Excerpt from The Speech of Michael Thomas Sadler, Esq., M. P., In the House of Commons: On the Second Reading of the Roman Catholic Relief Bill, March 17, 1829

I use to address this Housenlabouring under feelings which would on any occasion be most embarrassing, but which are now painfully heightened by a sense of the unequalled import ance of the subject now under discussion, as well as by the extraor dinary circumstances with which it is connected. A consideration of these, togetherwith others peculiar to myself, may, I apprehend, in capacitate me from addressing you at all. I must, however, attempt it. The cause which demands, and at this moment, all the efl'orts of the true friends of the existing Constitution, shall have mine, however humble, and at whatever sacrifice: I am willing, therefore, to expose myself 1n its service, though feelings for which the House will give me credit in first venturing to addressit - feel ings of proper diflidence, as well as pride, equally prompt me to be silent. I add my humble vote to that faithful band who have resigned the countenance of those whom they have hitherto respected so deeply, and to whom they have adhered so faithfully; who have surrendered, in the language of many, all pretensions to a share 0: common sense or of general informat1on; who submit to be branden as a lessening class of intolerants and bigots, from which the Mi nisters themselves have just happily escaped and, what is still more painful to generous minds, who are ranked amongst those that are as devoid of true liberality and benevolence, as they are of reason and intelligence. (hear, hear.) Short as has been the time in which I have had the honour of a seat in this House, I have been here long enough to perceive the spirit by which a part of it, and, unhappily, too large a one, is actuated. The spirit of Popery, when dominant, (i beg pardon for any thing so obsolete and illiberal as an allusion to history, ) dragged the Objects of1ts resentment to the stake; - that spirit still survives - its advocates at this moment would wil lingly inflict on its conscientious Opponents a martyrdom still more grievous to generous minds, 1n aiming at the moral and intellectual character and attainments of those whom they mark out as their. Victims. All these things, however, move us not. In acause like that of the Protestant Constitution of England, now placed, for the first timesince its existence, in a situation of imminent peril, an humble part in its triumph would indeed give me a share of that immeasurable joy Which its rescue would diffuse through out the nation; but to be numbered as one of those who, faithful to the end, made a last, though ineffectual, struggle in its defence.

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