Page:History of the Radical Party in Parliament.djvu/229

 1832.] Cannings Premiership to Passing of Reform Act. 215 should take into your deliberate consideration the whole con- dition of Ireland, and that you should review the laws which impose civil disabilities on his Majesty's Roman Catholic subjects." In the performance on the national stage which followed this overture, the farce preceded the tragedy. The Catholic Association, which had brought about the great result, was to be sacrificed before its work was allowed to culminate. The process may have seemed desirable, but it could not be dignified. As a precaution, it was not necessary; as a piece of revenge, it was contemptible. With the introduction of the Government measure for emancipation, the Association would have died a natural death, and there was small glory in slaying the champion when the cause had triumphed. There was little time lost over this preliminary business. It was not resisted by the Catholics, who knew, from the Premier's speech on the address, how complete was to be their victory. On the loth of February Peel obtained leave to bring in a bill for putting an end to the Association, and it went rapidly through both Houses, being passed by the Lords on the 24th of the same month, a fortnight serving for the whole process. This was the last act which Peel performed as member for the University of Oxford. On the 4th of February, the day before the meeting of Parliament, he had written to say that he was ready to vacate his seat, leaving it to the university to decide when his formal resignation should be sent in. The offer of resignation was accepted ; he again stood, but was defeated after a three days' poll by Sir H. Ingliss. He was elected for the borough of Westbury, in Wiltshire a vacancy being made by the retirement of Sir M. Lopes in time to introduce the great measure of the session. On the 5th of March, the same day on which the royal assent was given to the Act for the suppression of the Association, Peel rose to move that the House should go into committee on the laws which imposed disabilities on the Catholics. The proposed bill, as sketched on this occasion