Lord Kinghad several Petitions to present from that people, who stated themselves to be the most wretched, the most ill-used, and the most oppressed, people in Europe; namely, the Irish Roman Catholics. Wretched, however, as they were, he did not think there was any hope of removing their grievances; for, as the noble and learned lord on the wool-sack had really stated, this House had repeatedly rejected every specific proposition, and the other House had come to a sweeping resolution not to listen to or consider their complaints. It had been stated that there was a great deal of harmony, good-will, and friendly feeling in Ireland. Yes, he believed there was just as much harmony and good-will as there was between oil and vinegar. The antagonist principle was in great force in that unfortunate country. Landlords were set against their tenants. The population were against the property of the country. The parsons were against the priests; and hatred existed in every possible shape. He did not know what was to be the future plan of government with respect to Ireland. No one had ventured to point out what government intended to do; but when they should bring forward a plan, what was to be "the instrument?" to use a Cromwellian phrase. The instrument of government, he believed, would be the cannon, that ultima ratio of Protestant 2 ascendancy. The Catholics thought Protestantism a job in Ireland, established by a variety of laws, the worst of which was by far the Select-vestry act. The Protestants thought that the Catholic religion was idolatrous: so that one part of the community considering as imposture the religion of the other part, and the other part of the community considering the established religion to be a job, was what he considered to be a pretty state of things. The noble lord then presented petitions from the town and vicinity of Wexford, against the Select vestry-act, and in favour of Roman Catholic emancipation.
The Duke of Buckinghamsaid, he gave the noble lord credit for the sincerity of his efforts, but he could never admit that the manner in which he made those efforts was at all calculated to allay the feeling of irritation, or to produce the effect which he wished to produce. He never could hear it quietly stated, that there was no hope for the Roman Catholics. He not only hoped, but was convinced that the measure which was the object of the noble lord's efforts must, at no distant day, be granted.
Lord Kingsaid, he had not stated any thing with regard to the hopes of the Catholics. All he had said was, that he himself entertained no hope whatever of their cause. if he looked to the late decision of the other House, he should find it far less conciliating than any thing that had fallen from him on this subject.
Ordered to lie on the table.