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as must always be the cafes, wherein this prerogative interferes between the parliament and the nation, of infinitely greater alarm would any cafe prove, in which the prerogative fhould be called into exercise between the legiflatures of the two kingdoms. What would the independent legislature of Ireland regard the refponfibility of the British minifter? How eafily could they vote any man an enemy to his country, who fhould dare to fupport the right of the crown of England, or the right of the minister to advise the crown, to fupprefs the concurrent determination of both houses of the parliament of Ire land, as they formerly voted any man an enemy to his country, who fhould dare to enforce the right of the tithe of agiftment, whereby the burthen was thrown upon the potatoes of the poor, in that great province where grazing has chiefly prevailed? The very cir cumstance, of the British minifter advising his majesty to, refuse the royal affent to a bill paffed by the Irish parliament, would inevitably inflame the legislature, and rouse the nation of Ireland. Would the British minifter be acknowledged a better or fitter judge of the interest of Ireland, or even of imperial interefts, than the co-equal and independent legislature of Ireland? Would not the minister be rather represented as acting under the influence of the British legislature, as facrificing the interests of Ireland to those of Britain, and as infulting the dignity and independence of a distinct kingdom? Would there be no pseudo-patriots, no factious dema gogues in parliament, and no jacobin feparatifts and confpirators out of parliament, ready to fan the flame, and to haften the conflagration of two great ftates? It would be idle to purfue farther a matter fo palpable, But, the weakness of the confident conclufion alluded

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to, as well as of feveral others, of an extraordinary nature, delivered to parliament in a high tone of popular authority*, has been ingeniously exposed by an able member of parliament, who early fupported with manly eloquence, in the face of prejudice, the utility of legiflative union. It is evident, however, that the com pacts and provisions whereby the legislature of Ireland fhould be bound to adopt the acts of the British legisla ture, must be as wide as the whole fphere of imperial concerns; for otherwife, whatever remained would leave the two legiflatures fo far exposed to all the confequences of difference, upon the innumerable and weighty imperial concerns which muft arife in the imperial and diftinct progress of two powerful, proud, and independent kingdoms. But to adopt fuch remedies, would be, to make Ireland virtually a dependent province of the empire, limited to its own internal legislation; and in truth, they would foon effect no other purpose, than to produce new and more alarming differences, and furnish opportunities to the multitude of fepa ratifts, to perpetrate their defigns: for, it is inconfistent with the plainest reason, that as Ireland advances in riches and power, her fentiments of dignity and independence will become lefs vivid and active; or that

Among others-that, because it has been found ufeful in the British conftitution, that to the creation of law, the concurrence of feveral branches of the fame legislature or fupreme authority should be neceffary, therefore it may be useful, that in the fame empire or ftate fhould exift two fupreme and independent authorities, equally invested with the power of making law in all respects whatsoever. This furely needs only to be announced.

+ See a review of a publication, entitled, the Speech of the Right Hon. John Fofter, by William Smith, Esq.

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the legiflature, which, under the influence of national fentiments, formerly commanded the repeal of the fixth of Gorge the firft, would not contend for the honour, and the paramount right, of deciding on all the effential concerns of the Imperial state, equally with the le giflature of Great Britain. "

Let it not be faid (it is too offenfive to the plainest understanding) that good fenfe and mutual interest and affection have fecured and will ever fecure the connexion and harmony of these kingdoms.* The degree of good fenfe and benevolence floating in any community, would operate to very little effect, in preferving the harmony or even the existence of an individual state, if there was not a fupreme authority vested in fome part of it, fufficiently powerful to enforce neceffary regulations, and to deter or repress the destructive efforts of folly, paffion, and vice. Still lefs can good sense and fleeting sentiment fecure, or have they ever fecured, the harmony of diftinct states, which happen to be fo fituated or related, that questions of national intereft, and diftinct national claims, make frequent fubjects for difcuffion and adjustment. The legislature of Ireland has adopted the exifting navigation law enacted by the British legislature, and the parliament of Great Britain has permitted the importation of colonial produce from Ireland, therefore we are affured that all fubjects of jealousy and contention are for ever done away, and that every thing which human wisdom can devife has been effected for the perpetual fecurity of

* See the Speaker's Speech page st.

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our connexion. But thefe acts of the refpective legiflatures have effected no more than daily takes place be-. tween states which happen to be in amity, but between which incompatible interefts and inveterate antipathy. create frequent and bitter wars. Regulations, apparently for mutual interest, are agreed upon and ratified. They may be observed for a long time, and produce mutual benefit; but when new cafes arife, contending interests occur, or different parties rule, the fabrick of amity diffolves, and diffenfion and hoftility rage unconfined. That government must surely be acknowledged beft, which provides for the moft and worft contingencies, and which most effectually guards against the diforders produced by human paffions. Every day, new fubjects of difference, and calling for adjustment, must by neceffity arife between great and diftinct nations, whofe fituations involve them in any important relations; and in every one of thefe differences muft as neceffarily mingle all the plottings and workings of ambition, party fpirit, felf intereft, and wicked cunning. Identity of intereft and identity of dominion and controul, therefore, can alone permanently preferve the harmony and connexion of great and independent ftates. The inftances of diffenfion and incompatible pretenfions, which have occurred within the few years of declared independence, proclaim aloud the danger of 7 future difcord: the progrefs of these nations accumulates matter for difcord: fociety is every where impregnated with principles hoftile to political harmony: and an enemy bent upon our ruin, watches, and will ever. watch the moment of our weakness and difunion. It

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would be the madnefs of folly not to defcry and, prevent the danger before deftruction becomes inevita ble.

In whatever contentions in parliament from time to time take place, the felf intereft and the influence of the fuperior country must, nay actually do, conftitute the fubjects for refiftance and popular harangue. The more independent and powerful the inferiour country, the more univerfally and fatally national intereft and national pride become neceffarily roufed, by this perpetually recurring caufe of difcontent and difunion; efpecially when inflamed by all thofe arts which the political adventurer and the factious demagogue employ, and which in no former days were employed with more deftructive effect. Have ancient caufes, in barbarous time, created hate? Have mutual injuries occafionally revived and aggravated antipathy? All are viciously displayed, painted with invidious colouring, and converted into pretexts, for infufing and diffeminating, every opinion and principle, baneful to useful or permanent connexion.

Who can pretend to be blind to the effects which muft follow to two diftinct and powerful nations, whofe deepest interest requires that they should uniformly act as one, but between whom, in former times, fo many fad caufes of offence and rancour fubfifted, and in whofe independent claims, various purfuits, and increafing greatness, lurk fo many contingencies fruitful of difcord?

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