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MR. PITT'S SPEECH,

HE

IN THE HOUSE OF COMMONS, JANUARY 31ST, 1799, ON OF FERING TO THE HOUSE THE RESOLUTIONS WHICH PROPOSED AS THE BASIS OF A UNION BETWEEN GREAT BRITAIN AND IRELAND.

NOTWITHSTANDING what has been urged to the contrary, it will not be difficult to show that the administration of William Pitt was eminently distinguished by the maxims of an enlarged wisdom, and of the most liberal, enlightened and beneficial policy. There entered into its views nothing sordid, or low, or vulgar, or wily, or diminutive. The traits of his political conduct partook conspicuously of the expansiveness of his mind, and the generosity and elevation of his nature. The proofs of this position may be displayed in a brief summary of the leading measures of his political life.

William Pitt was the honest, and faithful, and zealous advocate of parliamentary reform so long as prudence warranted it.

He corrected the abuses, mitigated the violence, and restrained the injustice of the India government. He constantly opposed with all his weight and authority, the slave trade.

He resisted the dangerous and unconstitutional principles which were advanced in the memorable discussion concerning the regency.

He cooperated to settle by a declaratory statute, in a way the most favourable to the rights of the subject,

and against the sentiments of the highest legal characters, the important doctrine of libel.

He established, with different countries, treaties of commercial intercourse as liberal, as they were reciprocally advantageous.

He took steps to guarantee the balance of power, and to preserve the peace of Europe, which were acknowledged to be dignified, wise, and magnani

mous.

He acquiesced in several concessions to the Catholicks of Ireland, and was known to be disposed entirely to relieve them of their restrictions and disabilities.

He succeeded ultimately, by the most consummate management, in effecting a union between the sister isles, thus strengthening, by knitting together, the detached members of the empire.

While the surrounding states were torn asunder, and demolished by the hand of conquest, or the ebulition of a poisonous influence, and all Europe was menaced by calamity and ruin, he not only protected his country against this array of terrour, but pushed her on by a steady and vigorous impulse in a rapid course of unexampled prosperity and improvement.

Dark, and sinister, and inauspicious as this season was, he meliorated her finances; he extended her trade; he increased her manufactures; he promoted her agriculture; he multiplied her naval and military means; and taught her the salutary lesson, that she had wealth, and spirits, and power to combat, as long as she proved true to herself, the aggregated and envenomed hostility of the world.

Much as was accomplished by this exalted and efficient minister, it is presumable that had he been cast on times less untoward and disjointed he would have done still more for his country.

From the convictions of reason, perhaps biassed in some degree by the general habitudes of his political thinking, and the force of inherited prejudice, it is probable he would have directed his attention to prune away the defects of original construction, as

well as those corruptions which have since been introduced into the British constitution, thus rendering it as just, and perfect, in its theoretical proportions, as it is acknowledged to be excellent in its practical operations.

To us, indeed, it would not be easy to select a statesman whom history has recorded, that effected so much for his country, or who lays claim to so large a share of the admiration and gratitude of posterity.

It had been for many years a favourite object with Mr. Pitt to incorporate Ireland with Great Britain under an imperial legislature. The advantages of such a union could hardly have escaped his penetrating and sagacious mind. But it was an achievement full of hazard and difficulty. The mere suggestion of the measure, he was aware would excite violent, and perhaps at so critical a juncture, very serious consequences. He resolved, however, to attempt it, and having previously made these preparations which were required to conciliate the dispositions of the two countries to the project, he announced it to parliament, in the following message from the throne, on the 22d of January, 1799.

"His majesty is persuaded that the unremitting industry with which our enemies persevere in their avowed design of effecting the separation of Ireland from this kingdom, cannot fail to engage the particular attention of parliament. And his majesty recommends it to this house to consider of the most effectual means of counteracting and finally defeating this design. And he trusts that a review of all the circumstances which have recently occurred (joined to the sentiment of mutual affection and common interest) will dispose the parliament of both kingdoms to provide, in the manner which they shall judge most expedient, for settling such a complete and final adjustment as may best tend to improve and perpetuate a connexion essential for their common security, and to augment and consolidate the strength, power, and resources of the British empire."

Nearly about the same period, the question was rather informally brought before the Irish parliament, and after a very hasty and acrimonious debate, the ministerial party succeeded in carrying an address

approving of the Union; in the house of lords, by a decisive majority; but in the commons, by a single vote only.

On the 31st of January, of the same year, Mr. Pitt revived the subject, and submitted to the British parliament the annexed resolutions as the basis of a union between the two countries.

RESOLUTIONS.

FIRST.

1

That in order to promote and secure the essential interests of Great Britain and Ireland, and to consolidate the strength, power, and resources of the British empire, it will be advisable to concur in such measures as may best tend to unite the two kingdoms of Great Britain and Ireland, in such manner, and on such terms and conditions as may be established by acts of the respective parliaments of his majesty's said kingdoms.

SECOND.

That it appears to this committee that it would be fit to propose as the first article to serve as a basis of the said union, that the said kingdoms of Great Britain and Ireland shall, upon a day to be agreed upon, be united into one kingdom, by the name of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland.

THIRD.

That for the same purpose it appears also to this committee, that it would be fit to propose that the succession to the monarchy and the imperial crown of the said united kingdoms, shall continue limited and settled, in the same manner as the imperial crown of the said kingdoms of Great Britain and Ireland now stands limited and settled, according to the existing laws, and to the terms of the union between England and Scotland.

FOURTH.

That for the same purpose it appears also to this committee, that it would be fit to propose that the said united kingdom be represented in one and the same parliament, to be styled the parliament of the united kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, and that such a number of lords spiritual and temporal, and such a number of members of the house of commons as shall be hereafter agreed upon by acts of the respective parliaments as aforesaid, shall sit and vote in the said parliament on the part of Ireland, and shall be summoned, chosen and returned, in such manner as shall be fixed by an act of the parliament of Ireland previous to the said union;

and that every member hereafter to sit and vote in the said parliament of the united kingdom shall, until the said parliament shall otherwise provide, take and subscribe the same oaths, and make the same declarations as are by law required to be taken, subscribed and made by the members of the parliaments of Great Britain and Ireland.

FIFTH.

That for the same purpose it appears also to this committee, that it would be fit to propose that the churches of England and Ireland, and the doctrine, worship, discipline, and government thereof, shall be preserved as now by law esta blished.

SIXTH.

That for the same purpose it appears also to this committee, that it would be fit to propose that his majesty's subjects in Ireland shall at all times hereafter be entitled to the same privileges, and be on the same footing in respect of trade and navigation, in all ports and places belonging to Great Britain, and in all cases with respect to which treaties shall be made by his majesty, his heirs or successours, with any foreign power, as his majesty's subjects in Great Britain; that no duty shall be imposed on the import or export between Great Britain and Ireland of any articles now duty free; and that on other articles there shall be established, for a time to be limited, such a moderate rate of equal duties as shall previous to the union, be agreed upon and approved by the respective parliaments, subject, after the expiration of such limited time, to be diminished equally with respect to both kingdoms, but in no case to be increased; that all articles which may at any time hereafter be imported into Great Britain from foreign parts, shall be importable through either kingdom into the other, subject to the like duties and regula tions as if the same were imported directly from foreign parts; that where any articles, the growth, produce, or manufacture of either kingdom, are subject to any internal duty in one kingdom, such countervailing duties (over and above any duties on import to be fixed as aforesaid) shall be imposed as shall be necessary to prevent any inequality in that respect and that all other matters of trade and commerce other than the foregoing, and than such others as may before the union be specially agreed upon for the due encouragement of the agriculture and manufactures of the respective kingdoms, shall remain to be regulated from time to time by the united parliament.

SEVENTH.

That for the like purpose it would be fit to propose, that the charge arising from the payment of the interest or sinking fund for the reduction of the principal of the debt incurred in either kingdom before the union, shall continue to

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