Constitutional Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1824-1832, 1828-04-30

|
most remarkable period of our history,
period at which! the fate of the country was at
an aWiu! crisis. Sir, it was passed when the
minds oil men were in Il state OF agitation and
"iaTin--a state which, lift did not make them
riaSiniy the danger, at least prevented them
! ltc'h exercising their calm Judgment 10 avert
me evil that threatened 10 oycrvheln them
| he lest Act was passed al time when the
nation was irritatcd and terrified ct q know
lcdge that IT possessed concealed Roman
catholic hlng-a Duke OF York. the success
scr 70 the Throne, an ayewed papist-an otii-
Gus alliance with France, secretly formed
Ter the purpose Of destroying the liberties Of
Lngiand, and ready 10 overawe eli de,ibefa.
ton. Under these circumstances the Fest
ACT was passed, and about the object of ii
theEc can be no dispute, for TINS is clearly
| eNriaincd III the preamble, which also de-
"cfioes tic pubilc necessities ont of which il
arose. The act IS entitled an Act for ,rc-
venting dangers that may happen from Popish
hccusants, and it is stated in the preamble.
tha' ms Ma.esty's good subjects have thc;r
inil"iS disquictcd By Roman Catholics, anal
thctF attempts to ove,turn the Constitution.
1t Is quite evident that the Test Act was n,t
passed with view to exclude the Dissen,ers
from offices So little was this the case thnf
It IS well known that while the bin was pas
sing through the House, and Members We're
deihesatiIig upon It's enactnents, an eminent
! member, known disscntcr, who was other
WISE olsInc!mcd 10 give his vote Tor the Bill.
at length supported it. rather than Laulk II
law winch was calculated 10 oppose Inc Ca
tioiics. | viii point ont 10 the House
the difference between the two Acts-fhc
Corporation and the Test Acts. The former
was originally Canned for The purpose Of es-
ci1d!ng the most oisafiectod among the Dir
| seiiters from all places OF trust. einoIunc!lt.
OK influence; The latter was attended to apple
against the Roman Catholics Fer these
two different objects, very different cnac;
inents were cQntrived. | will particularly
! call the attention 81, the House 10 these dis
nnctons: because we are in the habit of hear
nag 50 much about the wisdom OF our ancce-
| 'ors, that 1t IS but fair 40 justly appreciate
what that wisdom really was The pohticaI
wisdom OF our ancestors was adapted to the
peculiar times and circumstances In yhicl,
they were placed; aad the House will do wen
! to reject that what might have been nr1,
denf, wise and just with our ancestors. would
DC the very reverse in the different circur,-
stances 81 the present period. Our arccs-
tors were IN such u situation that they wish
Cd to exclude the Disorders from the rowe-
OF altering the Constitution, an:l they there
tore prevented their admission INTO any
Corporations. NThy did thew DO this,
Because the Parliament thought mat the
people would be likely to elect the Olsen
teFs INTO Corporations, and that they would
thereby gam great power and Influence IL
higher matters. For this reason the Co-no-
ration Act was brought INTO Parlja.oent arc!
passed into law: bit when The Legislature
wished TO guard against the Roman Catho
bcs they did not tiink oG excluding tteln
ttoin Corporations, bat they cf1actuaIl; shat