The Statesman.
London, England, 1819-06-11 00:00:00

TUE STATESMAN.

oily reference to civil rights, so that the Oath of
Isometry, which the Gentlemen who voted the Ile.
solutions tboeght insellicieut, was the only
remain.
log guard. In roadie% the history of the prelim es
well as former times, •n reason presented itself for
supposing filet 111.04111er Supremacy was not an ef•
fermi her against do admission of Roman Cohn.
lice into any 'Usages where it wee required as •
gualifleatiou. The contrary Infrreocr mused to be
drawn from the Act of Geo. 1., bet it could not be
rattly drawn from the wordlog of the preamble, that
the Oath of Supremacy was then considered inef.
fermi. By the let sod 'sth of Quern Elizabeth, to
he gratified for a seat in the Meese of Parliament, in
the Privy Council, or for 011ey, the Oath of Se.
preeney was ropsired to be taken' het still many
Catholics were oppoloted to office In her reign,
.sod dowewarde In the time a Charles 11. In
the trip of James I. after the Marra created by
the Gunpowder Plot, soother oath was required,
called the Oath of Obedieoce, for the express par.
Pete ef•ii•tinitoishieg between loch %resin Catholics
is could give satisfactory proof of their ellegiance
and dose who could not. It was very possible,
though be bed no miss of proving the feet from se-
!herby, that stony Catholics were admitted to office
ruder this oath. Is Quota Elizabeth's time there was
no doubt that malty of them served with fidelity in
theerry sod navy, as wells, in the time of Charles 11.
bet it meat have been by the dispensiog power of the
Crows. The non.execusion of the law ha this respect
was the motive that led to the introduction of the others
•for their 'scission. Wish respect to Om two Houses
of Perliament, he wet not driven to this supposition
of the disputes power of the Crown. With the
exception of the Peers, in the time of Queen Plies.
bob, who were exempted from the operation of the
Act of Supremacy, from the sth of her reign down
to the period of the Restoration. no Catholic Mem-
ber gut • stet I. the Howse of Commons. The es-
clesien, thereof), was 'efficiently mainteined by
Abe Act of Supremacy. There appeared. at legal, in
the history of the times. or in the inertia's, no
ground for sapomilm that Roman Catholics had seats.
1e.1640, a law wee passed tlret ell Members should
receive the Saereimmit standing to the rights of the
Church of Englaod. No emotion woe made in the
Animals of any Member excluded in consegeence
of tide Act, which must have been the case if there
were Renton Catholic, in Parliament. 1V hen the
Act of the 30th of Chicle, 11. passed, for reelecting
Stafford sod other Popish Peers, no mention VIP
made of the Homo of Commons getting old of any of
its Members is consequence. Evelyn, indeed, said,
the. ell Romeo Catholics were excluded for ever
from both flosses, but Bernet mode no mention
of any Catholic that lint his lest. Coming now
to tf•trir own times, he world ask, whether it was
Net found to be an ellesteal hauler, end whether
tome alteration in the Act of Abjuration wet not
Necessary to enable them felly to enjoy the herm-
it, steely extended to them by the Legislature—
Whet retied. d Etglish Catholics frrm voting at
elections, but the simple Oath of Supremacy ? There
might hove been iestencet of their voting when the
oath was net tendered, or whey in the heat of en
elortiotrcontest, It was not reflected upon. Sots
Things wer•fregeently dew in eases where there was
no
lIPICOW from warmth of feeling or want of mash,
Itcreilea; at the Castors-boon for instance, sod upon
other *erosions. This, however, was no moon (or
coecloding against the efficacy of the Oath of Sumo ,
wary. There was an-instance et the Devonshire '
election of a respectable Gentleman, a Catholic, re-
fusing In take t boOath of Supremacy when tendered as
the corretith.n upon which he was to give his vote. The
eighth Herniation alluded to some mete which were,
it wen tail, held by the Church of Rome, and which !
mord to infringe on the mild &chines of Chrirti.
soil. it was tree Shot if the Canons of the Church
of Home. and if the writings of some of the polemics
of that Church were starched, some passam might
Ire blood in corroborate shot allusion. But Se de-
Invested such • practice. Would the Bench of Re-
verend Prelates opposite feel satisfied if their religions
belief was to be decided upon from the violence of
some of the (Mule's which were upheld at the cowl.
nsesicentent of mad soon after the Reformation ?
Ile called upon their Lordships to set in the spirit of
Chrietion charity, accordiog to its brautifol mains,
" Do es Toe world be done by." lie would refer
es
a proof of the practice of ibis doctrine by Ca-
tholic Christians to the course of evaded pur-
sued by ell the nations of that religion on the
Cootittort of Europe for several years past. In
France, thee. was no obstacle to the admission of
Protesettots to the Legislator', and to the sitostions
of the Army sod of the State. In the Netherlands,
by the Treaty, which was retitled ender the
sandier Otitis country, it arse dictated that there
thoold• be no opposition, on account °Petition,
to any penes, attaining situations under that Go.
vernmeet. Its Aortas, in Bavaria, in Ilertgary,
end particularly In &imy, Mislays toleration
was practised. Eremite Rome itself, there was mach
liberty elbowed to perms differiorg ;rout the religion
practised; sod for • proof of this observation, Ile‘
appealed to the Noble Lords who find lately visited-
that country ; thin was a place of worship in lilt
city at which Protestauts assembled, and before she
door of which their carriages were publicly even to
slop for that purpose. Such was the Christhys spirit
of the present Role, of the Roman Church, sod such
the benevolent practice of his Minister, Cardinal
tionaalvi, that there wee full liberty given for the
public celebration of the worship of the Deity, ac.
cording to the forms sf the Protestant religion. Boars
long was England to coolinee behind in promoting
Christion toleration ? The last Resolution effected
to charge the Roman Church with the obsolete charge
of releasing 'objects ft.,. their oaths; but how was
this invention proved ? Ile would call the atm.
lion of their Lordships to a mere stutemeot of It.a
ftci., which would elucidate the entire train of
charges on that heed. When Bonaparte was de.
•irous of ideas% this country is much as poieibte,
he applied in conjunction with the &vertigo of Italy
in she Pope, requesting him to join in a weir firkin
Great Britain, and spare the refusal of the latter, his
Staten were seised, and himself made a prisoner,. At
that time the Pope tent infractions to hie Psi/Wei
how to act respecting en wath of allegissnee which
o mild be reclaim' from his subjects, and 4nilken gave
them pevoirsion to takc 'north of passiviellegiotre,
het •i'host i;')ertyof tek in; n oath of active allegiance,

which by releasing his subjects front their allegiancet•
himself. wergild preset been hereafter from paying it
to him slier her shies see recovered his throne.--
The Oath of Sepreensiy was one which censcieetines
Ronson Catholics would hesitate to take, for the sh.
jufotioll of the spiritual supremacy of the head of
their Chinch was considered by them as a sin, and
which, by it consequ-nres, would deprive them of
communion with their Church, and of the benefit of
its Sacraments, if it was not effaced by sincere can-
t titian. The charges therefore of the last Resolution
were no MOM than a revival of the old unfounded and
lezpleded accusation, that no faith was to be kept
with heretics. The oath which the Pope permitted his
subjects to take on the occasion usentioned, wits one
of ;smite allegiance, by which they were required
to take no part in a conspiracy or in a sedition,
nor to act against the riling power consistently
with the laws of God, and of the Church.—
If any solijscts of this country had been reduced
under the dominion of a foreign Power, world
the Learned Laid on the Alinolsack base them to
suffer punishment, beeline they might hare taken
loch en oath. The Catholics, it could not be con.
tea/limed, kept their oaths scrupulously: either then
they could attain the offices of the State, and the
sitootions of Members of both Homes with safe
cenacienrie, after the removal of the necessity of
subscribing to the Declaration. and doring'llte can.
titioanre of the Oath of Supremacy, or tfory
could not ; if they could accept these situations
after they bad taken an oath of allegiance to
the country and to its Sovereign, woald they not
prey it es sacredly us they now objected to sob.
Krill' the Declaration, and to take the Oath of Se-
premacy ; if they could not accept these situations
daring the continuance of the Oath of Supremacy,
what was the necessity of the other oaths, while that
continued an impossible bar against soy admission to
la sanative ? The remove! of the Declension was
necessary; first, on the ground of sound polity; and
secondly, be this Declerstion regarded trade
which were purely religious. The present Bill would
tend to remove the cause of discontent and disunion
from among persons professing the Christian religion,
as well as to introduce sentiments of peace and con.
cord among the inhabitants of this country, and thus
lead to establiab the welfare of the kingdom. Ile
concluded, therefore, by moving the second read-
ing of the Bill.
The Bishop of NORWICH rose, and in a low
tone of voice, which rendered a great part of his ob-
servations inaudible below the bar, stated, mat he
felt the meet unfeigned est:diction in seconding the
motion of the Noble Esrl. Why was the spirit of
pest ages which slept amid the shades of ignorance to
be awakened, in order to rust a gloom over the sun.
shine of knowledge? Would their Lordships ob.
innately persist in charging the Romeo Catholics
with doctrines which they denied, and which they
did not believe. Ile had frequently been obliged
to make the declaration contained in the oath, and
he would declare, that he Dever made it without the
most unpleasant of all sensations, something border.
ing en self-reproach. Had it not been for the glen.
ow, unewriainty of the law, for the ambiguity which
was obvious in the expressions, I e believed that
of thove who surrounded him, few could approach
the table and there make the Declaration without
feeling withia themselves some unpleasant misgirings.
II was not now to be considered, for it ought not to
be contitlered,how old the law au which reqeiredthat
the Declaration should be subscribed, but how wise
end how just it was. Another strong objection
which he eniertaieed to Ike oath was, that it was •
religious test for a civil perpose, and particularly
list it was a sacramental test, which of all tests was
the most exceptionable. It was a bar to the advance.
merit of conscientious men. bet not to infidels, or to
men who little value the laws of conscience. It was
probable he should be fold that these Goths were re.
gash' ; but be held that an oath and a sacramental
test were not penile!, and such was the opinion of
as learned a Pedaloes any who heel ever sate in that
Houle, who expressed his npinioos on that subject,
in a work which he treated of the common rights of
all subjects of the kingdom. Ile implored their Lord.
ships to consider the member, the respectability, the
loyally, and gond conduct of the inhabitants of this
country, who were affected by the Declaration.—
Were the 'anti which nitre necessary in the reign of
Charles 11. inpatient to be continued at present ?
'rbe Test Act had bean called a pillar of the Consti-
tution, bat was it such at present ? Were the Rn.
man Catholics at present so disloyal as to eerier the
continuance necessary ? No—these precautions were
no longer necessary sgelnst a most loyal, peaceable,
honest, and indeesteinui class of Britons. Such was
sot only his opinion, but that of men of learning
anti wisdom, whose sentiments he would always
esteem.

The Archbishop of CANTERBURY raid, that
alihoouh it bad been stated that the view of the sob.
jest which woold be taken by the Lords who wets
near him, would be • timiterl one, he Wwasnot eon.
Stines of his being actuated by any pr.judice' when i
he fon to state the reasons which indoesteed him to
dissent from the motion of the Noble FAIL Their
Lordships would egrets that the Protestant religioe in
Church and State ought to be supportni, bat had the
1 motion of the Noble Earl that object In view? The
motion of the Noble Earl was for • similar object to
that which he had lately made; different only how.
ever In the mode of attaining the same impose—the
former was for proceeding by, circuitous rout, while
the latter was to prove successful by one evert. The
Noble Earl had said, that there would • candid
arise from speculative opinions on this subject, which
' was the removal of an insansoonteble obstacle placed
in * err or advancement of Roman Catholic. In
the sotto of Clarks 11. This, however, was not his
qpiesion Respecting Catholics, havin4 continued in
possession of the privilege of being Members of Par.
Aatasent until the last Act war passed at that time.
Earl Gots rows to eaplain. Ile had said that the
Roman Catholic Peer, bad continued to poss.,' the
priststup of sitting in the floss* of Lords, and that
he had discovered no mars of proving that Roman
Catholics had not also continued to sit io the other
Ilnose until the Test Art was passed.
. The Archhishdp of CANTERBURY proceeded.
IThe Noble Earl bad certainly stated on a former
I occasion, or Ms recollection of whet had passed in
I the nous was incorrect, that Roman Catholics had
i continued to sit in Parliament eatecedeut to the pen.

fag of that Act in the reign of Chades 11. That
Roes* Catholics had been in_ the flosses f Parli•
meet during the interval (root the reign of Elia.beth
In thus of Charles 11., notwithstanding the obstacles
which the Oath of supremacy opposed to them. ha
was not prepared to say. lie believed the Nebte Earl
felt as sinews desire far the preservation .f the Pro-
Sealant Iteligigion and Constitution of the country as
the Noble Earl near him (Lord Liverpool), or any
other of their Lordships. The only parallel which
he could find to the present occasion was in the reign
of James 11., when it was attempted to govern the
country by a Catholic King, united to • Protestant
Parliament, while now the endeavour was to have a
Catholic Parliament, together with a Protestant
King. Ile hoped that their Lordship. would pause
before they would introduce new systems into
this country, systems similar to which the history of
yesterday had showed the effects in neighbouring
countries, where the laws of God and man were
trampled upon, and lbe morality of Christianity de-
spised, because new systems were pl.asing. It was
not necessary to enter into a detail of arguments to
prove the dangers with which the present motion ass
(might. Ile therefore, requestaol 'Mk Lordships
to hesitate bolero they would impose this toiletry to
such imminent peril.
The Eta of LIVERPOOL was desirous of say.
log a few words respecting the religious Test Oaths.
lie was not averse to the asetinuance of religious
Test Oaths, and fie thought the Corpoestiee and
Test Acts of this country, which it was eapadiest,
according to the Right Rev. Prelate, le repeal. IMO
productive of benefit to il. The promo modes he
regarded as not so highly interesting ow its own as.
count as on account of these matters to which it
would be a preliminary. Ile alluded to lbe practical
admission to offices in the State, in consequence of
the passing of the Act of Indemnity. Ile was old
enough to remember three Sesslons, when a long man.
flict had taken place respecting the repeal of the Test
and Corporation Acts. Whet was the spirit which
induced ibe Acts to condom in their operation ?
Bermes, they were a weapon which could be wisely
used when danger threatened the Chords or the
State. It was not the feet of danger from the Items
Catholics, but because those Acts would prove ser-
sievede in cases of peril that they were condoned.
!le wished to observe, is relation to the obeervalloss
of the Noble Earl sad of the Reverend Prelate, et-
spectirg the doctrine of Transubstastiation bolos
called idolatroes and superstitious, that it was not
this &tiring which was so denominated, bet OP dee.
trines respecting the Virgin Mary, the invocation of
qsintsi and the sacrifice of the Mass. lie now came
to tie future consequence of the question, whether it
would tend to admit Roma. Catholics isle sitestions,•
and from his enquiries Itt varioes direcriees, he had
no 'reasons to think that the Roman Catholics could,
conscientiously, take the Oath of Supremacy, which
Ilea, therefore, a sufficient obstacle spinet their ad-
' mission. The Noble Earl had said, that Rolm
Catholic Peers had continued to sit is the Upper
liner, until the pastiug of the Test Act, and be
could find nothing contrary to that statement. TM
preamble of that Act also gave some masons for sup-
posing that persons professing that religion had been
Members of the other Home until that time. He
would ask, what benefit could the ream measure
prodece to the Roman Catholics? It might emir'•
bete to remove prejudices, and if he felt satisfied
that it would not leadto further subjects of agitation,
he should have no objection to coincide with the
motion. list had the Noble Earl said that this so-
lion, if corisenreal to, wooll be sefficient ? Was it
not an imperious duty on the House to comities that
it world lead to fresh demands rather then tend to
satisfy the present ? What benefit was it to the Re-
MOO Catholics Apparently none. Why, there.
fore, were they introduced ? Ile wished their Lord-
ships would seriously cnesit'er, tint when on one
side nn good result was expected to f .Ilow hew the
removal of those teats, and mien ell the other much
danger was to be dreaded, it would be beneficial not
to adopt sech • measure. If tranquillity unsaid be
caused by the motion, it would have his assent ; but
as it would het lead to future demands. and future
connive, without end beneficial cootegnence, he felt
it hie dote to resist it. _ _ _

Lord dit EN VI LLE sal.l; that he took a view of
the subject, altogether different from that which bad
been taken by (he Noble Earl, or by the Most Rev.
Prelate. There was soother reason besides that
which was stated in the 6th of Elisabeth for Roman
Catholic Peers continuing to sit In the Hoes. of
Lords until the reign of Charles 11. which was, that
they were entitled by their birth to the possession of
this prioilege, and cosid not, therefore, with propriety
be excluded from it. It was not problesatiail to sup-
pose that persona might take the Oath of Supremacy,
although they believe in the Mass, the lamellae of
Saints, and the doctrine of Transabstaatiation—yet, al-
though they ausecientioesly believed in all these thinp,
still might they take the Oath of Supremacy. eves as It
was understood and worded by Henry VIII. himself.
The Roman Catholics were denied the power of list.
lug their religious 'pitiless, or if they tendered them,
they ware disbolinted ; while the opisiess of their
adversaries were received as positive proofs of the Im.
piety of their belief. There was not one of their
Lordships who would own be was so hilleeneed,
though easserience had most lamentably proved too
malty of them were se. It was said that the Catho-
lics bold a divided allegiance. There might be foetid
some bigoted writers who held sock an opinion, but
none of ail the Catholics he ever knew, none of all
like books of authority be ever read, no liberal sad
educated Catholic bat would feel an Welt to his chg.
racier, to bothered-with holding a divided allegia ace.
The sophistical distinction between Allegiance and
Supremacy was too absurd to require much ootkocl
but the Oath of Allegiance, he would say, had been
imposed and taken by the Catholics before the Oath
of Supremacy hid ever become a question with the
Every one of their Lordshipa was
bound to take the Oath of Allegiance previously to
I taking the Oath of Supremacy, on such terms they
held place end office, and tests in Parliament.
I The Catholics swore that whkh their Lordships
swore, In bear their Sovereign true allegiance,
and was any farther test of loyally desired, or if
there could be, what was it Ile knew it nore,l
for neat *silted: biteable none was necessary.—
; There wit no law, he thanked Coil, so 1.1.42:e a Ice.
cilia, religious belief on any our; Gue CAS U.