Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1828-12-27

give us that oil doing good. Oisarray us dis
soive u.s. break up our confederacy. take from the
law (tor it is the great conspirator) its com
bining and organising quality-make us equal.
and we shall no longer be united by the chain
of slavery with each other, but by the natural,
bonds OF allegiance and Of contentment with you.
But you fear ourinSucnce in the House Of Com
rnons-donft you dread orr actual influence out Of
Tive arc Only Catholics out OF the House Of
Commons, ne should be citizens within IT, If Ca
tholics had the will, would they have the power
to overthrow the Constitution, What! some
twenty Catho, cs overwbelm the British House OF
Commons Butt is suggested that they will aim
at the annihi'aon of the Church. Why should
they DC actuated by any such solicitude, when the
Churcn VIII no longer affect their individual in
torests, stand in the way of their personal am
oitiont The Prcsbyterians of ireland are power
tut body. They have strong political nature OF
oi''aste towards the establishment as the Catholics;
ana oe'ore they were cmancipatcd (for they have
occn long since put upon level with the members
OF the cstablishmenD il was insisted that their g.
qualzation would lead 20 the destruction Of tn .
legal religion. The direct contrary has been the
result. The Preshyterians are professedy indif-
,eren' TO the abuses OF the establishment and they
care not one Jot whether Lord or Bishop. whe-
ther an absentee from Ireland or from Heaven has
iE0,OO0 a-year at his command You alege how
ever That we Catholics would be anxious to raise
our Church upoa the ruins Of yours, to strip your
Clergy OF tythes and TO possess themselves Of the
gorgeous opuIence of anti-Apost0c and anti
Srriptural Establishment. Never was there more
nn'ounded imputation. The whole body of the
ir.sh catholics look upon wealthy priesthood with
aohorrence. They not only do not desire that
their BISHOPS should be invested with pontifcal gor
geousness and prela'ic pomp, but when bill was
introduced in order 10 make a small, and no more
than decent provision for the Catholic Clergy did
they not themselves repudiate the offer, and pre-
Ter their honourabe poverty, and the affections Of
me people, TO the donations Of the Crown. And
how did the people act, Although provision for
the priesthood would relieve them from burden
did they not derrecate their come xion with now
er! The Catholics Of Ireland well know that il
their Clergy were endowed with the wealth of
the establishment they would become profligate
corporation of lazy Churchmen, bloated with inso-
fence Pampered with luxury. swelling with sacer-
dota. pride, and presenting in their lives and per-
sons monstrous contrast with that simplicity and
poverty of which they are now az we'll the practi-
sers as the teachers In place of being now their
CONSIDERS in afiiicon, their preceptors and models
in religion, they would be a vain, supercilious,
heartIess troop OF abandoned profigates, equally
'nsoient TO the humble and sycophantc TO the great
--fa.terers at the Mobiles table, and grinders to
the poor mans kove!-rapacious in extortion
slaves IN politics, and tyrants in demesnour who
from the porticoes of palaces would give their in
strurtions in hurny-who from the banqtets Of
patricianS woui prescribe their lessons in absti-
nence-who from miired chariots would pronounce
t]unctions against the pride and poinp of the world
The Catholics Of Ireland yell knew that this would
be the character of their priesthood if their church
was ever raised on the ruins of the establishment:
and monstrous as the opulence Of that establish
ment nowis, they would rather behold the wealth
OF Proteetan. Bishops increased tenfold and ano-
ther million of acres added to the Episcopal terri
tories, than behold their pure and simple priest
hood degraded from their poverty into opulence
and sunk from their noble humility -(Hear hear J
Il have dwelt upon the concurrence Of great au-
thores in favour Of concession, the little danger
that is to be apprehended from that concession,
and the great benefit which would arise from the
oct ltct.t av,N(f h
of Wellington) Of religious peace in Ireland I
might enlarge upon those benefits, and show YOU ,
that II factions were reconciied and the substan-
tia' cause OF luminosity were removed, the fierce
passions which agitate the country would be laid at
rcst-English capital would, in al likelihood flow
in and fertilise acknowledgement habits would gra.
duay arise-a confidence in the administration of
justice would grow up-thc people instead of ap
peaiing 10 arms for redress, would look the pub
lie tribunals as the only arbers OF right-between
the two islands real Union, not depending upon
acts OF Parliament, but upon mutual interest & af-
lection, would be permanently established-.he
empire would be consolidated, and all dangers from
the enemies Of G. Britain would disappear forever
i 71'rht also point out 10 you, what is obvious
Dough that if ireland be allowed &c remain rs Il nov,
s.0' 10 6iGsa1t period the nstuvai foes Of G Britain
may make that unfortunate country the field for
some tremendous speculation. might draw a pic
lure OF the consequences which would arise IL an
enormous reputation were 10 be reused into con.
current & simultaneous movement. But forbea ar
from pressing such considerations upon YOU because
had much rather rely Upon your own rnaenanirni-
~ than upon any ground Of possible evil g. terrible
contingency. Id WinchiIsea said that the catloIic
religion was prosecuting religion. To be sure il
was. an so was every o'her religion that was ever
invested with authority. / might retort on you the
charge OF persecuton--i might remind you that the
early refoTmeTs who set up claim ofliberty Of con-
science 20 themselves did not indulge any others i'm
similar LUXURY. ] might tell you that Calvin 9TH.
Reverend MIR. Plumtre Is of his disciple bay-
ing obtained theological masierdom in Geneva
set tIrc to the fdggois 10 which Seveius was bound
and offered up MS screams and gro1ns sacrifice
20 that peculiar orthodoxy of which he was the
:,under. ] might tell You that even YOUR owl,
Franmer, who was himself rlrrtyr had first in
iicted what he afterwards suffered and that this
father o. your church had, even in the reign of
Edward che Sixth. accelerated the progress OF lte-
relics to immorta'iiv, and sent them through
FIRE to Heaven. But will not adopt this course
Of fecrimination. The truth is, that both parties
have committed the most execrdbie atrocities and
II might be difficult II their rnistleeds were to be
w Ghe6. 10 adjust the balance OF feroci,y between
them. But both Catholics and Protestants have
changed, an with the alteration Of time we our
selves have Undergone saiu'ary reformation IN
tise treets VIII re tie massacre of ST. BarthoIo.
new took place, the Hugonot walks in friendsl,ip
with the Catholic; and even in Rome itself, the
simple ceremonies Of your religion are undisturlJ.
ed by Catholic intrusion.
Through the whole continent relirieus dstinc.
lions have begun 10 vanish, and freedom of con-
science is almost universally established. How
does II happen that England should be almost the
only country where religious Disqualification are
maintained! Pro,estanis! who accuse the Cstho-
lie religion Of intolerance. Compare the conduct Of
Roman Catholic France with your own. In
France, where the religion OF the state is that of
Roine, all men are admissible 20 power and no
sort Of sectarian distinction is Instituted by the
law. The third article Of the French Magma
4 Il Il.