the second The first person, who rose to speak to the 1806. second resolution, was Mr. M'Donnell, who un- Debate on reservedly avowed himself the person, who ad- resolution. vised Mr. Ryan to call the meeting alluded to in the resolution. Notices had been sent, he said, to almost every person in the city, who was known to have been active in the proceedings of last year. It could not be denied, that the meetings of 1805 were very select, and comprized the "this Committee is very differently constituted from the one, "which was contemplated, when I proposed to deliver my let"ters for enquiry. My second reason is, that I have grounds 68 to justify me in concluding, that no very impartial investiga tion would take place. I have only further to say, that it is "my most anxious desire, that a fair, impartial, and candid "examination of those letters should be immediately instituted "by men, who would have for their object the attainment of truth, and who would not be warped by foul and malicious jealousy. I would, therefore, propose, that even my accu"sers may nominate any given number of men, and I shall name an equal number of acknowledged men of honor, and "to them I will submit the investigation sought for; but on no "other terms shall I ever give my sanction to such a proceed*ing; and I am sure you will agree with me, that if this pro posal be not accepted, that these men, who are now clamo"rous for enquiry, are not solely actuated by the motives they "profess, I have again, Sir, to repeat, that I do insist my let"ters will not be given up by you to any body of men without my consent. You hold them alone by my permission, as the "resolution respecting them, which was intended to be proposed, was not brought forward on the day I handed them to you, because the party, who meant to support it, was conscious it would be negatived." I am your obedient humble servant, 1806. Difficultics the Conven tion Act. property and respectability of the country; and had the support and approbation of those very gentlemen, who then thought proper to condemn recent meetings exactly similar. The habeas corpus suspension act was in force, when the meeting of the 1st of March was called; and he appealed to the honor and candor of gentlemen, whether any other mode of collecting the sense of the Catholics could be resorted to. He had selected a committee out of the most respectable of their persuasion, such as no man could object to; and as he saw gentlemen obstinately bent upon carrying the proposed resolution, he would not remain to have a censure passed on his conduct, which he trusted would meet the approbation of a more impartial meeting of his fellow citizens. Mr. M'Donnell then retired. The debate continued for some time, and after much confusion adjourned to the next day. Mr. M'Donnell reappeared at the adjourned meeting on the next day with several persons, who had not attended on the first day of the debate. But the intemperate confusion, into which the meeting was thrown, lasted several hours; and the tumultuary scene was closed by a motion for adjournment for one month, which was with great difficulty put, but carried unanimously. The ferment; into which the public mind in raised on Dublin was worked up by the intemperate declamation of opposite partizans at the late Catholic meetings, was partially allayed by the open notice and comments on the Convention Act in the dif ferent periodical publications. It was a sore and embarrassing warning to the Catholics, who naturally and justly wished to enjoy a full, fair, and efficient organ, through which to convey their grievances to the Throne or Parliament. They were advised, that the proviso in the Convention Act, that nothing therein contained should prevent the right of his Majesty's subjects to petition his Majesty or the Parliament, kept alive and open to them all practicable and peaceable means of learning and collecting the sense of individuals, as well as of conveying it in the form of a petition to the Throne or Senate: which could not be otherwise effected, than by some sort of representation or delegation; more especially, where the number of the complainants amounted to more than five millions. The Convention Act, which passed in 1793, was one of the baleful measures of the Pitt system; to muzzle the victim before the infliction of torture: to render the voice of the subject equally unproductive of prevention and redress. It had for 13 years since its enactment lain dormant: and the Catholics had been permitted without interruption by every administration* during that period * It was reserved for the Richmond administration first to act upon this statute, which had slept for 18 years, when Mr. W. W. Pole the Irish minister wrote the following circular letter to every sheriff and magistrate throughout Ireland without any previous notice or warning to any of the supposed offenders against the law. 6 SIR, "Dublin Castle, Feb. 12, 1811. It being reported, that the Roman Catholics in the county of 1806. 1806. to collect and express the will of their body in the way most agreeable to themselves. Their internal differences upon the most efficient and dignified manner of attaining their object broke not into the peace of the public, and must have gratified those, whose policy it ever was to divide and weaken that body. The Catholics in Dublin, and in some of the counties held meetings, at which Address to they resolved upon addressing their new Lord Lieutenan'. Lieutenant. The address from the Roman Catho the Lord "together, to nominate or appoint persons or representatives, delegates or Managers, to act on their behalf as members of "an unlawful assembly, sitting in Dublin, and calling itself the "Catholic committee, you are required, in pursuance of the provisions of an act of the 33d of the King, chap. 29. to "cause to be arrested, and to commit to prison (unless bail shall "be given,) all persons within your jurisdiction, who shall be aguilty of giving, or having given, or of publishing, or hav"ing published, or of causing, or having caused to be given or published, any written or other notice of the election and appointment, in any manner, of such representative, delegate "or manager as aforesaid; or of attending, voting, or acting, "or of having attended, voted, or acted in any manner, in the "choice or appointment of such representative, delegate or manager. And you are to communicate these directions, as far as lies in your power, forthwith, to the several magistrates "of the said county of "N. B. Sheriffs are to act under the warrant of magistrates, where the crime has been committed. "in cases, lics*, shews the general sentiments of the body at that period towards the new ministry. "To his Grace John Duke of Bedford, Lord Lieutenant General and General Governor of Ireland. "The most dutiful and humble address of the Roman Catholic inhabitants of the city of Dublin, and of sundry others of that persuasion, his Majesty's most dutiful and loyal subjects. r We, his Majesty's most loyal subjects, Roman Catholics, beg leave to approach your Grace, with our most humble and sincere congratulations on your arrival to govern this part of the United Kingdom. Deeply sensible of our most gracious It was presented to his Excellency at the Castle on Tues day the 29th of April 1806. It was signed by The Earl of Fingall Lord Trimlestown Sir Thos. Burke, Bart. Sir Francis Goold, Bart. * Richard O'Shee • John Roche, And upwards of 1000 respectable Roman Catholic gentlemen from different parts of Ireland. N. B. Those marked* were at the presentation. 1806. |