The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1838-06-15 00:00:00

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grleriir FiTYT;:i.lieierfere should thev-avail themselves of this n.;
sown to prove the siocerity. and consistency of that cry. ( Hew-)
As to the question itself, it deserves the support- equally
uiirl if I did- not ask-" where are any-other class,' -might it not
t"' taken as.a, compliment: to the liberalS? 'From' this being a
)
eral..cause, the, were peculiarly -called upon-to interfere.
cheers.)- 7 • ,
•
Mr. ,Bonny.—( have simply to say that Mr. McNeile said
that the liberals have taken away a test, will he explain ?
(Hissing,) •
Mr. McNeile again • rose. Most- gladly would I explain if
there were But if our dear friendswill Sit down and,give
111 half an hour I will most gladly explain.. It is not a clues-
lion. Whit:li can be replied to hastily. (Great cheering.—When
it had subsided Mr.:. NleNeile continuer' ) Well then. I say'
this-then ;. I-drew-a distinction between asking men` to support
by a direct tax, the religion of the country they live in, what
ever it may be, and askit,' men to be partakers tor, in the
rights of that religion. I say.a government has a right to com-
mand a -tax• from every man that claims the protection of the
laws of that. government —to demand* tax for the support of the
religion on which these laws are founded. (Hear from Mr.
1-I')wes.) Therefore say that it was a right thing in-the Bri-
tish government, while they left every man at liberty to worship
after his own' Manner, to•require a tax from every man to sup-
Portthat religion which is the basis of British law. ( Hear,
'hear ) On this groud I maintain that there is no persecution
whatever in the demand made for the•established church of this
`country We ask no•man to worship within our.pale who has
any conscientious objection: • We say worship as you-will; but,
you live in this laud; you are protected by our laws; our laws
are founded on this religion. We think that in supporting the
:religion we support the laws; and it you are benefitted by the
_laws, you are bound, to support the religion which maintains the
laws- (Cheers.) • Now I say further, that heathen govern-
_aneuts would have a right to say to Britons, or any other indi-
viduals living in their ilorninious—' if YOU content-yourselves
with the free liberty here to worship (sod as you please, you
have the advantage •of the protection of our laws, and you pay
.a tax for our religion." Well, you' would not have much to
-complain of, if that is all that is required of you. But if you.
"I" to us and ask to be admitted to situations of honour and;
P,uwer in our government,-we must tike a pledge from you that
.wou haie no hostile intentions to our government. The pledge,
Zerequire is a religious .test. Not in order 'that you-may be•
You are free already; but in order that you may be en-,
wed itk
our - Power with safety to us. So in my judgment stands
- say, what is commonly
calls(1. est liet" in this land;
those " liberality" has broken down that principle.say
Pers"B who have sueeeeded iu getting rid of that prin-
suceess.--.1 '-say
-IPLe7sallti• therefore some Praise due to thern for it for their
those 'persons were- peculiarly called upon, by
-every Claim of consistency, to be present here when -a meeting
was convened to reinove-a grievance which appears to be of the
samecharacter as. that, the removal of which, they call success
at home- It is the reonival of a test. The test in the one case
was inaposed by our Lord and Saviour—" do this in rettient-
"nte 9r:14'6 in 'the -other-44e' tegriiit-impased by British
atitt ority, savitp, "go to idol's templeg, kneel down, or you
Ihd'ilmft lie our service.''' I say then, we are arrayed against
a.
lest of falsehood. And if risen are so delighted with-getting
vu if they got rid with joy of a test of tight, these are
the,,inen, I say—" Where are they to-day?" • (Great clieerit.Y,.)
1. he CHAIRMAN then -announced that Mr. Geo:Cropper had
kindly consented to remain and receive any contributions for
their national object and the meeting broke up shortly before
Eive o'clea. 7 .