Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1825-06-03

from them in some minor points, they made no
scrupe OF sitting, and voting and acting in constant
and social fellowship with those who denied the
divinity of our Saviour. If there was difference
which at all could merit exclusion this was GER
tainly stronger mark of it than any which could
be discovered between the Established Church and
the Roman Catholics. The next obiection-and il
was which he could not expect to have heard
that the Roman Catholics attached an overwee,
! ing value to the merits of human actions. Why that
he should consider more likely to operate for the
good of the state, than contrary doctrine. Was
1t likely TO make men better subjects to believe that
| good works were of no value, but that faith was
every thing? For his part, he should prefer as
| subjects OF a state those who believed that
good works Were of some vnlue, than the men who
held that works were nothing, and that every one
was fated to his lot. Hear, hear. Let honoura-
bic members refer to history; and what taught
on this subject. Let them refer TO the political
differences by which the country once Violent
| ~ asitated. Who were they who brought the
monarch TO the block? Who stripped episcopacy
OF the mitre, and of all its spiritual authority and
temporal possessions1 The Papists2 No; but they
who were most violently opposed TO them, and
who were earnest in their eNerlions deprive them
OF all influence and authority-men, also who pro-
iessed little respect for The value of good works,
but who relied mainly faith, and almost on that
alone. The objection then, to the Roman Catho-
lies on the ground OF The value they set upon good
|
moment be attached. Neither did he see any valid
objection in the argument drawn from the belief in
the spiritual supremacy of the Pope. The question
was not, whether II was acted upon by the Catho-
lies, but whether 1t was acted upon in such way
as TO make II dangerous 10 the state He did not
on this sub ject rest alone on the evidence of DR.
DOYLE, but he must contend that the insinuations
thrown out against the testimony of that reverend
divine not warranted by the fact Ii had he
knew, been more than nsinuatcd, that the reverend
gentleman held one language before committee
OF the House of Lords, and another to the public
but he would put it TO the house, whether gentle
man oil his character Quitting aside the oath which
seemed be little relied upon by MANY of those
opposed 10 the present question) would kave stated
that which must, in very short time, have become
known 10 SO many others OF his creed--which must
have become known TO his flock, and 10 the Pope
himself, (the terror OF whose il was said was
calculated to make so strong an impressron(---
would putt, whether, when so many of his own
| faith, many OF them his reverend brethren in the
ministry, were in the next room, and might be
called in and give different testimony, he would
have gravely stated that which he knew was not
well founded? He could not believe that. I'M
der those circumstances he would have told anv
thing but that which he firmly believed 10 be
true It might then be taken that the opinion Of
DIR. Doyle the opinion of the Catholics in
general. That such was the opinion OF other times
he had no doubt, and lie lately fell upon a direct IL
lustraion OF it in The correspondence between Pone
(the poeD and Bishop Atterbury. Pope, as every
gentleman knew, was Roman Catholic; and his
friend the Bishop, in very lautable zeal was anx
ious ia convert his friend 10 the Protestant faith
tor which purpose he wrote 20 him, pointing on,
pressing him to renoance it. Pope, in reply, ex,
pressed hope that all churches and churclmen
right in the belief of what they taught their
focks; but if they were wrong Inc hoped God would
incline them to reform. He added, that he was not
Papist, that he renoanced the temporal authority
Of the Pope, and disallowed all his preensons to
such power; but that still he a Catholic in the
stTiciest OF the word. Why, this was not
more than had been said hy Dr. Doyle. 1t bore the
marks of that confidential and honest opinion
which men gave in private correspondence. 1t was
in keeping with his known opinions, and it was an
ahsurdity OF which Pope guilty, and with which
AtterbuTy satisfied Hear. II was said as
another objection to the concession of any poll
tical power 10 Tire Catholics, that they were Gin
Irelandl under the guidance of men whom they
regarded with aveneratien bordering idolatry---
He admitted the fact; but he laid the blame on ano-
ther quarter. IF they idoatrous in their devo-
ton tn their priests, we were 10 blame; if they
bowed down before idols, it our persecution
which had set themuP. We had left them no other
objects of political reverence. IChecrs. Let us,
however, lift up the veil Of tire constitution show
them the idol which we worshipped, point out the
benefits that we enjoyed, and make them partakers
OF those benefits; and We should Wean them forever
from the imputed crimes of political dolatry and
approximation. Cheers. The right honourable
gentleman then proceeded 70 contend, that it was
absurd to deny that the Catholics laboured under
heavy grievances. He maintained that these griev-
ances most severely felt, and that the remedy
five did not anticipate II, would force itself upon
US. The change must be made, and it was better
that it should be effected while it might be brought
about with manifest advantage 20 the country
Could it be expected that the Catholics would rest
contented under the stigma Of their present nurner-
Gus political disabilities? VAST 10 be imagined
that they would 20 about without repining at those
badges OF degradation which the penal code hung
about them? 1t preposterous TO believe it,
But tie removal of those marks Of disgrace would,
it seemed, be attended with danger to the consti-
tuition If any such danger existed, most certainly
it would not be lessened by delay. TO obviate the
danger, ii any there was, it should be met with
promptlde and the boon which would remove il
should be granted with earnest anxiety to DO
Justice. He was surprised at the GOODNESS with
which. in question of this kind, calculations
were made of what might be the advantages or DIS
advantages Of remedying admitted evil ard de-
laying that remedy because some disadvantage might
possibly result. He did deny that the question
as contended by the non. member for Derry,
was attended with difficulties, but the cure was in
cur possession. Hear. The pena laws were not
OF our framing; but il was not quite fair to those
by whom they were enacted, TO say, that they
lcglslated under circumstances similar TO those
under which we lived At tie lime when the
great part of these laws were enacted, the coun-
! try was convused with the disorders Of q dis
/ pued succession, end the religion OF the party
, hostile 10 the existing government was looked
upon rs a msrk OF their politics. As such Il
was prescribed not SO much 10 put down that