The Statesman.
London, England, 1821-03-17 00:00:00

THE sTArresMAN.

cl.m. He was not disposed to restrict the right of
every man to follow the dietates of his conscience is
the worship of his Cos:atom, and was therefore desirous
of ipea sing in terms of moderation of eters. sell. Rot
in the discharge of his duty as a Member of Partin-
earns, lie ;oust speak Gristle and freely ; and if his
opinion was that the Catholic-, if sincere, omit heartily
wish—and in ease of an opportunity, would do all in
his power to accomplish, the destruction of the Pro-
testant Religion in this country—a oish which he
believed this Bill wool.' give thou the power of exe-
cuting—if he said this was his conscious opinion, it
was his duty to declare it topsoils. anti candidly to the
House, and it would he a hate a h indanittent ..f his
duty, if lie suppressed or qualified it. Ile bezged
to say, that he imputed to the Roman Catholic Church
nothing but what it arrogated tuihelt*, anti gloried in.'
namely, an uniformity of doctrine and discipline, anti
the supporting, from the earliest times, the sante opi-
nions with regard to the integrity of itself, and the
heresies of every other chore! to::ether 16-it I, the doc-
trine, that she is to 16,1%e no runitonnion with them
burs of any other. chur. that there was fie saltation,
and 00114 be none too t.f its pale : I,r, in the word, of
the present Pontiff, that there could be no communion
between Clois t and Renal. l•nrier these circumstances.
wa.s it fia.tiral that the Homan Catholics should not he
jealous of the ascend torn of he Protestants, and that
they should not feel every di•isositiset to make use of
the means in their power to put an viol to that ascend-
ancy ? :ad, indeed, were nut the gentlemen who
were the authors ..f those Bills almost sensible of the
danger to whirls the Protestant religion was exi.osed,
by the operation of this Bill, when they provided se-
curities against the effects of the temptations that
would be contiesuolly held out to Homan Catholics, to
enemas+ npon the Es•altlislsell Chnrch, and. finally.
to overthrow it ? Why did the Right Hott.tientlentati
limit the eligibility of the Roman Catholics: Why
did be exalt& them Irma certain offices in the State,
if it was true that they hail an inherent right to he
eligible to them Wash fair to the Sovereign him-
self, if religi ties to be left between every man and
Isis Hod, tool if it was to he exempt from the reelli•
saner of human laws ? Whywas the Sovereign ex-
cluded from the right of exerrising the freedom
of his conscience?—(l,..nd cries of hear, hear.)
Ile never could see the ronsisteney of reviring
cession of a particular r, red from the SovErei:ri, an I
declaring the right of ultimate freedom ut reliltions
opinion to be the property of all Isis subjects. A nil in-
deed it appeared that the friends of this measure were
struck with the alositolity of their doctrine, aati I•e-
-trayeti a just apprehension of the consuipsenees of their
own priteriple, whets they stopped slo•rt anti fixed a
limit to their progress. It was not npos the inn°•
rency of the tenets of the Roman Catholics, as apply-
ing its their opinion of the Protestant religion and their
batre•i of it, that the framers of this Bill retied for the
sec srity of the established uorship. But it w.os iu co:1-
%140.416. e sat the supposed iuspraeticalti Sits of arty plan
detrimental to the estahlislimeat being carried into et.-
feet, !hot the whole of; heir appreiitt:sious for the ea-
istence of the Protestant 'node of 14.er-hip ....ere quieted.
Renee it v.::s ronfol..nslr asked shat apprehension
eettl.l he entertaitsod from the adatiotiou of Roman Ca-
limb.. Lards into the !louse of Peers—resp-ctable as
this r ere, ills doubt—and from the mind ...ton of Ito-
man t at holies into the (louse of t 'OMMOIIs, the otsmiser
of c,hirb .....:1.1 not, at ':oat, said the friends ut the
Ise:issue. exceed Wu": Eves, such a molter, or in-
deed, one consitlorable smaller in the (loose Of Com-
mons, when lea 6:iied tegetLer fur any one might. '
and smolt!, if the opportunity was norm-innately
granted to them. make themselves heard in Parliament :
end when he recollerool, that from the very Cony itst•
lion 01 shay House, and from the various rirconista ores
whi..is a. led upon a great majority of the indivi-
duals, it must always he split into 4livittions;
anti parties most always he exi*ting in it ; when he re-
collected :Al this, lie was of opinion that even a sutall. r
number than Inn members leagued together ter the
acconipiishment of a particular 'die.", would hay:.
sooner or later, the ',Aver of surer...ling. What Own
do they oppo.e a;toiust ti•ese simmers ? was it the
to.claration in the preamble that the Protestant sts:ces-
sion to the Imperial Crown of this Cnited Kingdotn •
and its lh pentleuries, is, by the Act for the farther
limitation of list Crown, the better securing the
liberties of the people, estateished permattertly and
invoilobly ; and that the Protestant Epio•opal Church
of England and Ireland, and the doctrine, discipline
and oivernment thereof, antl likewise the Protestant
Presbyterian I 'lttirrh of Scotland, and the doctrine, •
awl government thereof, are, by the restos'. I
tine .lets of Union between SeUtLitirl. I
an•l between (treat Britain and Ireland, therein !eve-
rally estai.!:shed permanently and inviolably ? Was
it t•lis dee! 'ration they opposed to the ilang•er which
menaced ti ir religion tram the hatred of 0w1:36.61k%
and tocir pea rr to injure, and perlial.s
to overthrow it ? What was tlte weaning
of the words ss permanently and int hth,,bly
Let the House consider how weak must the decla
ration of persuaneuce and inviolability he ;sincerely
and coolidently :Agit was now pronoun: eh). agalitst the
dats.:ers whiel, time and circitnistances tnizht intro-
duce if this Kill passed. it not for them to inAt•
n•attld bind th is sot...es:ors. i
titre Pa I.asuents woubl see what was best, in their
"wit "Pilllolls, for themselves, and lev,is'os r aceLrl •
inglr ; and they who saw these drelars
Lens pass away
whiele had been hitherto the gnarantees of the intr..
city of their religion, how coned they repose so se-
ctire!y iu stole miscrahle securities as llop.e whirls were
',tierd in this Bill, and by tine pros it ii et whichit
was hoped that their religion wool.' he established per- •
manetolv. Ile tlamght he heard the words " for ever,''
from the Right Honourable lientlentan ; :hat this
titsn wasotot to he exposed to any future agaitatiow I
Wos it really possible that the Right Honourable (ten- ;
Heenan in agined the Roman Catholics would be cos- .
tende.l as long as any step remained inaccessible to :Leos,
He Foots-oiled that the Roman 1 atholics would nut be .
sati•iird until then shook 4.11' the boniest of the nsaitite-
uamue of the Protestant Clergy ? and in the I rojt rt to
remote this, to them vexatious tax, they 1.40041 he joined
kr tile Dissenters. The Hon. Hentleman next olojeettof I
to the dieidiog of the measures into two Bilk. became if
she lloinass Catholic Clew, objected to the weeniest,
the Roman Catholics would be admittqd. to power. aid
the P.ratestants would have no seem Wes. Ho a' dmittelli
that it was an -anomaly to .;se the Homan I atisoli:.s the
eh utile :*ta..thbe nillo..ut at:wittily thsin father. Ile

would not bare voted fur it—but would tual sow repeal
,be coneesaicsu.—" Quad diA awe poem 'vesture t
poll relietwm uf► non daLo." He concluded by an ani-
mated exhortation to the House to reject the measure
in tote.—(Hour, bear.) . .

11r. WILBERFORCE begat,' by declaring it to br
his conviction that the measure now in progress
through the House was calculated to promote concord
In:tweets his alaiesty's sn'ojects, to secure the peace
and engage the whole country in mure ardent attach-
ments to its true interests.—(llcar, hear.) Nothing
eonhl he more equitable, or of noire political
'nervy than to give all the subjects of the United
Kingdom an eligibility to all the franclaaes of the
State, without any exception of sect or party. Nothing
could so much strengthen, outlasts; Email as much har-
monize with the British Constitution. With respect
to Ireland, her interest was more involved in that
questimr, titan the interests of Great Britain. Oh
Ireland! ! there was not a page of her history
ti hid. was not tilled with incident enough to excite
every kind and generous feeling. Iler wrongs, and
her patience acre calculated to awaken general
sympathy. Crania the rearott•st antiquity, Ireland hail
sumetiaiug singularly affecting in her character. Ire-
land in a rensote rents hail been denominated the
Island and ttae mother or saint., and possessed more
true religion, more get.nitte piety, anal more true
Christianity. than any tither potato' of the Vuiverse;
though she, in the eltitixion of rim: became a rey to
all the abases of religion anal government. The very
period of the glorious revolution, a revolution which
confer.ed so many blessings, on England, and operated
ultimately to the liberation and to the peace
of all Europe: that very period was a time of
mortification and o! pressiant to Ireland. Fr that
period Ireland might date a new twits of calamities. It
ti.ey would then advert to the reign of Aisne, and ex-
amine the eondttet of her Government towards Ireland,
what could there 1w found all through but fresh insults
and unheard of oppressions'? If tlwy would then pur-
sue their inquiries through the reign of George the First,
and that of Isis sorcessor, could they wonder if site
avoided and side. teal every thing Pritish. It Was not
until the rei=n of George the Thirst, that—(Near, hear.)
—lrs•latill found any respite from the odious anti ma-
manly sestets of oppression practised thwarts her by
England. The reign of George the Third became a
glariatlS Ana a memorable epoch in the history of Ire-
iau I. It was then she formal voile little rt•laxation frosts
the grievants and intolerable ; sr-ecution carried on
against her. It was high time to rouse fr the error,
and now that she hail awakened from the delusion, she
began to be asisanseti of her rood:wt. There was a time,
when any intitrialual, whoa,. powerful friewls tl ttttt I.ht
ban too profligate to be provided fur in England, oils
considered 'coal enough for moue offset of trust and
emolument in Ireland—no mutter how loose in leis rim-
FAS, air 1140 W dull its asuslerstasoling, be was ronr.idereal
sufficiently qualified to manage the affairs of Ireland.
It was in the reign of lieorge the Third that these errors
were termed. and the delusion broken. It Was in that
reign that the wisdom of her councils, unit the
thivalroir* spirit of her pe.srl:•, boldly united, and
O. arsartlrlisheti ilia issaleiwnili not• of her Parliament.
Sot Foe.' aaal Ireland were all Jima/rail for separate
and inalcrtolent kingdoms. 'I he two countries
were intended by Oslo anal nature to b. united. Fars
Was to.' powerful to acknowledge its Ileill'llitenea• on
the other. When the too coma it's because united
anal con mlialated iut s our. the natural consesprotee
was, that there sham! I he no ali•anction naong the
inhabit:llF a, that tiliottlil 134)4.e.a resod and
canal ;wit ilexes. The nreasur- of the i• 'lion held
out smell hopes to 6.. Catholics a Ireland. Ihe
great Statesman who effected that measure had not
clearly and distinctly estoressed himself an that sub-
ject. The epigramissaii•• point of his words recalled
them at that distant perio.l to his (11r. Wiiherforce's)
metaivey. They were at. mw. hat 1.111 gelia I i vat anal 4111-
11iZa o.ls. " 1:130::11.1 awl Ireland," said 11r.
Pitt, " would be nulled lute slue hasoiy, the right,
of the t•atholies might lie scrurral with mor.• safety,
or refirsell with less slatsser."--(llear, hear.) lie
(Mr. Wilberforce) could not approve of the view
which Isis II snamralale Friend (.!r. Borlses) to of
that qatesion. Nothing could he cooreivcal to ire
calculated to inflame ;mai agitate the country titan ti.e
course his llota. Friend ttoul.l have them pursue. Was
it to be for4otten that the t atholics hal, by their is..
tlestry anal enterprise, gait into possession of are.:t
wealth' Was it to lw forgotten that the literality t f
former Leg:slaty% res had sot:tided to a •artire
cal ',napery. to enjoy anti trausruit it, without any fit:-
titer rettriction than was itepose•l oar their Protestant ;
fellow-situ:oleic 'lke Cathaslios, both :of England and '
Ireland, tore inali lig Gs- most r.spid progress in arquir- I
lug anal aoottnalating property of all hinds. It there-
rose is; tt rt • iniper..tively lie..aisre the thoy of Parrs:a-alio t
to preaare them fur those stations w!slels tlteir it
sitt• try, their their talruts, anti their eaitica-
tia•n, so etstinerat;y eutitled thci::. ,11.1:11,1!
;:ive thou' Get ir dare share in the Britiaii Coastiautiun.
Power was the natural conseqtreuce of tv• anti. and
t ,us-• whom they had estaltit•al to acquire this' one,
wool,' rams, quesitly became possessed of the other.—
The rank anal roll in of ti., I'.itianlic4 smolt! make
them the repa:•itories of roliti-ai power, in %Osiris • Ley
Ole:mm..lre% should participate. tin n isat pretence could
Itorssan t athnii he any lougur dep.-ivy lof their due
rank anal stations its the legal profession.; No gnod
~wort curial 1;e off•red fir tlisabaiity, n'l the
Rowan Catholic barrister wi.leol its st naturally s •ek
r•se aver that rank and that power which he teas ex-
(little.' from by nureasonable avort•hensions and nu-
inean'n e jealousies. The eselasi.as of noloati C:oho.
lies from a seat la that Bono._ re. :ell on ter better
fonntlation. If a Ronan Catholic ..rentlertran of su:sk
anal pro•ferty and etiaratioo h;sal itohibed any i.,stilt a'ar-
si gas, a...entertained had feelings; of any laud. iet him at
muce he ifltr.nlnred i ate that Huaar. I n that House would
Haman t ehtlika have an opportnnity of rorvtctiog
their errors, and profilist.; by the illustrious exampt s
which it wa.ulti be is their power tail: to behold. Its
that Howie they would, final tiermothrro admitted to ;
participation in the initianuitisi and o.:;ecs of the Slate I
sand wuskid not hail t.s asiiprociare. as they
_egirt, the I
ex wileirce of the Ilrkials. Gouistitsuion. The Roman
C oholies were kep. in ignorance of the CoustiAution.'l
Hwy lift no into...jest in if it-hereby they would lie iti-
aolialetto arapilie kssmsa ledge of it. They bail nut
-tea it.; tis at etslargisig, agst4uditing
lot of view. Ile (31r. I •ialsef forte) wool& =rout
them the Consiitittion for the very pistils,: of

mollifying them. It is then they would koro to set a
value on themselves; then the Roman Esthetics trout I
learn the dignity of their station, and would emerge
from the darkness which must have necessarily enve-
loped them in consequence of tl.e long thraldom to
%%hick they had been so unjustly conelemited.
The progress of elucation anti of libt•rat knowledge
would lead them to abhor the systt•tu of coercion and
restriction by which they had been degraded, anti ne
danger could arise from admitting them to else office.
in the State. The teligiou of Englentl was net fountle.l
like that of the ancient Pap&llb, on anuteaningstssyster!
and delusion. he Protestant religion wee feuuded on
the firm basis of morality and christianity, and wee
proof against all danger, even if attempted. A ttttt tee
the Itemau Catholics were to be found men who .4:;4
honour to christianity. There was Pascal, there a.•
►
most tosiltine,s and tl.e efficiency of wheee
example might lt•itel te the belief that be was sent foam
Ileeven to improve and to bless ntaukiettl.—haute of
the disabilities under which the Kontos Cotholics.hat
laboured were already removed. The reliqurs consti-
tuted A I,lllg. bust of oppressions,and resendeed a perso-t
wearing a priauu suit, though at large. Roman
Ca-
tiulit's were a loyal, an alfectienate. a brave, simian ir.-
genueus people. These were the eliezacteristics of ti.e
I Irish Rumen Cetleolics 'store especially. The people o:
England were A race entirely under the quid:Owe of the
I 14W. They felt en independence iu the protection the.:
received trent it, and there.ore solousitted their cot
duct illinglr to its decisions. The It ieli were cha-
racterised by a warm and enthusiastic arse
felt an abhorrence of law, because the laws n ere mai...
to grind and opp:eas three But if they oe e • wer •
made to participate in the benign effeets of see Ilr; •
tisli Constitution, they would le seethe-4 and duke
ijed. I.e (Mr. Wilberforce,) had approached tise•
Attest:on with appreltendon. It was toot without &e-
-• tieulty he lsitneelf changed the 'Tilden which he ome
had on it, mei he could ther..iore the better make el-
. lowancee for the stulobernesets ot others. The Bog .
31e:tiller concluded by saving, that more gretaude wee
due to the Roman latholits for their comitset, tha•:
could ever le- paid. He then sat down amid loud anti
repeated Chet re.
Mr. BATHURST rose to spe:li, but a good deal of
I noise prevailing,
Lord CAS 1 LEREAtiIf rose and requested a fat, •
hearing for ei toy one who elooniel wide to state his
opinion--diseuesitoss was really useful to the question.
Mr. BATIII•itsT then proceeded to oppose the mo-
tion. lie thought th • Catholics it•totild not he satis-
fied with any emu-re:dons else: t of a fetal and uutinali-
tie:l repeal of eli the laws atf •rtiste tl:at body. 710 •
quevitet then I ore was if it were not better to St.':'
where they were, than proceed a step further. The Be
Bun. Gentleman e •liseitel n ith mi oving. as an stewed-
ment, that the Bill he read a second time that day six
months.
Mr. WI LIIER FORCE reete to explain.
Mr. METFALY ibun,,,ht lest every disability which
the Roman Cathulics laboured en4l4tf Wight to he re
uttered, on orrimot of their etuulooes, their respeet
ability, an l their bring already in the postession of
the elective frenchise iu Ireland, an important privileg .•
which the. had tient properly exercised.
Sir JAMES 31.tC1illNTteill said he diet not ris •
for the ottrpose of answrring any of the stretiments o:
the Right time lietitiensan who spoke last lint on.- :
tweet:ow, altleene is lee was an acute re:teeter. his aren-
mesas were precisely the same as those nlsielt had
been repeatedly strgel before ; and it would he au a •t.
of folly to 'elicit the aims vote to to them, which Its I
been alreatty given by the greatest masters of ei..-
quettee th st ever 'Teske in that House. The Maio en e-
live which note inditeed hit's to address tine
WO to rail their attention to a new change .which leet
teliets pleee in thu laws about four years ago. Tit •
alteretiou to whit It he entitles!. was the set at the la"
witch abru: turd all the oaths that hat pre
vion 'leen rept:reel to he taken by peevons heoldits
e .utenissiusi• its t!ve tinny awl nary. lie would ask them
abet muse i.e the shunt' of a country ielibee Aerie
and ;armies teieht be eintenaiseleil ley men, tele :Ver.!,
a: the saute time, excluded warm all civil offices iu CO.!
State. Ilse intim of Nurf might now ..oatmeal
one of our armies, while he was excluded, not tot*:
(rota l'ar'iauseut, bust 'nen hum the etlire of a J act i •
Peace: and Any tether Boesast teatholie ;night Iv
at theist ad the ferees for the protections of the rer)-
Par:jot...at into which Ise was flat allowed to enter.
—The ileitis's Conetittition had wisely °rm.,' the.
Jour, of Pat•liement to all military men, in tooter th t•
they might in coieseon with others feel an interest hi
its preset vatiuu. Ile ti; I slot Weal to say that this tem! e t
to atroel reletr:ite seettrity to the Conetitutiees ;
he shonbl ever coneleier a to:outline military force se .A
sounder that wag ineoeeisteet with the freeltons or a..
cotintry. Best if while an estsitiialsuie:it elf this kiwi wes
!;opt up, tin! persons hrlonging to it were to 4•S••1•1.te I
(rein the legielatere, a!! the interest which mill:are
Merl 11.01 in utaintetuing the ft.ll.lse of the civil liar.!ta-
agent wo-del be thieve is away. Ile could conceive wee/a-
te:ebbe in any roe:tory more dangerous titan that le' A.,
time- being kept on fent, of which the bight. e•--
teitisl tett hole! even the lowest eiriletffiee. This wort!!
he a worse -eitwition than that whit+ etieted in the Bon%
of.lasues IL, for when that Monarch proposed to hat •
Remelt Catholie otficers at the Iteeel of his army, he lei:.
the l'ariiasuratt open to them. Rut now, act online; to
the new law, the whet, milk:airy force of the kiust.toas
might be is the ha nils of men, who veld have no shire
in the civil Government, and who by law weer forthel fo
he enteniee to the Conetitaf:ott. If ever titers' was A!!.•
qt.iittrit P mare hig with dancer than another, it urns Ttsi!
prountlgstoel by the Hots. Miesiber ter Carle Cattle ; uyMee
wont,' recommend a terve tor titi tors for whieb no "sett pit.
could be found in any civilized ctotatry. Was it posslO e
to suppose that an artily of •144;i1 CO mesa would stand slid
and abstain from hostility against` an ametetilly, iu e.
whirls woe of Gem were alio% lel Id tester. .Neti.lese
coeld have more clearly proved the %violent of those :urn
_who framed our Conga:oho:a thaw the eittunistance cm.
their
,proceeding eu the geometria intervene of ail ee-
l:Armin an.l Elas•ses Of iit the eumasiunity, b;
eisiel, meets our I ots..t:tn:i 4!)sbritel within tube:
every great iiiterevt :of the `tats ani, *hove ill
thins attached to it, alit 1:,.l: of tren'tuto Wier
ertes its their banes the, beet. afi of feet'. ",-
elatege it derived streeeth (rots' ti.v unitary.
iv* we were in a state of tlesss4, iso couseva
of bating military wee who po-wori, no sham
it. erect io thus constiettion. hereftwo . a tomuldt
otveilt Tat As 1w test in attiehitie times.'
the Stet tie The Right Hen. Itiontletnan tIT -
bail eta*. that the I %et-set:Atm -was, es•e:c..l.
Preeestent. It era., true the( lisedtillg" t
P"!eht., 1r°414,!44:if0' -
that the Constituti•At
.was esie,

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4tliiriProvia 4,4,
istti!ity -.Auti-lvp •
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