The Sun.
London, England, 1805-05-11 00:00:00

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Catholies at all, prepared to say, that Government
should look only to the happiness of -the members
of the Established Church ? I hope an trust ?here
are none who entertain such a sentiment ; but
-should there be any, let, them cast' back their eyes
On what, has past since the Reformation ; let them
recur to the history of those limes down to the
preseur.,'andthey may colleft from a due observe.
dolt of the system of Government how to cor.
red their opinion. , They will find that the Catho.,
figs wete looked upon as adverse to the Revolt!.
'ion, because their religiOn was connected with an
opposite political opinion,.and thus placed them in a
hOstile light to the Protestant Establishment.. Burl
the object of the Revolution was riot to punish
and put down 'a Particular religious opinion ex.
adly because it was supposed hostile to Church and
State, but hecatise it was thought to he then con.
Reeled with a political opinion that' inclined to fa.
your the exiled family, and in consequence of that
partiality the Catholics were excluded by new loos
and engtments from any participation in the
vernment. I shall nototow ex.oni;••At into :he justice
or Lxpcdiency ''of that conduit, or contaiend or ar.
reign the motives from which it sprang. I know
at least, and that is enwugh for me now to state,
that the situation of those times is not the situation
of the piesent day ;' but here .also let me do jusriee
to that great, that memorable Prince,' King- Wil.
ham, who always approved hiMself the friend of
freedom, • the friend of.. toleration, and let Int not
he thought to, charge on his memnry•the blame, if
blame there be,`-of the .measures that• were sub.
sequently adopted.. They were no' part of his
system. Under the following reign the Irish Ca.
(holies, Merely as Catholics, were' cfcp.idered es •
irreconcilably hostile to. the'Protestant Establish.
hunt in Ireland ; their mutual dislike .suon fee:
tered into, an implacable hostility, which nothing
could allay, and not only were the Catholics ex.
chided from all participation in the Government
and in the benefits of the Constitution,,. but they
were not allowed even the enjoyment of property,
of toeir religious rites, nor even the means of edit.
cation, and thus the measures adopted against them
.were calculated in every resesed to render them
poor, illiterate, and contemptible, end to reduce
them• to the lowest, the most degraded state to
which it was possible to reduce man ; so low were
they sunk into ignorance and poverty that they
could derive.no possible kind of consequence but
from their numbers, and thus, gi.y every sort of
exasperation,Tthey must have been thoroughly alien.
4191 from their fellow iubjeds. I dan feel 'no plea.
sure in descending any farther into an examination
of the system Which then prevailed. I should not,
perhap's, have gone so far into the considerotion of
it, though ti was scarcely avoidable; th-ough Icon.
fess that I Might have been betrayed somewhat fur.
titer merely by the anxiety I must have felt to
mark and note out the pleasing contrast between
what their past and what the present auspicious
reign exhibits in that respebe. How striking that
contrast every heart must feel and acknowledge
measures have -gradually been adopted ,which re.
versed the former system, and, perhaps, pled can
only be gradually produced. An MI was soon
passed to allow the Roman Catholics and Protest.
ants to intermarry. They ,were next indulged in
the
'free exercise of *heir religion, and though
they might nut be made good Protestants, yet
they were no longer expeded to be made immoral
members of. society. Still fOrther indtilgences-
were granted them: they soon were alloWed
share in the eledive franchise, and in the executive
offices ; and this •system of lenity and concession
rapidly produced the very opposite effects to which
the former system necessarily gave rise. They soon
acquired wealth from the pursuits of agriculture and
trade,' and from a participation in every thing that
promoted general civilaxatiun. The-extension of
etammercial privileges which was afterwards grant.
ed them'naturally increased their wealthy, which be-
ing diffused among the lower and middling classes,
a. class was soon formed which scarcely existed
before, but which it. was the *owed objed of, the
new system to establish. Nor were these the onlyad.
vantages that sprung up under its fostering pro.
tedion amid encouragetnent ; for in proportion as
they advanced in industry and itieteaSed in wealth,sn
evident .increase wan also discernible in their af.
feCtion to their King and Country, and in their at.
tachment to the Constitution—all of which reetiv..
.ed a still further increase by the. further marks of
favour they, received in the year 1792, when they
weresadmitted to the enjoyment of almost every
advantage af'd blessing of the Constitution, except
those entonerated in the Petition now on yout
Lordships' Table. But here it seems it Was thought
proper to make a stand ; the plan of concession was
to proceed no further, and they must submit to be
excluded from any more enlarged participation in.
the GOvernment. Whiny nice considerations may
have stopped the progress of gradual concession. It
Was judged fit 'to consider what might be safely
granted, and how far dress concessions might be
tarried without interfering With what was due to the
other side, and what mightbe expetted by the party
which was exchtAvely Protestant. The great ()tea.
sure4the Union was, however, to remove all these
difficulties—those at least which chiefly arose from
the peculiar frame of the Irish, Parliament,and which
•were looked .Upon as the principal bar against
further concession. What before might justly be
considered as dangerous, was now looked upon As
.pertedly 'innocent. When that measure, fraught-
with the most beneficial consequences to both Coun-
tries, I mean the Union, was carried,into effed, it
is tiedoobtedly true, I know the fad, that no au_
thorised assurance, that no promise.was made to the
Catholics of Ireland that the reittittions and disabi.
hues under which they laboured should in taken

SA TURDA X, MAY 111 IBoj.

off. At tile same time, by most of the sup.
porters of the Union, these additional concessions
were often hinted at as ore of the great ob.
jelly of that measure. Although the supporters of
the Union might not all agree that, Rey further mea.
sure in fivour of the Catholics should be carried, yet
they, and almoir all who spoke on the consequences
of the Union, seemed to reckon the possibility,
nay the probability of anvil further concession
among them; at least it was frequently asserted
that the Catholics might safely present their yeti.
lion to the Imperial Parliament, who were likely
to entertain it with respe4, and cheerfully to take
it into consideretion:. it was added,' that whatever
difference of opinion-might hefore have prevailed
tipon the:ono..let, that, since the Union there could
no lunges he any hesitation to examine minutely and
in detail all the measures respeectitig the'Romen Ca.
dilies, and the expediency of granting any further
exeinotions. . It is this pledge, toy Lords, which I
messy call upon your Lordships to realize. Ido not
metes, by challenging you! Lordships to fulfil. that
pledge, to call upon you for the adoption of any
particular measure; but merely to manifest a elis.
,position which proves our readiness to consider
case of the Catholics with temper.,and impartiality,
and 'with a sincere desire- to compose all animosities
and differences ; and likewise a willingness to hear
what rights they may yet chtien to the full,coi 'Y.
anentof constittitionalpeotedion. The otteetlett,
therefore, which 1 shell have: to propose is, That
the Flet.ise di immediately -resolve `itself into a
Committee, to consider of the Petition, presented
inhelialt of the Roman Catttelics of Ireland. Whu
'could refuse to acquiesce in such a Metion,. or upon
what grounds the refusal could be justified, I am
at a loss' to consider. For .nryself, .my I
am ready to declare, that out only a part, but that
the while of the prayer of the, Petition should be
acceded to. For what seas the general wish ?
Did it enxiously look for a complete toilets of all dc.
seriptione of His "Majesty's .Set i e:tr, 'int'. an union
not merely in name, anti the leio:r at the.law,, but
ari`bnion growing tow of mutual interest and affee.
titan, and deterrstioeSisfevodoe on all sides fear the
defence of.. the CtinNtitlitiOn Yee .freadily con.
test, that the troetioe may, in some
,degroei be
A question oni) 'at expeolieeey, and opt ot right.;
but .of what nature eom that expediency be well
considered, whirl: would continue restriaiuosoon
four millions of • OM' fellow.sn!lj which• debar
theft) froM a full shire .of the privileges of
rens ? It is ot least incorobent upon those wha
*Mild continue the restrietiOtis, to slow the ne.
cessity of continuing them. .Must they not. al.
low that the principle of oout free Constitution
consists, in egad laws nod trikvileges ; and that,
in the light of the law, the lowest man is on
a footing With the highest ? Upon what ground
then'ean the continuance of the disqnalifications be
justified, except upon that of necessity ? let those,
however, who plead that greund, come forward
with proofs that the necessity. exists. Such an idea
was ineompatii,:e with the basis of a free Cunstitu.
don, which consisted in equal laws and though it
might be, necessary to admit some distinttion of pd.
vilege, yet that four millions, of his Majesty's
Subjeas should be debarted.of the ptivileges enjoyed
.by the other daises of their fellow eubj,•cts, required
to justify such .a privation the morst strong, the most
palpable, and unquestionable expediency and necessi.
ty; in ol)inpirlion the remaining testritatonsshould not
be allowed to continue a moment longer, andethuegh
it may not be requisite in my mind to look for any
objoCtions that cool fairly he urged. against their
request; yet it may not be ill.titned to touch some-
what upon the nature of them. "rite first ground of
objection which I have heard tutneured about, I
am sure, my Lords, wilt never- be a.. riously
brOtsght torWatd by any of your Lordship*,
.is of
such a nature, and ean only be mentioned to Oteite
surprise how such nations could ever be entertained,
It has been somewhere said, that it was the nature
of the`Cathislic Religion, 'that those who professed
it could not, be loyal subjstts. Can that be true,
my Lords ?: or if it be true, surely it follows that
those whom their religion usekee, traitors, not only
are not ,fit to be admitted to any partiCipation of the
privilege's of citizens, but that they ought not to
•heve been Admitted to what they already eojey. If
such could be the infhteece of their religion over
them, why should you Admit them to sweat in
Courts of justice ? I know indeed that an codes,.
your was somewhere trade /to circulate ati opinion,
that it was impossible for any man to be a true and
loyal Subjed ds lung as he remained a 'C.:titholic.—
Where so blind, se, monstrous a eropeeition could
possibly spring from, it seas difficult to cuejeause,
•unless perchance it might have been rescued ttom
.some.tousty records.of stone councils of the church.
In vain do the Catholics deny, that whet they pro-
fess has any such tendency. Tiry -ate told by
their accusers we know your religion better than
yourselves. You swear you can keep faith wtth
Protestants. . We .bring you to the table, to swear
it; and yet afierwattle they are told their oath is not
to b, believed. You itto tree tsothetaell the absurd
doctrines, which they never or have lung ek-
plodcd ; anti while you call upon' them to swear,
you deny that any credit is tOliC paid to their oath,
beeAuse in some Council, either ot Lateran or ot
Constance, some -such absutd opinion may have been
started. Could such mons-mitts itt;itaiittieS be
tenet" to for a moment, not only should you nut
concede what the Catholics now, solicit, but you
should. immediately recall what has already been
granted, and devise every pocsihle means to drive
them out of every well constituted Goverment, Yet
if ever these were a shadow of ground for the exist.
once of such notiorrs, with whilt SAilio. could arty of
your Lordships have gone to the C4itA of the arts,
where that oi)ifti•)11 might be aopposeJ tee have most

(PRICE SIXPENCE.

powerfully prevailed. Rut there wai no entertain.'
log such absurd notions with -seriousness. If the
body of the Rernin Catholics and, their loyalty' are
fairly brought under such an. iniputation, where was
their defence to be sought for ? To disprove such
a chart' I have only to turn to the. Statutes, my
Lords, to the declarations repeatedly made the •
-preambles of the Bills ;sassed in their faVour by
the Irish Parliament. It was there again' and again
acknowledged, that the favours granted to them a
were the consequence and reward. of their loyal.
tyy, and exemplary condua. True—but I may be
told that their loyalty had b.!en eoospicuoutt
down to the period of the Rabell,9o.—flut
surely nothing could •be more uojost than to aim:
pure the Rebellitin, to. them, as Catholics. That
Inure or less of the Catholics may have been en..
gaged in the -Rebellion may be true; fiar bola; could
a rebellion rage in .a cauntry, three.fohrha
whose population were Catholic% ssotaeo.,,
them haaiog been engaged io it.' L aik oil their
condor} ie the two Rebellions which t aok:place
in r 7 t and I 74. e ; the ohjea. of theta wds
to dettirane the present Family, and to reiost ice
rhelsciled. King. Yet look to the history af the
times, and k will shew you altar the Catholics were
engaged in neither, although the olojeaaa was to re.
instate a Cat"ic k also to the A,neri.
can War; did. not the Enemy then hover on oar
Coast, and frequently threaten Invasion ; yet the
loyalty of the Catholics . wag not then qaestioned •
so far otherwise, arms were entrusted to their
hands to :repel the attack. I now speak in the .
hearing ,or iscany NOble Lords who have. been
Lards Lieutettanta and.See:retaries to Lords Lima_
flatus in that Country, and I am bold to ask them,
on what, occasion have the body of the Catholics
been found disaffeaed to Government ?, If this.be
the case with what colour of justice can .the late
Rebellion be called Catholic ? It Must he Uaiver.a
sally known that the gebellion cannot be traced to
that saurce, but to. an unfortunate Contbioation of
die circutnstances of the times and of toe country.
Were the leaders of that Rebellion Catholics ? Were
they not United hishmeoa which .signifies a co.ope. ,
ration of different seas ? Were not the heads of that
Rebellion rather proved to be Protestants. Indeed
that event was wholly uncenneaed' with religion,.
but had fur its Oita!' al u . the overthrow of
the Coestitution, and of' the •Monarchi. If
then the Rebellion cannot be imputed -to the
Catholics,; if, 0n,,, the contrary, the most dia.
tinguished among diem were the most forward to
run.every hazard, r , exhibit every possible syinP.,
tom of the most ardent zaal, with what face c oa the
guilt of the P,4lltAtiun hu cl,.!gtiv..tl up.An file l:atlto.
Pies; and how unjustly, on the contrary, is it ad.
vanced as a reason for (feint v n three.fourtha of
a people of the enjoyment of those privileges to
which they :nay have the fairest claim. After
such proofs in favour of their loyalty, of their
attachment to' the Constitution, and their 'Clog,
for so many years; after the testbnonies oaid
to both by the declaration of the Irish Par.
•liament, yourather balieve the abjured
doarines on which they had been said to aet,
and which, if they ,could he supposed to listen to,
would stamp them .as a descriptiota of men dis.
qualified by Gad and Nature for all purposes of
Civil Government ?•—Bat it' has atao been ob..
jetted to. the
.Petition, that it was signed only
by Laymen,
,and that it was not attested by
single 'Priest ; out,. on the Contrary, that all the
Priests disclaimed the doarines it set ,forth.—
This, notwithstanding, I can well assure you is by
no means the fa& The only reason why it has not
been Signed by the eatholid Clergy that the ob..
jeers it aims at . are all civil rights-, and that:these
Clergy did not think 'themselves called upon to pe.
titian for what they were tint entitled to. far
from *being true that the Catholic. Clergy dis.
claimed any 'thing belonging to the Petkion, it
might Cosily be . prayed from the •recorda aif the
Courts of Law, that. their Prelates had oaken the
oaths prescribed, .to them, and npt only had they
taken these oaths themselves, but it was well known
that 'they had,. ihoreover, exhorted their Clergy to
follow their example, who were. found as ready
to "take the- oaths as the laymen. But, a still
more convincing argument that, all .the rest has
been said to be urged against the cause of the .Peti.
(Milers. It is argued, that the• time is now come
that the Catholics moat heal! traitors,since the Poo
has been preVailed on to Cusae to'Fl4ris and to crown.
Bonaparte. They are all now booml to be the wit.
ling Subjects, of Frarice, siocc the Pope has conic.
crated, him. Such trifling, my Lords, it woeld,
advertstirely b
to,e
weredisrespectfulitnot tot yourtiotr L
uethoaridisrhisps even
Vatibto
the
means of such naanstrous absurdities that attempts .
were made not only to reviircithe animosities which
prevailed in Ireland,
,hut to extend them to this
Country. No setisible man Could suppose that
such absurdities were intended to convince ; their
objedt was to raise • a clamour and a riot, in tar.
der to prevent our doing justice In a numeroui and
respettable class of our fetluw-sobjetta. Is the
Pope inure connected with France now than he was
in the time of the B orisons ? Or is he more •
inclined to support the power of France than betote?
The contrary was known to be the case, and
there wart rin man who rightly interpreted his feel.
-ings, but must acknowledge that his feelings must
have been- those of humiliation and mortification,
influence ,was certainly less than perhaps
that of any of the Pontiff? who had ever filled tint
Papal Chair; and even had it been greater, it could
not have the' tendency imputed to hire, after
his peraon and his religion had been so exhi.
and led captive in that ni.lst dishonour..
able and degrading transaction. Away then with
all such unmeaning absurdities, a fat from elzdit.