GRATTAN. 265 that of Ireland: secondly, the finality imposed upon the two nations regarding a l l constitutional projects affecting each other. Finality was not only a part o f the settlement, but one o f i t s principal objects; finality was the principal object o f England, a s legislative independency was the object o f Ireland. Having spoken very largely t o the two points o f re gency and war, o n which the Unionists rested their strongest arguments against the constitution o f 1782, h e thus continued:—“I will put a question t o my country. I will suppose her a t the bar, and I will then ask, Will you fight for a n Union a s you would for a constitution ? Will you fight for those Lords and Commons, who, i n the last century, took away your trade, and i n the present, your constitution, a s for that king, lords, and commons, who restored both Well, the minister has destroyed this con stitution. To destroy i s easy. The edifices o f the mind, like the fabrics o f marble, require a n age t o build, but ask only minutes t o precipitate; and, a s the fall i s o f n o time, s o neither i s i t the effect o f any strength. That constitu tion, which with more o r less violence has been the in heritance o f this country for six hundred years; that modus tenendi parliamentum, which lasted and out-lasted o f Plantagenet the wars, o f Tudor the violence, and o f Stuart the systematic falsehood; even the bond and con dition o f our connexion, are now the objects o f ministe rial attack. The constitution which h e destroys i s one o f the pillars o f British empire; dear i n i t s violation, dear i n i t s recovery. Its restoration cost Ireland her noblest efforts; i t was the habitation o f her loyalty, a s well a s o f her liberty, where she had hung up the sword o f the volunteer; her temple o f fame, a s well a s o f freedom, where she had seated herself, a s she vainly thought, i n modest security and i n a long repose. I have done with the pile which the minister batters, I come t o the Babel which h e builds; and, a s h e throws down without a prin ciple, s o does h e construct without a foundation. This fabric h e calls a n Union; and t o this his fabric there are
