The discontent and the resentment of 7,000,000 of the population have generated that domestic government which sways public opinion, and uses the national passions as the instruments of its will.  It would be utterly impossible, if there were no exasperating distinctions amongst us, to create any artificial causes of discontent.  Let men declaim for a century, and if they have no real grievance their harangues will be empty sound and idle air.  But when what they tell the people is true—­when they are sustained by substantial facts, effects are produced of which what has taken place at this election is only an example.  The whole body of the people having been previously excited, the moment any incident such as this election occurs, all the popular passions start simultaneously up, and bear down every obstacle before them.  Do not, therefore, be surprised that the peasantry should throw off their allegiance when they are under the operation of emotions which it would be wonderful if they could resist.  The feeling by which they are actuated would make them not only vote against their landlord, but would make them scale the batteries of a fortress, and mount the breach; and, gentlemen, give me leave to ask you whether, after due reflection upon the motives by which your vassals (for so they are accounted) are governed, you will be disposed to exercise any measure of severity in their regard?’

The greatest warrior of the age rebuked the men who cried in that day that the sword should be the arbiter of the Irish question; and Sir Robert Peel, in his own vindication of the Emancipation Act, said:—­

’I well know that there are those upon whom such considerations as these to which I have been adverting will make but a faint impression.  Their answer to all such appeals is the short, in their opinion the conclusive, declaration—­” The Protestant constitution in church and state must be maintained at all hazards, and by any means; the maintenance of it is a question of principle, and every concession or compromise is the sacrifice of principle to a low and vulgar expediency.”  This is easily said; but how was Ireland to be governed?  How was the Protestant constitution in church and state to be maintained in that part of the empire?  Again I can anticipate the reply—­“By the overwhelming sense of the people of Great Britain; by the application, if necessary, of physical force for the maintenance of authority; by the employment of the organised strength of government, the police and the military, to enforce obedience to the law.”  I deliberately affirm that a minister of the crown, responsible at the time of which I am speaking for the public peace and the public welfare, would have grossly and scandalously neglected his duty if he had failed to consider whether it might not be possible that the fever of political and religious excitement which was quickening the pulse and fluttering the bosom of the whole Catholic population—­which