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most scrupulously avoided as unfair and ungenerous. Treachery and insurrectionary principles, which lurk hidden and it may be almost unsuspected in the midst of a nation till some favourable opportunity occurs for their outward display, do not by any means involve the whole nation in a charge of holding revolutionary ideas or unneighbourly intentions. The opposers of the Tunnel may well consider what additional opportunities its construction would give to disaffected persons on this side the channel, at some future time it might be, to coalesce with disaffected persons on the other side, without being accused of entertaining groundless fears, and without being charged with distrusting a whole nation. No indictment is made against a whole people, because precautions are taken against insurrectionary bands. Just as Sir George Grey in regard to Ireland drew this distinction: the alarming increase of crime had taken place only in a few counties, and he said in introducing a bill for the repression of crime in November, 1847, "The present, therefore, is no general indictment against a whole people". The matter before us this evening is, I venture to say, one well worth the most careful consideration of all true lovers of their country, and it is with this view of it that I invite your most careful attention.
(2) One observation I must be allowed to make and to maintain most strongly, that nothing further should be permitted to be done on this side the channel in connection with any scheme for constructing a Tunnel, till the opinion and decision of Parliament have been obtained. I do not think that any Government in this country should have the power of supporting or furthering this scheme, or giving it any encouragement without the direct sanction of Parliament, which can alone decide in so weighty a matter. I suppose that money has already been spent and labour employed in view of the scheme being carried out, starting from our own shores, but I cannot consent that these facts should be used or pressed forward as arguments or reasons in themselves for carrying out the scheme, or that they should be allowed to have the least weight in determining so important a matter. I regret extremely that under the circumstances any such money should have been
