American watchman and Delaware advertiser. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1822-1828, 1824-07-20
IRELAND.

/ IRELAND.
/ The Catholics OF Ireland began to rise in their de-
mands on the British Pariame n land this is bur The
natural consequence Of the total disregard to The
just claims, which year after year, they have made
on the misunderstanding Of recent cores
pondence between the Catholic Association 10 Duh
lin, and Earl GREy, and Mr.. BRoUenAM the Editor
oil the London Courier says
:. 1t appears that in the Petition which has been
this year repaired for Parliament such an extension
lis given the demands OF the Catholics, that neither
Earl GREY nor Mr.. BRouGHAM can support those
, demands. Mr. BRouGHAm, indeed seems TO con-
slider this encroac hment among "the natural con-
sequences" OF the "teatment which The Catbolica
have experienced Tor so many years" Boh the
Noble Earl and the Honorable and Learned Mem
ber however express their Willingness 10 present
the Petition, such it is, with the understanding
that they will accompany i, with declaration Of
their non concurrence with certain parts OF it, To
this the Catholic Association assented by unani.
nous vote.
! " That our readers may understand how what
are called the Catholic Claims are widening them
selves SO as to embrace various new OF poli..
cal and religious character, shall here give
summary oil what is prayed Tor in the forth com.
ming Petition.
"The inst prayer Of the Petition is for reforma.
ton in the temperatures oil the Church Establish.
ment o! Ireland
The spc0nd prayer Of the Petition is for the bet.
ter regulation of Juries.
1.-The third, prayer of the Petition is for the dis.
ifranchisement oil Corporations.
1.-The fourth prayer OF the Petition is for the re.
movaI OF the disquaiifications to which Catholics
are now subject"
The Dublin Gazette OF Thursday 9th May, con,
tians Proclamation by the ord Lieulennt and
Prl'y Council, declaring the B.rones OF Galnoy,
Cranagh, Gowran, Fasssdinning Shilleloghet, and
Ida, 10 the County OF Kilkenny, "to be in state
ioi disturbance, or in immediate danger Of becoming
so, and warning the inhabitants lthe said Baronies.
T. that they, each and every Of them be and remain
within their houses at all hours, between set and
sun rise from and after Thursday, the 9th day Il
May under penalties by law es,abishtd,"
The penalty BY ia,o established IN this case. is
transportation for seven years without trial by Jury
In the British house OF commons On the 18th Of
May, MIR. HUME presented q petition from the
Edinburgh Freethinkers Society, who stated thtiF
opinion, that all laws tending to rerress the free
ercse OF discussion religious questions were per.
ncious to society, and prayed the repeal oil those
Jaws. The petition further complained that certain
books, their operty, had been seized BY the police
officers OF Edinburgh, and were detained from them.
" We are, say HE petitioners, consigned weekly and
dairy 10 perdIion Tor not believing tain oCtIInesi
and shall we not be allowed to examine and dist uss
Them! We profess that we disbeeve christianity;
the Jews do,he same; shall less license be allow
ed to US than to the Jews!o
Bells Weekly Messenger, in anmadverling up
on this petition, admits Z" that il is right incidental
to our natural liberty to indulge perfect freedom
OF oplrioni or, in other words, that il is the
Irene OF tyranny and persecution to NEEDLE with
OPINIONS. II Is absurd in any human tribunal 10 at
tempt sny nugstory object It is contrary 10
TO try and inquire into subjects necessarily beyond
al inquiry. Nothing, moreover, belongs TO human
law which does not affect human tights. Upon
these reasons is grounded the tight OF flee oriuion
IL is impossible to arraipn and Try opinions. ard iii
unnecessary 10 Go so for any human interests. But
when he proposition adsr step farther, and
alleges that We may not only indulge our opinions,
hut that We have tight TO preach Them, TO teach
them, to publish them, TO discuss them, no matter
thGt they ate, il becomes false. Opinions, wien
so published and discussed, become actions; they
ahec the peace and welfare OF society; they weak
en ard assail establishments they destroy the set
lement OF laws ard go,ernmtnt, and they over
hrow constitutions. il then becomes the right Of
lie civil magistrate TO punish and rtpress them &C
sordlng TO The rsncour and species OF their n,alg-
NY because the exercise OF such right is neoes-
ia'y to The very being oil every s,aie."" Perhaps,
continues Bell, one third Of The peOpie in this king
i0n may be n fayor u republican principles, and
10 not scrape in pirate life TO dpcidad pre-
ference tor the constitution IT the United States
No one NEEDLES with these persons So long as they
ak only in private, and TO each oiher''
There is, in these sentiments Of The London
Weekly Messenger end in its arguments against
he publication OF alheistcal principles much good
ense and sound feeling But the punishment of
UGH publications is doubtful as correct principle,
NO su'i more doubtful in folicy. The experience
i America, where We do not now remember po-
ecullon Tor atheism, conclusvely proves that even
he mos; Criminal "error oil opinion may be toleIa.
90, where reason is lett free TO combat il - where
eason Is the only weapon which wages war upon
. In no part OF the world does christianity so