The Marquis of Ormondepresented a Petition from Kilkenny, complaining of distress, and praying for a Repeal of the Union. The noble Marquis stated it as his conviction, that a Repeal of the Union would be a most disastrous measure to both countries.
§ Lord Clifdenquite concurred in that opinion. He did not know any thing that would be more disastrous to Ireland than a repeal of the Union. He really believed, that if their Lordships thought fit to erect Ireland into an entirely separate State, and to send to the Continent—to Prussia, Austria, or Russia, for some Prince to place as a sovereign there, they could not more completely lay the foundation of the utter ruin and subversion of the empire, than by repealing the Union. He would assert, that ninety-nine out of a hundred men of property in Ireland,—that all respectable persons, Catholics and Protestants, were against a repeal of the Union. No man was a greater friend than he (Lord Clifden) was to an effectual and proper reform, but he was at the same time decidedly opposed to universal suffrage, radical reform, and the repeal of the Union.