Quote#Politics & Power
We could not mean, by that vote, that the present pension list was no…
Quote byHenry Grattan · 1746–1820
Commonly attributed — not confirmed in an authoritative edition. Cited on Wikiquote to: Speech in the Irish House of Commons (13 March 1786), quoted in The Speeches of The Right Honourable Henry Grattan, in the Irish, and in the Imperial Parliament, Vol. I (1822), p. 288.
English (original)
We could not mean, by that vote, that the present pension list was no grievance, for there was no man in debate hardy enough to make such an assertion; no man considers what that pension list is; it is the prodigality, jobbing, misapplication, and corruption, of every Irish minister since 1727.
— Henry Grattan
More from Henry Grattan
But, that these measures, this general plan of conduct should be pursued by Ireland, with a fixed, steady, and unalterable resolution, to stand or fall with Great Britain. Whenever Great Britain, therefore, should be clearly involved in …
Sir, this bill I pronounce to be an anti-whig and anti-constitutional measure, and the boldest step that ever yet was made to introduce a military government.
We have a monarchy, the best form of government for rational and durable liberty.
Yet while I think retrenchment absolutely necessary, I am not very sure that this is just the time to make it in the army,—now when England has acted justly, I will not say generously,—now when she has lost her empire—when she still feels …
I sit down re-asserting my sentiments, which are, that the removal of all disabilities is necessary to make the Catholic a freeman, and the Protestant a people.
galled the country with its tyranny, insulted her by its manners, exhausted her by its rapacity, and slandered her by its malice.