Star.
London, England, 1828-09-02 00:00:00

[PRIM& SEVBNPINCI.

•
LORD KENYON.
ON THE STATE OF THE CATHOLIC QUESTION.
It is now near twenty years since I ventured, from a

sense of duty, to expre;s my sentiments on the above
vitally important question. I did so, as I then stated, us
print, rather than in the House of Lords, becau e I felt
that in that Assembly there were many, who, from abi.
lities, station, and rank, were better ertitled than myself
to address the House of Peers, and I feared to do injury
to a cause dearer to- me than my life. Like motives
have operated since with me in the like manner. I
cannot, however, in the present crisis of the question—
at the moment when it seems about to be determined
by the Legislature. in the next Seuion, whether Ireland
is or is not henceforth to be given up to Popery ? I can!
not retrain from imploring the real Protestants of the
Empire to step forward, and, by their declarations and
exertions, call down the mercies of Heaven to rescue
our Protestant Brethren in Ireland, and the glorious.
Constitution of the British Islands, from such a curse as
the restoration of power to Popery.
My statement shall be very short, that all who pie'se
may find time to read it, and the reasons on which it
is founded be distinct and unreserved.—First then. I
must say. the time is come when the Protestants must
defend or abandon their religion as a part of the Bri•
tish Constitution. We live in times when practical in.
fidelity prevails. The Scripture tells us of Christianity.
" that Kings shall be its nursing fathers, and Queens its
nursing mothers." The wisdom of the youth of these
days says, that Christian principles should be considered
as of no consequence in governing an empire. Belies
ing, as I do from my soul, that Goo is not only moral
governor of the world, but that lie will bless a nation
in proportion to its adherence to his religion, I abjure
entirely the infidel liberality which practically prevails.
Let it be found among our Princes, our Nobles, our
Prelates, our Politicians, or wherever it may, I equally
disclaim and condemn it. The question is, do the Pro-
testanu of the United Empire think their religion
worth preserving? Will they tread in the steps of the
Christian patriots of 1688 ? or will they give up Ireland
to Popery, and eventually Britain also?

It is absurd to say that Ireland will not be altogettiet
Popish, if Popish Represensatives may sit for its Coun-
ties and its Boroughs. Ulster, the only Protestant pro.
since, can never long remain such, it Popery is predo-
minant in Munster. Leinster, and Connaught. The
system of terror will gradually extend itself through
Ulster; and the Protestants of Great Britain will have
Popish Ireland, with a hundred Representatives, to
dictate laws to them. It is true, it is not at resent
proposed to exclude Mr. Dawson, the new con-
vert; or Mr. Brownlow, the preceding ones And
why ? Because at present there is tuo much of Pro-
testant feeling in Derry and in Armagh to make it
expedient to do so. The old system of Jesuitism is as
much in force now in Ireland as in its rankest days.
Foe proof to confirm my assertion—Mr. Vesey Fitzge-
rald has ever been an advocate for the Popish Claims.
Clare bas proved itself a Popish county. The Pupids
party could exclude him; they have, therefore, dons so
by electing Mr. O'Connell. So much for Popish Ira.
titude towards an old friend. Mr. Dawson and Mr.
Fitzgerald were equally Members of the Duke of
Wellington's Government ; therelore, if that be a
crime in the eyes of the Irish Papists, Mr. Dawson
ought to be excloded equally with Mr. Fitzgerald, un-
less they mean to add ingratitude to Mr. Fitzgerald
as in itself a motive for his exclusion. I will not impute
to them so showiest& a motive; but it remains, then,
that the Jesuitical system of succeeding by wheedling,
when they cannot by force, is the true cause of Mr.
()Tomas Battery to Mr. Dawson. Btu it may be pros
tended. that seats in Parliament, and privileges in pro-
fessions. are all which the Irish Papists requite. U that
be true, we mess believe the lower orders of Irish
Papists and their Priests to be the greatest dopes that eves
lived. Why have the Irish Popish pordatioo supported
Mr. O'Connell as they have done ? Because their re-
ligion. they were told, called on them to do so. Why
did Mr. O'Connell fall on his knees to receive spiritual
benedictions from a Popish Bishop during the Clue
election? Assuredly only to increase the fervour of
attachment to him on the score of religion. Will the
Priests and Popish population be satisfied at Papists
being admissable to both Houses of Parliament, and Mr.
O'Connell and others haying silk gowns, and other
civil or .professional privileges, without the establish-
ment of the Popish religion in Ireland ? If any
one say so. "he deceives himself, or tries to deceive
others." It is contrary to the nature of man ; it is im-
possible. Can Popish Ireland and Protestant Gloat
Britain be truly 'Hilted? Can a Parliament so com-
posed act harmoniously, or for the public good ? No
reflecting man can fail to see that the grant of comes-
sioos has already gone too far. The contest must take
place sooner or later. The attempt to put off the period
will probably not delay its arrival—will certainly
in-
crease its difficulties. How then should awn of principle
and resolution act? They should see that the integrity
of the empire be not risked by vain attempts to con-
ciliate where conciliation is impossible. Securities
there will be none that can ever be of use. The

extension of Popery it the object, and must be the ob.
jest; such extension is the danger, and must continue
so for ever. No foreign case is at all like Ireland—no
Constitution and no people like the British. But why
must the public at large be now called on to step forth ?
It is because rebellion in Ireland may yet be avoided ;
or, if not so, soon be put down, if the Protestant
voice of the Expire is beard ; and the danger win be
immensely increased by delay. To my Protestant
countrymen, I may say what the rules of Parliament
forbid within the walls of Parliament. It is this, that I
have no doubt our Sovereign will stand true to his Pro.
testant le, if they will be true to themselves ; and it
is t ore for the Protestants of the Empire to de-
clare, if they will enable their King to maintain
the oath be took at his coronation. The Jesuitical iota-
pretatioa of that oath is, that the King will act by the
advice of bis Cabinet Ministers, that is, that he will have
no conscience of his own. James IL acted by the advice
of his Ministers in his attempt to restore Popery ; and it
was distinctly charged
gtsutagainsthim at the Revolution,
as his crime against the
Won, that be did act by
the advice of wicked Cosasellers. The interpreta-
tion of George ML and of Frederick Duke of York,
was that the King was in conscience bound to observe
that oath in its spirit, whatever might be the *Dios of
an other persons. It was said by George IIL " Will
any one tell me that my people will not support a• la
governing according to my Coronation Oath? I will

walk to Charintcrops, and appoint the first tespectable
aim men I can 'find for 'my Cabinet Minisierg, to sup-
port such principles,.and. am sure my people will
• rapport me. And yea would ; and so you will your
Sovereiger Georgeiv. on the same priociple.
The opinions of my venerated Patent on the Co-
Militias Oath have been misteptesented. Ladd extracts
to the point ;
o The state of the question with which I have been
beitbstedlepposes that the requisition now made is a
diieet liolatina of the statute of $0 Car. 11. st. 9. .
alteertainlv is inconsistent with that law, and if it
gull be yielded to, will, in effect. repeal it, though that
law, when it was made, was looked upon by the Legis
lature as necessary for the more effectually preserving
the King're'petiOn rindGoiernment, by disabling Milos
fromsiSting in either House of Parliament.
" /tow tat that la* still continues a fence for the
church as by law established, must be judged of by
those who are tweet on the proposed repeal, if such a
measure should be biroisght forward. Those who think
it is amlmportant and necessary part of the defence of
the Established Church, may also think that the corona-
tion oath was meant to provide against the King's con-
senting to the repeal; for though an act for repealing
the statute of Charles 11. would not in itself break in
upon the Established Church, yet it would facilitate
steps which might afterwards follow for that purpose.
SS
by this means Papists might constitute a majority of
each House of Parliament.
Is It cannot well pass observation, that the whole sys-
tem of laws, as to the pur.posi of the present inquiry,
was to guard against the poi.ibl- introduction of Popish
influence inteiny br orch of the Legal ore. As far as•
respects the Sovereign, it is trarded by the oath he
takes. and with respect to the Houses of Parliament, by
the Declaration in 30 Cal. U.
" I will, out of anxiety. add one word more. It seems
to me that the judgment of the person who takes the
Cironition Oath mutt determine a Nether any particular
Statntkpropo,ed do t% destroy 'the Government of the
Established Church. • .
“It seems that the Oath, couched in the general terms
in which it is found, doel not preclude the party sworn
from exercising a jedgment,, whether that which he is
leund to maintain wilt be essentially, or in any degree,
*fitted by the proposed measure.'
We live in limes when every man who values prio-
tstptr; should depend ors his owe ezertiow, and not on
those of Princes, Prelates, Nobles, Politicians, or PM-
liaMent. Some of the last Sessioos of Parliament have
fouls bow little safe it is to trust to such quarters for
security. In the voice of the Protestants of the empire
alone can strength be afforded to those who desire to
uphold the Protestant faith and Constkution. Let every
parish declare its sentiments; let them unite in a holy
and Constitutional declaration of their attechmain to
hype' Protestant Constitution of that realms as their
dating birthright, and they will nerve the strength of
hi friends, and pretense it to posterity.
Amgen SO, tom * MINTON.

.

these I wii. aims) iy
fay Catholic fellow caste/wen to the
fullest eatent, ell the blessings of the Deities Contthu.
don. I conceive they air entitled to them as their birth-
r.ght. I ihuuld be islianse.l to clAim them under the-
' Tieaty of Limerick, or from the prnmiam..slkged to 6e
held out it the time of u.e Uoion—l claim theta Irons
the Bills f Rights and Magna Ciiatia, and (meth' kw
,auunhie principles if even-handed ju-tice.
4 These are the principles which shall guide my 'poli-
tical conduct. I cancel, is an honest man, give any
'further have the honour to be. &c. • •
OJ. HUT HUTCHINSON.
0 To John Luther. Esq.!' .