The Sun.
London, England, 1813-01-28 00:00:00

CATHOLIC CLAMS.

The following is an extract' from an excellent
cvork entitled, "'lnn CL.Atmsol, THE ROMAN CA-
THOLICS CONSthEREW, !WITH iIEFERENCE T.O TELE
SAVETY THE VASTABLISHED CHIJRCH, AN!) THE
RIGHTS or RELIGAOUS TOLERATION.",
[Continued from our Paper of Yesterday.)

It should not be suffered to escape observation,
that the exclusive principle of the 'T'est-laws is
sgziti tt
gltibtym attiiitohsoer Wwho hich
ts must solicitous
for civil and religions freedom. The Prince
was solicited
Orange, (afterwards William III.)
Isuittchopot
eat ag the tied: et
oa
of
se
iaonf .
by
fire Ispl
site-sul
sa U.
es.
s;ti.: her:
med A security
la‘llllsitidiulitselsye
ricnelsesnatiy for
soli
tflheeestkl
subject,
ili
;e., itghi
(oz.
of
the Princess, were fully communicated by pen-
sionary Fasr,e I, in the following terms That
the prince and princess said., that it was their fixed
opinion that no man, merely because he differed
from the established faith, should ever, while be
remained a peaceable subject, be exposed to any
punishment or even vexation. That the prince
and princess gave heartily their consent for re-
pealing legally all the penal statutes, us well those
enacted against the Catholics as against the Pro-
testant non-conformists ; and would concur with
the King in any measure for that purpose. That
the test was not to be considered a penalty in-
flicted on the professors of any religion, bulls a
security provided for the established worship.—
That it was no punishment on men to be excluded
from public offices, and to live peaceably on their
own revenues or industry. That even in the
United Provinces, which were so ofteti cited as
models of
.toleratiOn, though all sects were ad-
mitted, yet civil Offices were only enjoyed by the
professors of the established religion. That Mili-
tary commands, indeed, were,sometimes bestowed
on Catholics ; but as they were conferred with
great precaution, anti still lay under the controul
of the magistrate, they could give no just reason
for umbrage." And that their. Highnesses, how-
ever desirous of gratifying the King, anti. of en-
deavouring, by every means, to render his reign
peaceable and happy, could not agree to any mea-
sure which would .esixpose their religion to such
imminent danger." 1'
Upon the wholes reason, experience, and high
authority, combine to proves thatsthu exclusive
principle of the,Test-Laws iS essential to the se--
curity of the Established Church ; whilst, in its
application, that principle is not only free froth
the objections which are usually urged against
in behalf of non-conformists, but is actually fa-
vourable to persoes of that description, by ena-
bling the state• to afford them toleration, without
departing from' the duty which it Owes to the
church. This principle 'has been engrafted into
the British Constitution ; and to its genialinfitt-
enee that Constitution is, in a great measure
at least, indebted for the. mild anti tolerant spi-
rit by which it is so ipre-eminently distinguished.
But may not this principle, though established
on such solid grounds, admit, in practice, of some
roustion ? May not some deviation from it be
allowed, or connived at, so long ut least as the
indulgence is not. ,abused ; while the rule it-
self remains capable of being enforced in all its
gross abuse, or of actual dari-
igiegritr, in case of
It might seem, a sufficient reply to these queries
to say, that to admit to any situation, u person
who is not possessed of the requisite 'qualification
is heat impolitic and absurd. - Thc only point in
qnestion is, whether the proper qualification is
required ? If it be, the' necessary dreet of dis-
pensing with it, in any instance, would be. to in-
tsoduce an indiVidual into a situation for which
he is unqualified. It matters not, wheiher the
qualification required respect the mere personal
capacity to perform a particular hinction, or
neces-
sary to give a title- to confidence. Weed, the
some (polity, moral, or political,. which is neees-
danger, as more mischief is to be dreaded from
want of the latter is fraught wish the greater
of
It o incompetence to its
duties. (.tsii.eatwerto be observed, in favour
of strict. adherence to the exclusive principle,
lisce moreover
iruill
that its operation tends greatly to favour:the pro-
tession of the established religion, by furnishing a
powerful secular motive to, maintain that profes-
sion. Such motives, according to the constitu-
tion of human nature,. are ever apt to mix, them-
selves .with those even of the .purest
men arc naturally desirous of power ; and when
this object is attainable only by members of the
Established Church, such a, consideration cannot
fail to act powerfully in favour.. of conformity
with that establishment. The operation of this
motive may be imperceptible, and even unattend-
ed with any consciousness of, its effect ; but it
cannot fail, in the aggregate, to be very consider-
able. It is particularly calculated to produce
steadiness of attachment to the established wor-
ship, in those v.:1)o occupy the higher. ranks of so-
ciety, and that in proportion to their argree of
elevation.

it' may st►ll be naked whe het•,
' ohiji(Tt atahtleleEssotale-
Wished, Church, as a qualification for power, is
the security of that church, some portion of
power may not be alloWed to glide into the hands
Of Dissenters, withiMt danger to the eStablish-
mow? If this be possible, it ought certainly to
be done. For exclusion should not be carried a
step beyond the bounds of necessity. But it
should be remembered, that power is necessarily
produi:tive of influence.s-'and, though the quan.
tan of power, actually possessed by Dissenters,
may not enable them to enter upon any open or
direct --4 tack on, the church,' yet the influence
derived may be emplOyed,: imperceptibly perhaps,
in undermining its foundations. ' But if the e,x,
elusive prineiple be Once allowed to be relaxed,
Who 'shall prescribe any bounds to its relaxa-
tion ?,--who shall presumeitopodrratw:lntiltiye,Lintehuosf,
hi-
dulgeuce, and to say to
m far
and no farther Qn the moderation of any hu-
'man beings, when so fascinating an object as'
power is in view, what reliance can be placed ?

* flume': lihtorp of
Engliiint,--Jaines
111 toll of Etigiand.—Jtilues:

SCRIPPS, South Mo
LONDiINs Pr 'CIIONLAS WOOD, of Na. 112, Strand; and 1)0,1-0lid by WILLIAM ARMIGEII
CZ.I si• nv.s NZII II() Ski., IA 3 It+ Pre AtikawiikostiPilie tn. Ir I MotiPT- Leitore -