The Home Rule Bill Edward Carson and 470,000 Unionists in the North of Ireland signed the Solemn League and Covenant in September,1912. In this document,they declared that they would use any means necessary to prevent the introduction of Home Rule in Ireland. The Home Rule Bill Edward Carson and 470,000 Unionists in the North of Ireland signed the Solemn League and Covenant in September,1912. In this document, they declared that they would use any means necessary to prevent the introduction of Home Rule in Ireland