The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1805-07-23

from political, not from religious motives. Ioiholy
enough, indeed. fcnne who CONQUERED IN impoiing
thoie renrie,ons, niay have mixed religious feelings
with political re1!ons, though the latter were the on
ly irGiahle grounds on which the reilretions were
founded To pa very fur back i, was not religious
bigotry that induced Queen Elizabeth to impoie thoe
fevere penalties and retrairs upon the Catholics, O.
which her reign let the exaple. The religious len
tnents of that prneets wecc not perhaps 10 different
from the doctrines of the Catholics fome may
gie but during the courie of long reign Of Open
war; or reRleis and unquiet peace, Queen Elizabeth
engaged in traniaGlons of the Sreateit impor-
lance with the other powers OF Europe, mauaged by
her with 20 much courage, prudence, and dexserty,
have rendered her reign of the mon glorious i's
hilory. But in her relations with other Rates,
particularly the king of Spain, and duriDg the preva
lcnce Of the Catholic league in France, her Catholic
iubeels were fuppoled be 10 doubtfulIy aected
inclined TO cooperate with her external enemies that
they toereed and rcitrainsd not from religious
but political considerations. They were deemed dbl
loyal fubje9s to ElizabethS perion and government,
and for thu, reafon they experienced har.h tire.
from her But in the r-'.us which followed, smidit
nIunerable unun, vigorous, and cruel penal laws,
there were few refiriGlio and disabilities impoeo
on the Catholics 1hefe took their rife in later pc
Rod. In the reign Of Charles H. they originated in
the jeaouy Of the religious fentiments of that
nareh-a jealouIy indeed which appears to have been
well founded. AT the revolution, it was rot Catho-
lies, but Jscobtes, that to be reitrained. AT
ter the arbitrary attempts and the tyranical proceed
ngs OF James IT, had driven him from the throne, it
natural to think thz. prince wko, from devoti-
on to the religion of the Catholics, had facrifced
crown. would become the favorite OF that body. In
Ireland this feeling more itrong the union Of
James II. and the Catholics was 70 much more COM
p'ete, that the things could he feparated, &
Catholics became objects ofpeculiar iuipicon and ie
verify to the law, the adherents OF the exiled
=. II o.. Il
political confederacy with James H. that drew down
upon them 20 many penalties, and expoed them 70
much fevcrity. William III. have ever coniidered
one Of thegreate princes that filed the throne
Of this ar any other country-of character wholly
exempt from religious higotry the contrary form
ed b. nature and habit prote6 and encourage the
principles of freedom and federation.
'rhoie who would repreient king William as 4
religious bigot, furious perlccutor of religious
opinion, degrade character which they either milf
rerreient, do underItand. Il is perle,ay well
known that he yielded with the utnoA reluctance
10 the fevere reitriaions that Were imrofed upon
the Catholics, and he yielded them only becauie
he was told, that thoie who were the enemies of
his Perion and title could fafey be on.ruitea
with any portion OF power Whether il would have
been wife to foften the reftriaions or TO have re-
moved them altogether, IS now the puenion.
King William, contrary to his principles aud to his
a
called to govern, and the reitriSons we're mpofed
tor the tecurity Of the Establishment upon DO
iticai nor upon religious grounds. The years that
followed the revolution were years Of war, or of lu
pieious, doubtful truees. During all that time if
was the favorite policy of France to embarrafs this
country by diputed fucceiiion. She naturally.
therefore, looked the Catholics particularly tboe ne
Ireland, intruments of forwarding her d.Gsn
The Catholics, more and more involved in The
cauie OF the exiled family, and therefore rendered
objects OF dilke and diiirul to the friends of the
revolution, on account Of that connection. Hence
the Catholics in every fenfe of the word d;i-
armed. They were hripPed of power, of dt,n6ti-
on, nay of property. But it owing to their 20.
iiticai conneX:op with the Stulrts, more than II,
their religious that they were expoied TO thee
hardh'ips Some religious bigots, indeed, may hav=
expected that the n,eaiures of feverity employed
would have operated the conversion of the Catholics
OF Ireland. With lenent meaures il is poible thar
this conversion might have been efTected-but in the
way which things We're conducted, that was not to
be expetted.-The laws under which the Catholics
uttered, were therefore in reality made againif the
Jacobtes; and the approximations Of the exiIed "a
my long continued, 70 did the laws made 10 reprefs
she Catholics. The good conduct of the Catholics
OF ireland, during two rebellons gave them claims
to the favourable opinion of the government bit 10
late toe events they had ceafed TO be the Job
jetts OF upicon, on account of their fuppofed po-
I4IlallIiSs--oOOn the extinction the
a.t OF thole rebellions which occurred durino the
TWO fri regns of the houfe of Brunfwck, a new
ara was commenced The danger to the conftituti-
on and government of this country from the Stuar,
family was wholly at end at the time of his ma
jetty's accefion TO the throrenay, during the lat
ter years of George u. it was quite con,cmptble-
Then was the time which it mutt have become
iafe, even III the opinion of the mott timd TO r1t
gate ,he feverty Of the laws againll the Catholics.
believe that fome fymptonls Of relaxation in IA 9
of the prejudiees aud feyerties aganl the Catholic
began to appear under the lord-lcutenancy of the
duke OF Bedford, who held that Office about The time
his maJety fucceeded to the throne AT thar rerioI
there appeared crcumhances which proved the canfe
o the reirictiOns TO be an end So far from fear
rig the Catholics as enemies, arms were put into
their hands, contrary to lca, when upon fome o,ea
ion the enemy appeared off the coail cf Ireland
'hus, ihewng that the Catholics who BY law were
heid 70 iuiPeed to be deprived Of arms were arm
ed 10y the administration for the public defence That
che iituaton Of the Catholics then began to a.rag
the attention of public men, and with it, a dfpolition
to relieve them from the hsrdfliips under which they
lIbored, Is well known, aud I refer to Mr. Burke;
letters as proof ibis. remember that 70 far back
rs the year l77G, from an accidental crcumHapee
that fell out in this houfe the tuatio Of the Cabo-
lies of Ireland began TO form the topic of eonvet
on, and if the feelings which then appeared did NOT
Immediately diieloie themfeves in formal PROMOTIONS
it may have been, that the interen of the immediate
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