The Sun.
London, England, 1828-05-10 00:00:00

3.

tween the tngliali la't3sUror And die .111;I: ragratt, m
who shall work at the point nearest, to starvation. (Heat'
hear.) I contend, Sir, that it is to this state of thing'
we must look forward, and the only question is, whether
we will or will not stand by laws that condemn us in Ire'
land to a tottering Government, and to a people reduced to
the lowest state consistent with the preservation of life?
Sir, I cannot say, but I feel better than I can express, boo,
great a debt is due to Ireland—what atonement sle is
titled to for the long season of misrule that she hoe been,
condemned to—an Oppression which, considering the OA'
ra.lter of the two "nations—the one the most civilized spa

the most free—the other the bravest, the most eloquent,
and the most celebrated for its genius--is without a parallel
in the history of nations. In cases where civilized natioo.
have been overrun by barbarians it is' possible iluit historl
may have as black a tale to tell, but I repeat that the CO
is unparalleled in a civilized Government. Sir,the House rail
be sure that I will not dwell upon this subject one Mot-alit;
longer than I feel it useful. I have rejoiced over the A",
peal of the Test Acts, but if I considered it in the light°
a triumph over. any party—and, above all, over the Estr"
blished Church—l would have abstained from alluding
the subject as a matter of congratulation. I acknowledge
that all civil contests are—

" Bella—nulles habitura triumphos."
And, that to triumph for a victory over one's countryineo
is at once vulgar and unnatural: But, Sir, I deny the
this has been a triumph over the Established Church. It
a triumph we owe to the age, it isu triumph that le°
owe to the Right Rev. Prelates, who yield to none in thei#
zeal for religion, or in their attachment to that Chnich sl
which they are the natural and proper guardians. Sir, a
cannot sufficiently express the feelings! entertained when
observed the calmness and firmness with whiCh they eo'
'lured the taunts and charges that were so undeservedly
levelled against them—when 1 observed the judgment wide
which they considered the true interests of the Church,
and the dignity with which they asserted their right of
being esteemed better judges of these interests than a pair
of headstrong zealots. We owe to them also •the distino;
tion between a Church and an Established Church—so'
between a church and religion. For myself, Sir, Ire
test against all discussion of religion in this Hou.se.
Religion, Sir, consists in the love and reverence the
is due to all perfect wisdom and unmingled goodness'
The seat of religion is in the heart, where no power can
reach--where no eye can scrutinize. It is a subject on which
it is impossible to legislate, and that is too sacred and vane"
able to be exposed to the levity incidental to discussion i 0
popular assembly. A church, to use the explanation ofs
Right Rev. Prelate, is a society of men agreeing in opiniort
and met together in search of mutual instruction. Such
was the primitive Christian. Church before any establish'
ment was formed—such-was it in the reign of Dornitias•
as in that of Theodositte; it shone with a light as pure sod
as brilliant when Cyprian was committed to the flames at
Carthage, as when St. Chrysostom was on the archiepis'
copal throne at Constantinople. And, Sir, such church°
do yet exist—such is the Church of Scotland—and such
is the North American Church ; and speaking of this
Church it may not be inapplicable to remark, that tli
Bishop of New Yolk visited this country.. He was Well
received by all classes, and especially by the Clergy.
e
returned to his own country, and shortly after took rather
a singular occasion of alluding to his visit. He preached e
sermon in his Cathedral Church, and having paid the tri:
bute that was due to the toleration observed in Englal
and having expressed his gratitude for the hospitality.ew
attention he had received, he took occasion to say, *bet
judging from all that he had seen, he had rather bin
Church was persecuted than established. Ido not inert,
tion this, Sir, either from approving of the opinion, or. 0'
the good taste, with which it was introduced ; but simply'
in illustration of the distinction between a Church aw
an Established Church. An Established Church is, l°
fact,' a civil institution ; doubtless, for' the disseminatipa
of morality and religion among the people. But though
in its nature a civil establishment, it is certainly to°.
venerable, in our country, and ought to be supported. '1
all parties are ready to admit, so that the only question le',
as to the best means of supporting it. And, Sk,'l tlii
that we may learn much from the late discussion upon thei
repeal of the Test Act. I remember that an acute s°
distinguished Prelate (Dr. Marsh) delivered a charge t°
the Clergy of his diocese upon the subject of the Ron°
Catholic Claims. He was, of course, opposed to then.
But, Sir, what was the first evil he dwelt upon as likely.gee
result from the conceding of these claims ? Why, Sirs ,b 0
says it would, be a measure pregnant with evil—it, n3iP
even eventually bring about the repeal of the Test and CAP
poration Acts.—(Great laughter.)—lt follows then, that
is his opinion, the repeal of these Acts is a greater 07
than the concession of the Catholic Claims; for, other
wise, it is clear, he would not have supposed one to be to
aggravation of the other. Besides, it has always been sr-
gued thus, in this House, for Hon. Gentlemen, in content!'
ing against these claims, have over and over again told its
that the repeal of these Acts would be a consequence upon
these claims being granted, and they then always dilated
upon the danger that would accrue to the Constitution
from the destruction of what Mr. Justice Blacksto9e
.1124
been, curiously enough, pleased to call a bulwark °PI°
Jews, Turks, and Infidels ; but .now, Sir, happily this
bulwark is levelled to the ground, Without any friend t‘t.
the Constitution fearing to be disturbed in his.quiell„slafd.
berg by an invasion from the Jews,, Turks, .or
Sir, .the question of the Test and Corporation Acts Pre;
sents an. example well worthy of consideration. It 1,2
shown us the possibility of a general agreement being
blished, even where danger was most apprehended, an
where prejudices were most inveterate, by mean., of pru-
dence and conciliation. We have seen that it if. p°4-
sible to discover a compromise, and negociate a treaty', te
was capable of allaying the strongest apprehensions and a
most feverish excitement. We have it now established 3'
a principle, on the authority of the Right Reverend Pre;
lens, that a test is exceptionable and inexpedient se a
qualification ; and I am sure that those Right Reve1111„
Prelates, who displayed so much liberality and wisdomot:
the subject of the repeal of the Test and Corporation ite,
°
will bring their minds to the consideration of the Cot"./
lie Question, and will reflect upon the peculiar cruelttou
the situation in which the Roman Catholic is placed. !,a0
tell him that society distrusts him on account of lc
which he most reveres—you tell him he is iticoPe
of performing his duties towards the State, on aceof:p
of that upon which he is conscious is founded
his morality and right feeling--you debar him froi 'I,
freedom of mind and conscience, treating that as his sb°lll-
and reproach which he is wont to contemplate as his eoatcss
lation and his glory. A wound is inflicted on hint Oa
affects the noblest part of man • an: attack is made es lilt
heart and conscience through that which he moat venerate:
on earth. I said before, that religious liberty is the re°
sacred and inviolable of the rights of man. I said, t?°il
that it was a badge of civilization that had advanced lilt
us in our progress to the situation we once held in the eat
of civilized society. This situation was only lost by may
similar to those that have been lately repealed. We
of
now retrieve the station we did occupy amongst the band
civilized nations, and which we abandoned voluntary
this subject of religious liberty. It is in barbarous CO
tries alone that the inhabitants look merely to laws 0
ing their bodily comfort. In civilized States man sec t°
the enjoyment of the fearless exercise of his reason in ose,,
ters of opinion—of the unbounded authOrity of conscil!
over action. The liberty of exercising the religion the
may best please him, without let or itapedimeut, is nu.
great and inherent right of man. But let me ask
_a,Y-
what is the application of the principle of religious liber',„.,l
and so far as it applies to the Roman Catholics of Ireura
I agree with the Hon. Member for Louth, that it its,
peculiar one. Here we have not to deal with a !led
tered communion, but with a nation who are exclou.tb
from the common benefits of the Constitution-lby
a community distinguished by race, by language' as
religion, and, above all, by that visible mark of
.10,
encompassing frontier which imparts a stronger lite
pression of nationality than any thing else can---W
tne'
people united by long suffering, by the stirring .
mory of great deeds, and by a venerable and legitimate 104
whether god
ien between it be
then ot
steoc whicht
the they Sir,
becauseentit ed
tiquity.7.-with a people equally distinguished by their flet;o
as their valour, And, Sir, it is more difficult, for.
situp
reasons. to legislate with respect to them than a 5°14
it i •
fsorlensastisaenfealtopretifduesenituhseraft'cbis;
strongly against oppression. And, Sir, is it possible t
it has not been universally perceived that the gneati9a.
ide otap
ies j orreslerciviaongottliieurA:-.0„,/
twill be disputed, that whethei the connection is to be P t,
ttwinioecotoundteer
served, be'decided by the proceedings of Parliaml„
and Ido not say to-day or to-morrow, but at no very elpe
stant period. I conjure the House, accordingly, mit'
diverted from this great question by any stibtletieS et'y
theologic dor a theoretical nature. Let as look only 044.
h9rrorq of a civil war, withall' the Adjuncts that ntoYe ail
t'
low in its train—let us reflect that a jealousy does
,I)r of,
against England, on the Nit of the other States of ur,
who envy her proud and pre-eininent situation, and 'bsaee
should the unfortunate event at which I hive glancedie
place, we must naturally expect the interference of ebb
Foreign Powers. And, Sir, after the statement mad. id
Oro.
my Right Hon. Friend (Mr. M. Fitzgerald) of the ,
progress of disaffection to the Government, who could Fry
tend to calculate or determine the rapidity of their ?sir,
greys to one that shall be far worse. Many opinions, ever
have been given on this subject, but of all eat I bit" dr
I h ard, I have, no hesitation in declaring that that of in