The Sun.
London, England, 1828-12-08 00:00:00

of a declaration I boldly make, that the great body
of the Irish Catholics are as faithful and conscientious
in the discharge of all the duties of good citizens and
loyal subjects as any of their Protestant brethren
Can it be a matter of indifference to possess- the
hearty attachment an& co-operation of seven millions
of our fellow-subjects in support of our excellent
Constitution.—( Loud cheers.)—We have long
enough made trial of the influence and tendency of
civil disabilities; and now I trust, the day is not far
dietant when we shall take: our Roman Catholic
fellow-subjects by the hand, and make them wel-.
come to all the privileges of our common birth-right.
--(Continired cheers.)—I know that some good
Protestants, who only form their judgment of Ro-
man Catholics from the conduct of some of their
ancestors, are Overwhelmed with.. fears in antici-
pating the day which• we hope is at handeand which
we doubt not will prove the Millenium of the British
Constitution.----(Cheers,)—je the dangers appre-
hended were real. I am' confident that they would
not escape the keen penetration of such, advocates as
Mr. Wilberforce—(Shonts of applause)—and a host
of champions in this case, who, like. our venerable
friend, have been able to view the subject in all its
bearings, and who, at least, can never be suepected
of indifference to the welfare of the Established
Church. (Cheers.). •An earnest regard fonthe in-
terests of religioninduces me to take a pail in the
business of this day.
,(Cheers.) lam a- Protestant,
Sir, and I wish the principles of the Protestant
faith to have full scope and fair play. (Cheers!) So
long as my Roman CathOlic brethren labour under
penalties andirestrictions, I cannot expect them to
listen to my testimony. Under existing circum-
etances persuasion and arguments are sure to meet
with insurmountable obstacles. To me, Sir, it ap-
pears that the Protestant religion has nothing to fear,
but every thing to expect,- from the Genius of
Liberty and the Light of Truth. (Cheers.) She
requires no disabling Statutes for her 'support; and
ought never to seek her 'protectidu in restrictive en-
actments. So long as we consider the safety of our
religion secured by the infliction of penalties on
those who refuse to profess it, we seem to me to be
making the tacit acknowledgment of our weakness.
(Loud cheers.) J recollect, Sir, the" late Dr.
Bogue, the ft./end of Ireland and of the world,- after
'having visited -Ireland on an errand of mercy, ex-
pressed in a few words sentiments which wish to
e navey to this Meeting. " Under present disabili-
ties (said cite-Doctor)otrreeffortn-to instruct and im-
prove the Irish Will .accomplish little good--what-
ever we may think-or nay, thee good -people • fancy
that we have them on the ground beneath our feet,
and never till they- are
.er.eet.auft.in the same posture
as ourselves can we ,hope to malie a fayourable im-
pression on their minds!'. ~/gy,:eatbuaia,cti:e admira-
tion of the British Constittltierl will' not allow me to
besilent this day. PenalAratairei are 'annmalies in the
English law, and contraryt`ONi:o:ii of out Con.
.titution. (Che4s.) N.4.1101;41;1 retiredirtim the
front of -the hustings
.pm‘4leelond ,and ,releeretea
plaudits.
Mr. ALExaNDER.Kty.-7Ttie. expression .of ei3i.
niorks on doubtful mg asmes of 'policy, hyan.Address
to the Throne, appears to me highly. injudicious and
indelicate---(Laughter:)---I . think the Honourable
Member of Perlittnient in the-Chair will• agree with
me on this point. (Cries froin the. hustings;. "No;
no, he does not.")' €4,-appears tome that Addresees*
to the -King are onlrproper on subjects of congra-
tulation; on which there is-no difference of opinion.
Petition is the other-mode of subjects approaching
their Sovereigtl ; but this is only to hexesorted to
co occasions of high import, and it is necessary that
the 'prayer be sub Star tially. et forth, with the.
grounds on which it is 'pieferred; 144 to-make a
professedly loyal address the vehicle of meats Opinions
ofalsart of his Majesty's subjects, to call forth a
.similar expression of the counter opinions of others.
-which-can be- supported by irrefraggfile 'argument,
and thus to distract the Royal mind, is to iegelt the
Sovereign, without the hope of such address pre-
du sing the intended effect. Now, Sir, what has
culler: for this very irregular mode of proceeding ? I
havo no reason alleged but the provo4ing cir-
cum.:twice of a number of. loyal Britons ,carrying
their notions of loyalty to their Kieg, and fldelity to
the Constitution, a few degrees further than some
people; and having learned that no treasures, and,
above all, our conatitutional- blessings, can be pro-
.teefed by inactivity and aseur:ty, have thought fit to
form an association, which they ion the - Leeds
AronsTick constitutional Association, in main-
tenance, of slime blessings, by opposing,
all eotenitutional means, the- concession of fur-
then political power to the Roman Catholics.—
Such is the Association which itaz frightened gentle-
. mien from their propriety: But was It needful to
require the interposition of the Sovereign to put flown
a bot!y so insignificant in number, so contemptible
in property and respectability ? (Loud laughter.)
[Here the Meeting became again quit 4 eonfused ; and
after remaining some time in that state, eke Rev.
T. Stales,- addressing the gentlemen on the Brue,s-
wickers'- side of the hustings, said, " Gentlemen, do
try to keep your friends on thateide 'in their pro.:
priety.' " (Loud laughter:) • Our oppnreentS know
very well how to get up
,counter declarations, eeo
in this instance therrnigbt easily have outenumbered
the 13runswick ers,, as- in their-case Rooms were all
that would be required; whereas the latter necessa-
rily limit their body by-requiring a-pecuniary pay-
ment on theadmission of members. But gentlemen
have discovered that clubs are a bad thing, and may
he rendered instruments Of evil. No further proof
is required of this than the pestilent eeesociation
which divides the rule with the Government of Ire-
land, and which, I suppose, is to be allowed lo dictate
to u', end arbitrate on the Ccrnstitutionof England:
. And who.eneourages the club system so much as some
respectable individuals on the other side ? I enntend
that the religiou. associationw which are'uow so rife
and which have been productive. I doubt not,of Much'
of political clubs.
go9d, have led . to _the . formation
.dire are accused of thwitling the.plans a ministers,
p
by people who, perhaps, for the first time in their
fives, are tender about their -feelings, and offer them
protection. I beg leave to tell those ersons, that
whilst we will support Ministers to .the walest in
every legitimate exercise of their powers, no Minis-
ter of State, or Minister of Religion either, shall
cause us to swerve from those Protestant principles
which are the stay of the Throne, the ground-work
of the Constitution, and the essential safegtrafel of
our dearest interests. The very Bill, which has
gone beyond all others in opening the door of nflice
to the Roman Catholics—viz. Sir Francis Thlrdett's•
Bill-proceeds upon this ground by declaring in the
preamble, that the Protestant Episcopal. Church of
England and Ireland and the Protestant Presby-
terian Church Of Scotland; are permanently and in-:
violably established. Befoie we can be entitled to
attention, we must' prove, then, °dr attachment to;
or at least declare our.readiness to uphold such este,
blishment. This brings us to conaid.e. the relative
situation in which the' Protestants of this king-
dom now stand ; by -the repeal of the, 'Corpora-
tion and
'Pest Ai:As, Dissenters are placed in a.
Mate of complete political equality with the'mem-
bets of the -Established. Church ; has this' great
boon been attended by the desired effect -of causing'
us to." think and feel alike concerning' the comthon
weal ?" I shall rejoice if the proceedings of • this
, is
(Lay produce this: on ay good-Lan understandhig On
this head._ I will propaqi
,a few articles, of which,,]
in judgment, an Englisignan's creed ought to'
consist. Loyalty to the,: King -As Our Supreme;
Governor; .acquiescence in arr Estabiiib.ed Church,
with perfect freedom to' join: in any other rem of.
worship ; obetlience.to the laws which are necessary
for the. preservation of Our infernal interests, and a.'
willing support of the several branahes of Govern-
ment and authorities in the State: - I .request,•Gene
tlemen on the other side to- correct me if I require,
too much at their hands: I know the qualms of sonic'
to acknowledge theechuxeh- in any degree. indi-
.7idnally I consider conform 4 N% ith a terse Established
Church a great duty. I think it incumbent on the
addressers to assure his Majesty, 'tat sitould danger
tytatta•PPPY,AriWet.4ey aye eadyt.., hn i his Majesty.
4i Fiftfstant Cqusiiltution 'arch and State

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