The Sun.
London, England, 1824-12-09 00:00:00

PROVINCIAL, JOURNALS.

• ( From the Dublin correspondent of Dec. 4.)
Some of, the British Jouynalti,_which were wont
to Coquet somewhat too amorously perhaps with the " Catholic
Rights," are beginning to express their surprise as well as
censure at the extravagance and mischief of the Catholic As-
sociation, and of the Roman Catholic Clergy, who are not only
among the active members of the Society, but in all, quarters of
the kingdom; its patrons as well as Strenuous abettors. But
who ever heard.of a tribunal•for the redress of grievances being
established in any country—assuniing prerogatives compa-
tible only with .the: greatest degree of legitimate civil power
,—and setting itself into a 'formal and parliamentary insti-
tution—without extravagance marking its conduct, ' and mis.
chief following its arrogance and ambition. In the very
idea of such 'an' institution, extravagance and mischief in-
here. It is impossible to think' upon a numerous Societyr—
formed uporf, peculiar religious and political opinions—pursuing
objects inimical
.to all others who do not profess similar opini-
ons—meetingperiodicallyproceeding officially and gravely—
taxing their. cotintry at their will —and 'forming funds for the
carrying. on `of their own objects—we say, it is impossible to
-ponder for an instapt.uport;such a thingi without seeing the-in.
trinsic evil of it, and the public misfortune consequent from its
very existence. -Against any :other 'description .of mischief,
where the invader, is not violating the 'frontiers with denuncia-
tions of conquest and slaVery, a' State has scarcely any thing to
.apprehend but against one of this:sort-it behoves it to presume
iii limbic' every thing that •is bail—every thing that militates,
against the notion of a lawful Government existing in its au then
tic vigour and efficiency--and to, consider it as one of its own pri-
mary duties, to bruise the serpent'i head at once before it seduce
the million into political sin anti death. It is flagrant nonsense to
maintain that it is lawful to set up such a power in the heart
of a State,. as this Catholic Association. , 'rhe principle is.
.against the very notion of eiVil,GOvernment ; and no Govern-
,ment or people ever 'yet heardof, reposed the existence of the
•orie, and the social conservation of the other, upon the petty.
fogging. interpretation of laws enacted for secondary or sub-
lidiary purposes :—the pritnary end of all society must,be main.
tain ed upen its broad original grounds', not. upon the quirks and
subtleties of technical law ; it is the StatesmaNnot the Barrister,
who should be consulted,when ti formidable inroad is making up-
on the essential privileges of Government: IViienever a power, in
principle and in fact, incompatible' with the free operations and
uncontroulable. duties necessarily,. belonging to el/Cry Slate has
started up and assumed " an•attitilde not to be disregarded,"
it has beep en instinct in thevstablisliethliolity, to,,challenge it
at once and to suppress it. ft matters, not what glosses or
guises may be adopted, or 3tt *hat aliatiefi'orforms such an
anti-social power may be exhibited; Orilung
must be put down ; there doubt--shotild the
is bail—the thing
obscurity, of law cramp the wholeternevigonr:of the Alagiiirate
—let "him act upon the necessity of the case, under the respon-
sibility'nseparable'from the'exercise of power in all cases, and
throw himself for justification upon the Legislature dills coun-
try. 'ln principle, the Caovernnient and the Catholic Association
cannot co-exist nor in practice can they, as will be seen by-encl.!
tip. It is needless to comment upon the measures of this Asso-
ciation--its spirioriti Object., All those clear.—and all are
illegal—and not only illegal, but revolutionary, if we have any
such thintf t 011 Constitution. • These denuntiation.v and
libels against the Etitablished'Cnurch and Clergy, which issue
'from this Body cOntinually, are illegal, and they do most griev-
ously threaten the public repose of the realm ; the raising of
Money, to give the greater'effiCacy to the operations of the en-
gines employed against the Established Church and the charac-
ter of the Clergy, is illegal ; the publications ,and.manifestoes
scattered among the peoliie in derogation of the administration
or justice—the avowals 'of. having the RonurPontifrs-attention
officially attracted to the state of Ireland.:-.all are illegal—
grossly illegal—and those revolutionary abominations must
soon cease. '