sir R. Peelsaid, it was true that the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland had felt it to be his painful duty to remove Mr. Watson from the commission of the peace and the deputy lieutenancy. That report was correct. In 1837 (he thought it was) the House of Commons resolved to present an Address to King William IV., praying him to adopt all the necessary measures for the purpose of discouraging Orange societies. That Address was presented to the Sovereign, and a solemn promise was made by the Sovereign that every measure in his power for the purpose of discouraging Orange societies should be dopted. That was the obligation 1522 that had been contracted by the Crown. He (Sir R. Peel) understood that this gentleman, who was of the highest respectability, not only had interfered in an Orange procession, but had (being a magistrate and deputy lieutenant) signed, as chairman of a meeting, resolutions which stated that the time was come when Orange institutions ought to be reorganized. On this, bearing in mind the sentiments expressed in the Address of the House in 1837, and bearing in mind the reply of the Sovereign, that the whole power of the Government should be employed for the purpose of discouraging Orange societies, Her Majesty's Government had found it to be their painful duty, in fulfilling the assurances that had been given from the Throne, to acquaint Mr. Watson that he could no longer continue in the commission.
§ Colonel Vernersaid, that as the answer of the right hon. Baronet was not satisfactory, he should move an Address to the Queen, on the subject of the removal of Mr. Watson next Session.