The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser.
London, England, 1819-04-27 00:00:00

eloievous palsy which held the disqualifieation of
the Catholics as wise and necessary ; as if the Pro-
levant could he more happy because the Cathode
was enslaved —so if the security of one part of the
empire depended upon the depression of the other.
The situarion of our *affairs, like the temper of
our people, is peculiarly favourable to the measure
of Emancipation. We are not now alarmed lay the
threats of a dining and powerful enemy—eve are no
longer harassed with a destructive war; bap-
pity resting in the lap of peace, 'we can look
round us e ith security. This is the blessed
hour of trailquillity which Penvillence has given,
and the hest way it can be employed is in re-
dressing the wrings of our people. But it is
said the (7atholics have no wrongs to be redressed—
they have toleration—end they are cooly excluded
from the honours of the State. If by toleraion be
meant, that they can go to their otters and adore
the living God without molestation nr punishment,
we readily admit that in this sense they have totem-
lion; loot if by toleration be meant that they have
the free rights of citizens—that they possess those
!privileges %stitch loyal men ought to possess—whirls
every, freeman inherits—a latch none lout slaves are
alenied—then v.e do say that the Catlolice...huve
not toleration. 11'e will motion a few of their
grievaeces: No Catholic can be a Judge, a King's
Counsel, a hatter iu Chancery, Chairman of a
County, Suh.Slwriff, Mayor, Alder-
man, Common Councilmen—li. is not a Freemool
of soy Cotpuration—he is not entitled to any col-
legiate honours, no matter how great the extent of
his learoitig or lass talents—in fact, from most of the
adoositagco of trade, from most of the distinctions
of profession, tool from the dearest rights of a free-
man, the Catholic is excluded—and why is he ex-
cluded ? beconse he is sespected—and why is lie
suspected ? because be is oppressed. There are
some men who think that the Catholics canunt forget
Ilie injuries they have suffered, and therefore they
would have those itojoirtes utornitigated and eteritel.
But this policy is weak maid wicked ; it is the
apology a hich cowards make for cruelty. By this
policy, oppression would never have an end, and
peace and security would never shed their blessings
upon nations. We tarn away from these men, and
we say to the Parliament, Do not trifle thus with
the dictates of justice—do loot hold up your un-
founded suspicions against the claims of your fel-
low-subjects--nor think that your mere assumption
will weigh down the force of truth, and the test
of experience : for see how both refute you. Dur-
ing the present reign, many of the mole odious
penal laws were repealed, and the Catholics were
restored to mall valuable immunities. Have they in
coy instance abused the privileges they received ?
as Magistrates, have they been corrupt or &stolid ?
as citizens, have they been dangerous or useless
Ss soldiers, have they shewas the wont of courage
or of devotion to your cause ? You have often
led them to fight against your Catholic fors !
When did they turn their backs upon you ? Did
the Artielre of their Faith, iu the hour of danger,
prevent them from fighting your battles ? Not at
all ! Then, if they have deserved the priiileges
they possess, what reason have you to assume that
they will abuse the privileges they clank, in the
event of their obtaining them ? We lot g a,f you to
judge of the Catania:s as you would judge a I' any
other people, as you would wish yourstlves to be
judged—by their actions—by the whole trout of
their conduct for the whole term of lion lives. If
you find, by clear and demunsto At% e proof, that
they lave been eileinies to liberty, rot tows 1.1 the
Constitution, disloyal to the Thome, and !trios-lora
ous to the comity, exclude them, because Maly
to them would be destruction to you; but, oia the
other hand, of the Catholics have meted as brace
soldiers, as loyal citizens, and as good men, eman-
cipate them. It will make you great in the ryes of
the world, and it will make you inviolable. The
union of the people is the stability of nations. It
will throw a ray of glory around the Thaose—the
louse glory which is reflected from the nea-burn
liberties of a people. Judge of the Catholics by
their actions, if you would act justly. If wit, you
may talk of Couutils that they uever heard—of
dangers that you never felt. %When man as deter-
mined to act uajustly, it is easy to find an excuse
fur injustice.
But with what face can the Catholics be charged
with dangerous views? Can we tom-nails the anon-
strous proposition that a petiole who, whilst they
were disqualifietl, have heels loyal, will loecamie
traitors the motorail they are free ? II the Catho-
lics are received into the temple of the Coolotitu-
lion, will they set it ou fire ? To suppose this, is
to suppose they are mad as well as disloyal. If
you met an oppressed and weary traveller, espeard
to the .toornis 01 heaven, and the 111fIre enercileas

persecutions of maii—if )ou gave him protection
and security—if you brought bun to your bible,
and shared with hum the honours and the enjoy-
ments of your household, would he destroy the
seat of his own security amid repose, under whose
ruins he as well as you must he buried ?—would
he not rather, participating HI all your comforts,
in all your freedom, feel with you a common intr.
rest is their preservation? He who reasons flow
human nature, may find some force in these obser-
vations; but he who argues from his prejudices
and his fears, will despise them. We appeal not
to such men—but to the friends of justice and of
liberty we say, redress the Catholics—vindicate
this empire from the degradation which a vice so
cowardly amid so mean as bigotry brings upon the
character of a nation.

On Saturday last Another bill or in•lietmrut was
found ugdilut Mr. CARI.III.II, or 55, Pro-5ir...4,
for his weekly publication, tntitlrd 114 e Deis, ;
or, Moral Tlii4 make. uu Irs►
►our k -par.Le proaccutions stgaiust the Uwe
tltrlt-
rtdual.