Imatges de pàgina
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which they fhall judge molt expedient, for fettling fuch "a complete and final adjustment as may best tend to improve and perpetuate a Connection effential for their common fecurity, and to augment and confolidate the Strength, Power, and Refources of the British Empire."

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WHEN I propofed to the House, the last timethis fubject was before them, to fix this day for the further confideration of His Majefty's Meffage,

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certainly indulged the hope that the refult of a fimilar communication to the Parliament of Ireland would have opened a more favourable Profpect than at present exifts, of the speedy accomplishment of a measure which I then ftated, and which Iftill confider, to be of the greatest importance to the power the ftability, and the general welfare of the Empire; to the immediate interefts of both kingdoms-and more particularly to the peace, the tranquillity, and the fafety of Ireland: in this hope, I am forry to fay, I have for the prefent been difappointed, by the proceedings of the Irish Houfe of Commons, of

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I feel and know that the Parliament of Ireland poffeffes the power, the intire competence, on the behalf of that country, alike to accept or reject a propofition of this nature-a power which I am by no means inclined to difpute. I fee that at the prefent moment one Houfe of Parliament in Ireland has expreffed a repugnance, even to the confideration of this measure. Feeling, Sir, measure.Feeling, as I have already ftated, that it is important, not only as it tends to the general profperity of the Empire of Great Britain, but (what, under every fituation, muft always be to me an object of the greatest moment) feeling that it was defigned and calculated to increase the profperity and enfure the fafety of Ireland, I must have seen with the deepest regret that, at the very first moment and before the nature of the meafure could be known, it was fo received.

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But whatever may have been my feelings upon this fubject, knowing that it is the undoubted

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sda oright of the Legislature of Ireland to reject or to adopti fuch measures as may appear to them indalojurious, or beneficial, far be it from me to fpeak an of its determination in any other terms but those on of refpect. Let it not, therefore, be imagined that I am inclined to prefs any fentiment, how; ever calculated it may appear to me to benefit every member of the Empire, in any manner , which may lead to hoftile difcuffion between two kingdoms, whofe mutual happiness and safety depend upon their being ftrictly and cordially united. But while I admit and refpect the rights of the Parliament of Ireland, I feel that, as a [Member of the Parliament of Great Britain, I alfo have a Right to exercife, and a Duty to per form, That Duty is to exprefs, as diftinctly as I ean, the general nature and outline of the Plan, which, in my confcience, I think would tend in the strongest manner! for and the manner to enfure the fafety happiness of both kingdoms.

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While I feel, therefore, that as long as the House of Commons of Ireland view the fubject in the light they do at prefent, there is no chance

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of its adoption, I do not think that I ought on that account to abftain from fubmitting to the Esq confideration of this Parlament; "on the ebatrary I think it only the more more necessary to explain diftinctly the principles of the Measure, and to ftate the grounds upon which it appears to me to be entitled to the approbation of the

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If Parliament, whe

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it is in poffefion of the bafis upon which this Plan is founded, and of its general outline, fhould be of opinion with me, that it is founded upon fair, aft, and equitable 5 26 881 1951 principles, calculated to produce mutual advan-194 tages to the two Kingdoms-if Parliament, I say, upon full explanation, and after mature deliberation, fhould be of that opinion, I fhould propose that its determination fhould remain recorded as is that by which the Parliament of Great Britain ofic were ready to abide, leaving it to the Legislature of Ireland to reject or to adopt hereafter, upon a stopfull confideration of the subject.

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There is no man will deny that in a great queftion of this nature, involving in it objects

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which, in the first inftance, are more likely to be decided upon by paffion than by judgment; in a queftion in which an honeft but, I must be allowed. to fay, a mistaken fenfe of National Pride is fo likely to operate, that much mifconftruction and mifconception muft inevitably happen. It therefore becomes the more neceffary that the intentions of the Government which propofes the Meafure, and the principles of the Measure itself, fhould be. diftinctly understood. But, Sir, in ftating that intention and thofe principles, I look to fomething more than a mere vindication of Government for having propofed the Measure. I do entertain a confidence, even under the apparent difcourage ment of the opinion expreffed by the Irish House of Commons, that this Measure, is founded upon fuch clear, fuch demonftrable grounds of utility, is fo calculated to add to the ftrength and power of the Empire, (in which the fafety of Ireland is included, and from which it never can be separated) and is attended with fo many advantages to Ireland in particular, that all that. can be neceffary for its ultimate adoption is, that it fhould be ftated diftinctly, temperately, and fully, and that it fhould be deft to unpreju

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