The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1807-05-12

his Lordlhip replied "that whoever brought
forward fuch CHARGE, without proof,
DETAINED. The Diifenters are Represented
as men of cloie ambition, they are 10, my
Lord, their ambition is to keep clofe TO the cot
lege ct + thermeh, and TO the do6frnt of nfpir-
ell bottles, not 70 the DEGREES of intereaed and
afp ring BiIhops. Laws in fupport of ecclef-
aGical power are pleaded for, which it would
fliock humanity to execute. 1T is faid that
religious fetts have done much mitchell when
they, were not kept under redrainis bu, hilto-
~ affords NO proof that frefs have ever heen
mifchieyous when they were not oppref1ed and
perfecnted by the ruling church."
Viewing things in the fame light with his lord
hip we rtjoiced 1t the approach Of circumfan-
ces that were well calculated to produce one of
the ereatef bleflngs with which this land has
ever been favored, when it ihould be declared
by the highef authority in the kingdom, that of
Parliament, that every ihacke of ignorance, or
caprice, which our forefathers invented, to bind
the confidence OF men, WAS a diigrace to the
cbriitian religion. and inconiitent with the free
principles OF the Britiin Conlituion. But our
hopes are in this frufirated, differences having
ariien between his Majeity and the Cabinet on
this iubje6f. IF the approximations correct,
which have appeared in mott ofth London pa
papers, we hehtate not 20 fay, that, according
10 ideas ri inc Contribution of this country,
the king poileiies no power to flop the prcgrefs
of a bill in Parliament he contributes only the
third branch of the Legislature, ard politics
conftitutionalIy alone the power of afenting to,
or diflentng from n law, after it has pafIed the
| two Houfes of Parliament. We reverence the
Conttitu;ion too highly to fee it invaded with
indifference, either by Sovereign or his Min
liter but upon this fubeGt we ihal not enlarge.
| We confder the representatives of the people,
when in Parliament aiIemblrd, having once a
greed to the hrft reading Of bill, they make
| themfelves party with the minifer that pro-
pofed 1t, and are bound, in conformity with a
proper fenfe of their own dignity, to reject all
| interference with their privileges, but what is
allowed by the Contribution. 1t i. true the
King can dii1ove the Parliament when he plea
les but he poiiriies no power to a1ve or control
then proceedings.
We nrongly fufpea that his Maiefly has been
imPofed upon by fome perfons, who, TO crafty
private ard ambitious views, have made very
bad ufe of the Kings ear aud confidence. for
we find that tine irt act of his Majelty's reign,
was the Quebec a6i, by which the Catholic re-
l'g on was legally eaablifhed in that part Of his
MaleHy's dominions. In l77s and 1871 his
Majefy was plcafed to accept from the Catho-
lies the tender of their fidelity and afforded them
fome relief.
During the time that Corfca was depen-
dency on the crown of G. 3. civil contribution
was ehabliihed in it, iimilar to our own-but
the Catholic religion was declared to be the fole
religion OF the country, and the Pope was even
allowed a fhare IN appointing to its Bilhoprics,
as they became vacant. IF this was done out
of refpeet TO the greater number of the inhabi-
tants being Catholics, furely the Catholics of
our litter ifiand, who at leaf three fourtbs
of its population, are entitled to every privilege
enjoyed by their fellow citizens ofthe eRablifl,-
ed church. IF the eltablilhed church be really
in danger, it is not from the fide of Catholics
and Df1ehters that danger is to be apprehend-
ed, but from the manners, the fpirit, and con-
duct of thofe who call themfelyes the true fons
of the church.
One thing we with anxioully to imprefs on
the minds of our readers, viz. TO view this inn
portant queftion in all 30 hfar;:~e ~ Pr
tcuant D.Iienters are as much intereited in it rs
the Catholic Diiienters. 1t has been the cuftom
of former times to diVide and conquer, to raife
jealoulies among the different bodies of reg ious
protectors, but men are now too enlightened to
be the dupes of fuCh articles. 1t is as men they
ak their rights, it is men they are entitled to
them.
AT time when all countries have either be-
gun, beginning, to break the chains of
intolerance, when Proteaants are reitored to
their iult rights in Catholic kingdoms, and Ca
tholics in ProteftaDt-even in Deighbouring
country, where, under the depot Napoleon,
men of all religion, whether Jews or Chrifians
of every denomination, fhare alike in every pri-
vilege of civil kind, although in that country
the will of the GraUae Monargue is law and
grave aud confulting Senates bow TO his nod
Sha! England, who glories in being the genial
parent and patronefs of liberty, deny her Ca
tholics and Dilien;;ng citizens the benefits of a
free Connituton, and remain the lat perfecut-
ing nation in the chriGian world? Every gener-
Gus B,iton cries, No, No, No