V 266 M I N U T E S O F E V I D E N C E T A K E N B E F O R E T H E Rev. E. M'Gaxcr. l June 1838. 12- 80. Do vou think it almost morally impossible that a Roman- catholic clergyman would vote for a candidate opposed to your views ?— Generally speaking. I do; there may be instances to the contrary. 12781. Why do you think it is morally impossible that a Roman- catholic clergyman should be incapable of voting otherwise than according to your views ?_ i consider it morally impossible, if they had not some expectation of a reward in consequence of that vote. 12782. You think his position such that he must have some personal object in view, otherwise he would not vote in that way ?— I do. 12783. You think the question is between the Roman- catholic and Pro- testant persuasions, and therefore a Roman- catholic clergyman ^ must neces- sarilv sunnort those who SUDD or t his own views?— Yes, that it is morally to put him into a place unless he is biassed sarily support support impossible for a Catholic clergyman to vote for a man, in Parliament to vote against the interests of his relu gion, by some worldly motives. " 12783*. And in the same way you would think, I suppose, that a Protestant clergyman would vote for those candidates who support his Protestant views ? — Yes. 12784. But still there are exceptions among the Protestant clergy, I believe? — Yes, and on the part of the Catholic clergy. 12785. You have stated the name of a Protestant clergyman who voted for a candidate supported by the Catholics ; can you state the name of any Roman- catholic who then voted for the candidate opposed to those Roman- catholic opinions ?— Not in the county of Longford, I cannot; I have known the brothers of Catholic clergymen to vote in opposition to them. 12786. Mr. Lefroy ] You consider, as I collect from your evidence, that the motive of expectation from the landlord is false and corrupt ?— I do, provided that is the reason why they give their votes. 12787. But if one of your flock were to tell you, " I have said to my landlord if he will give me a lease I will vote for him," you would think it your duty, I suppose, to tell him that would be a contract which he should not enter into ? — Yes, I should tell him it would be a contract he should not enter into, if I thought he was voting in consequence of that differently to what he otherwise would; that the lease would influence his vote. 12787*. Suppose he told you, " If you will get my landlord to give me a lease I will vote with you," what should you have said to the man ; should you have left him at liberty to act upon that, or would you have used any persuasion to prevent his acting upon it ?— If I thought he would act from the promise of that alone, I would give him my reasons why lie should not. 12788. Now, will you give me leave to ask you how 3- ou distinguish that case from the one you gave us awhile ago, when you promised to get the man a lease provided he would vote with you ?— I reconcile it in this way: that man was so circumstanced that if he had no terror over him, no fear of losing the land he then possessed— if that terror were not over him, he would have regis- tered himself and voted with us ; and therefore, when his getting the lease was not the primary motive of his voting, in that way it could not be injurious to his conscience when it was not for that and that alone he voted. 12789. So that any man who has determined to vote for a given candidate may conscientiously and properly take a benefit for voting for him ?— Certainly not. i 2790. Then how do you reconcile that answer with the statement you have given in preceding answers ?— I am endeavouring to explain it as clearly as I can; I am sorry I cannot do it in a more distinct manner. I think whenever a man votes freely, without being influenced by terror or hope on one side or the other, then he votes right and according to his conscience, and he cannot be assailed for so doing; but when a terror prevents a man from doing what is right, or if a promise is held out, and in virtue of that promise and that alone he acts, I say he acts under a corrupt motive; but again, to draw the distinc- tion, if a man is ready to vote in a certain way, and the fear on the one hand is counterbalanced by the expectation 011 the other— if the fear depriving him of his free liberty is overbalanced by the kindness, or whatever name you may give it on the other hand, and he votes as he would naturally do, not influenced by that act and that act alone, I consider he votes right. 12791. Upon