"DIVIDED ALLEGIANCE " OF THE ORANGEMEN.
MR. Humes motion on the establishment of Orange Lodges in the Army, with the Duke of CUMBERLAND at their head, was put off on Thursday, till Tuesday next; when we trust that nothing will occur to prevent a full discussion of the subject. We this week supply m1(141011E11 extracts from the evidence of witnesses examined before the Orange Committee; which by no means tend to give a more favourable colouring to the character and designs of the confederation. We particularly direct attention to what Mr. SH ARM AN CRAWFORD, the Member for Dundalk, told the Commit- tee respecting the nature and extent of the Duke of CUMBERLAND'S power over the Orangemen. It appears that it is held superior to that of the actual Government in Ireland When Mr. CRAWFORD, acting as a Magistrate, and in obedience to the proclamation of the Duke of NORTHUMBERLAND in 1830, endeavoured to prevent some Orange processions on the 12th of July, he was met by the assertion of the Masters of the Lodges, that they had authority superior to his: and they produced " warrants for marching" signed by the Duke of CUMBERLAND, whom, as the King's brother, they considered a higher person in the state than the Duke of NORTHUMBERLAND, and more worthy of obedience, although the latter was the Viceroy of Ireland. Perhaps the Orangemen may not be able to comprehend how it happens that the King's niece is the successor to the Throne, in preference to their idol the King's brother ; and may deem it their duty, when the Princess VICTORIA shall be Queen, to obey the Duke rather than her Majesty !
Surely, in future, little will be said of the exclusive loyalty of Orangemen; seeing that they deliberately resist the King's Ma- gistrates in the lawful exercise of their authority, on the plea that the Duke of CUMBERLAND has a superior jurisdiction over them. The " divided allegiance" of the Catholics must no longer be the theme of Ultra-Protestant declamation.
Did the evidence of Mr. CRAWFORD stand alone, we apprehend that it would be sufficient to-justify vigorous measures for the breaking up of the Orange combination. If in the dark days of CASTLEREAGH any poor Radical had been proved guilty of belong- inC to a secret society whose rules resembled those of the Orange Club., lie would have been hanged or banished without remorse; alai the details of the horrible conspiracy against the state would have filled a portentous green bag. There is no danger of the House of Commons acting violently or vindictively ; but the Country does expect that its Representatives will be firm in the performance of their duty, and make no distinction between a km al Duke and the tneanest of his Majesty's subjects. We await the result of Mr. Hums s motion.
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