Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1816-09-04

As an Irisaman, feel ny liberties inter woven. and
the tondest affections Of Hy heart as ii were emf
bred with those of my Catnnlic ccuntrymen and AS
Protestant convinced OF tne purity OF my own
faith, why should not rather make converts to il
by reason than by force, or trand, bribery No
| surrender here the accidental contingencies of
my birth, snd spurn with a proud contempt,
all the odinus, cruel and degrading advantages
with which an illIberai monopoly wouId invest me.
VIII not condescend to receive any civil donation
ior my duty 10 my God nor will step with a
blasphemous intrusion, between man and ks Ma
kcr. look on it criminal and accursed sac-i-
.ege, to rob even beggar Of the motive for his de-
voton and consider il an insult to my creed to
offer me civil boon for it's profession. The hone
ota temporal preierment is but sad prop TO the
interest OF eternity. The bill passing us il is pro.
posed, will, in my mind, strike vital blow--no. at
tbs sect CT that sect, but at the very heart OF Christi
ary itsslf-For hold il AZ axiom, that the nces,a.
Gus connection between your church and the state
which II Is Intended To establish, would do more mis-
chief TO the cause of Christ, than all the inGdely
since the crucihNion. The sublime disnos.r Of the
Christan creed never meant il to be the channel of
eourtiy Influence, or the sources OF corrupt as
cencancy He sent it among us TO heal, not to irri-
tate; TO associate rot in seclde collect tcgeth.
er, like the haptisrsal Dove every creed and ev-
cry cline an0 color in the universe, beneath the
spot!ess wing otits protection This union of church
and state, ony converts good Christians into hsd
statesmen, and political knaves into pretended
conn. xion, polluting the purity OF Heaven with the
abomn.tors of earth, and hanging the proianeness
ola Political biety around the cross of an insulted
Saviour. Net all the splendid desms of Rousseau
not all the mfde ribadry OF Toltare-not al, the
stubborn mpicty of Psine--not all tie blocti.ron
verting blasphemy of Mahonet-
aimed at the gospel grace 50 vile bow,
- ne who washed the ihorry garlands gore,
Daring to gid wreath the SauiosGr wore.
Religion, holy reIigon-ought not, in the words
OF its founder, to he led into Temptation - the
hand that holds her chaee should be pure-the
priests OF her temple should % spot!ess as the vest
ments OF their ministry rank only ieerates-
wealth only imDo verishCs only disfisure
her. Her sacred porch becomes the more sublime
from itS simplicity, and should be seated on an emf
hence inaccessible to human passions. 7 would have
her pure uEpensioncd, unstipendary would have
her in word, like the bow OF the fsmament-ber
summit should be the sky-her boundaries the no.
r'Zon-lut the only color thst atorns her should be
caught from the tear OF earth as It exhalcJ and
giowed, and gittered in the sunbeam OF the Hea.
VEINS Such is rny idea Of what religion cncht To
be. What would this bili' make it? a nlend;cant
OF the castle-a mental of the levee-its manual the
red booS--,ts liturgy, the pension list-its gosrei
the will of the minister Methnks see the staII
ed and fated victim OF its creation, Bringing with
brute suppliancy, through the vcnal mob otminstc-
rial Understanding 10 the ephemeral idoIo
the day, and like the devoted saci flee of ancient
heathenism, even soliciting the gaudy garland that
dooms him TO the altar, and dccorates him fo
death will read &c you the opinions Of eeiebra-
ted rishman on the suggestion, in hs day, OF bin
similar to that proposed for ouroppression-he was
a man who added to the pride, not merely OF bis
country, but OF his specics--a man who robed the
very soul OF inspiration in the spIeEdors Of q pure
and overpowering cInquence-I sllude 10 Edmund
Burke, radiant add venerable nanle-a name M
least to which the sckers Of establishments Gao Of
fer no o,le c,ion
Before Ihal wri'ten thus far, (says Mr.. Burke,
in his letter on the penal laws heard Of = scheme
ofgvins to the castle the patronage of the presiding
members OF the Catholic clergy. At first could
scarcely credit it, for. believe il is the frs, time
that the presentation Of other peoples aims has
been desired in my country. Never were the
members Of one religious sect ct to appoint the
pastors to another. Ii is great deaf to suppnse
that the present castle would nominate bishops for
the Roman church ri Ireland with religious re- gard
for its welfare Perhaps they cannot, perhaps they
dare not do IT, Buisuppose tnern 10 BE- as we'll i,,-
clned rs know I arm, TO de the Catholics all kinds
oiJastce declare | could not, il il were in nv
power, take that patronage on myself know
ought not 10 do il, l belong to another commu itr
and II would be an int lerabe usuipstion IL me-
were | ------ { Here tie I)llJiu IG6eJ' Tr.,n
.shich this is copiedis defdced } How can a lord
lieutenant fOrn the J. asst Judgment OF their merits S,
As 10 discern which ol the pnpish priests il e. 10 be-
bishop Ii cannot be the niea is ridiculous He
will hand them over to lord lrutera ants ofeonDties.
justices nithe peace, ard ether persons, who, for
the purpose ofvexins and turning into dtrision this
miserable people, will pick out tie worst and tnos
obnoxious they find among tie CLERGY To govern
the rest Whoever accomplished against by Lis
br ter, will be co siiereh as Observation-Disclosures
is censuredby his superior, will be looked upon ~
oppTessed-who' is careless in lis opnions oose
in lis morals viii h. called LIBERAL rnan q ii will
b. supposed to have incurred hatred, because lac
vas not blgot. inf,rinsrs tale-bearers, perverse
and obstinate men, Aatterers. who turn their back
upon their flock, and court the Protestant gentle
men Of the country, will Re the Obi, cts OF prefer.
ment and tlleu run risk os foreteli.Hg, that
what yer order, quiet aud morality yon leave IN The
uatry, will be lost.
&C. popish Gle gy, who are not restrained by
the most spstere sIboriiraion, will become p nus-
ance, eresl public grievance oi Tire heaviest KIM, TO
sny country hst riains them ani instead orthe
great benefit which lrsiapd does ard has loe deri.
vediroin them tley are put under bishops who
cannot their station TO their geo1 opinion, and
whom they cannot respect, that nation will SEE dis
orders, of which bad things are, It has no idea
40 DOT say tli thinking the lca2ing men in Ire
land would exercise this trust worse than others
Nnl ut All But M man, or set Of men living. are
fito aJminster affairs or regulate the interior
economy Of church, 10 Which they are enc
mics :"
Now ict me ast you, ISL 10 sueh characters "a
those described hy Burke, tat YOU would delegate
The bill pisinr to'ie crown on the ann Of
the Cal lie Bishops sfrd Archbishop