Star.
London, England, 1828-11-08 00:00:00

the result which we are this day met to commemorate
asthe preserier of our Protestant Constitution. Under
the auspices of the great deliverer, whose name is li
blended with it, that great work was achieved; and if
' *any thing was wanting to prove this Constitutional pa-
sition in the breasts of Englishmen, and ail the world
over, that freedom would ever be opposed to Popery,
I would trace it in the words—the immortal winds—
which graced the banner of the Royal vessel that landed
King William upon the shores of Tothaymm." I will
maintain the Protestant Religion and the Liberties of
England!"—(Cheers). It is scatcety necessary to im-
press upon this assembly a truth, which the expel ietice
of every day warrants me in calling your attention to,
that the Protestant Religion, at the same time that it
inculcates all Christian humility, contains within itself
an independence of character calculated to forward and
support the great cause of our national liberties. The
justice and policy of that Constitutional system, which
excludes from the entire system of Government, execu-
tive and legislative, all Roman Catheilie interference,
has been arraigned upon several plausible grounds. It
has been stated, that in a free State all men ought to
lie equally eligible ttr all offices of trust and power.—
To that I answer, that the position is grounded upon a
fallacy. If, indeed, eligibility to civil offices in a State
were a natural right, the- position would have some
strength—(Hear, hear). But I take leave to say, that
civil and political offices ate the mere crea.u:es—the
artificial creatures of the Constitution, for the purpose
of administering, in the best and safest manner, all the
public functions of Government, and when that G
vernment is essentially Protestant, it is squally essei.-
tial to have it administered *by Protestant 'Members—
(Loud Cheering). It has been further said, that the
spread of intelligence end education in the present day
—the spirit which prevails in consequence of the
great increase of knowledge —`the enlargement of
the human mind throughout the world— afforded a
hope that some change had taken place in the political
principles of the Catholics, which would render it safe
to admit them within the pale of the Protestant Consti-
tution. My answer, my Lord, to that is, I see no such
change—(Loud cries of No, no," and cheers). I call
upon those who teiy upon such a change to point it
out; and, if they inquire of me where I have found the
evidences of their doctrines, I would ieter them to the

imperishable records of the history of their Church. By
that test only will I have that question tried. If they
desire to show me such a change as s ill insure public
confidence. let them show in these records some autho-
rised repeal of their obnoxious tenets, and then w e shall
be open to conviction—(Cheers). Their exclusion is
just—it is rational. It is a sound political maxim, that
the great offices of State, the primary functions of Go-
vernment, should be intrusted to that class of men who
ate best fitted to fulfil these offices. I would take leave
to ask, then, if a desire to maintain our • Protestant re-
ligion—if the support of our Protestant establishoonts
and institutions—if the uninterrupted Protestant suc-
cessiun to the Crown be a part of the functions of Gi•-
vernment—whether any class of his Majesty's subjects
be so fit to be intrusted with the guardianship of these
said objects as the Protestant subjects?—(Loud
plaute) Give me leave to say that, in impressing
upon this assembly my sense of the great value
f the Protestant Constitution, as the best security
fur the civil and religious lib, rties of the empire, I am
struck with no chat act ristic mote forcibly than this-• that
it possesses within itself the pow er of its own preservation.
That power I call the especial attention of this meeting
to, as resulting, in my opinion, from the most sacred
privilege which a British subject can exercise....a privi-
lege which was secured permanently. and, I may say,
consecrated by t'm name of "right," in the great con-
stitutional settlement of 1688-1 mean the right of free
discussion upon 2;1 pubiic topics, and the right of ap-
proaching the Legislature and the Throne constitu-
tionally, by petition, upon them. The Protestant Con.
stitution, and the preservation of its integrity, ate the
leading objects of this institution; and in the view
which I take of the proceedings to which it has led
throughout the country, I lay down this position, which
no man can controvert, that we are an institution strictly
and purely defensive. We are satisfied with the Con-
stitution as it is; and if the Constitution had not been
assailed so actively, so vigorously, and so perseveringly
as it is, our efforts would be uncalled for. Igo fat tiler
and say, that even if the Constitution had been assailed,
yet if it had not been assailed in the way that it has,
our efforts would be unnecessary. If our Roman Ca-
tholic f How subjects had contented themselves with a
strictly constitutional course of proceeding—if they had
been satisfied with making known their wishes and their
claims to the Legislature of this realm, constitutionally,
by petition, and had not had recourse to any measure
which was not constitutional, you would not, you could
not, want Constitutional Brunswick Clubs. But the
Catholics had departed from this course, and testis ted
to intimidation. He therefore weeded to his original
proposition, that this institution was [timely and strictly
defensive, in support of that gteat tight, that all should
be allowed fearlessly to express their opinions, arid con-
vey their sentiments freely, to the Legislature and tha
Throne. He felt sure in maintaining this principle, the
members of thisimtitution would never take a step incon-
skein with the spirit or the pr.riciple of she Constitution.
In the exercise of these privileges they (the Protestants)
were attacked in every mode. It he were asked to detail
these modes of defence, he should say, 44 point out all
your modes of attack, and you shall learn our points of
defence." As the multiform attack was illegal and
unconstitutional, their defence, on the contrary. should
be strictly legal, and within the Constitution—(Hea.)
lie was satisfied that the concuct of this Club would
preserve it; it would be animated solely by a spirit
strictly constitutional, and never ad..pt a course to af-
ford th• it enemies the slightest opportunity of seproach-
ing them with a departure not only from the spirit of
the law, but from its very slightest shadow, and then
they would deprive their enemies of their only weapons
—calumny and misrepresentation, and thus secure the
confidence and ce-operation of that powerful body, to
whom an appeal is Lever made in vain--the British
people—(Loud cheers for some time).
Several other Noblemen and Gentlemen then ad-
dressed the Meeting, and the following were the Reso-
lutions proposed, and unanimously adopted—
,. That no change whatever has taken place, that we can dl..
cover, to warrant a departure from the polity and principles which
governed those who conducted the great Constitutionl settlement
of the Revolution, in vesting the political power of the State in Pro.
testants exclusively, as the best safeguard of the Protestant Re%
glon, of the Protestant Establishments of these countries, of the
Protestant Succession to the Crows, and of the Civil and Religious
Liberties of the Empire.
" That under the Protestant Constitution of the &ate, as coin.
pitted and established by the Revolution of 1658, toleration unli-
mited has been extended to ail veligious sects and persuasions, Civil
and Religious Liberty in the highest possible degree possessed and
enjoyed equally by :U classes of his itlajesty's subjects; and all
the objects and purposes for which Civil Governments are Institu-
ted, adequately fulfilled aid accomplished.
" That in the present crisis of danger to the Protestant Consti-
tution of the realm, and from the alarm that prevails amongst a
great portion of his Majesty's Protestant subject* of Ireland, from
she daring proceedings to which an uniatitrui and unconstitutional.
assembly, calling itself the " Catholic Assucia• ion," has resorted,
evidently with a view to the subversion of the Constitution, it 1,