Martinsburg gazette and public advertiser. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1826-1833, 1828-05-22

~~'"S"t uSs AAtSty HioNUa w the ttousc ofOo
mons, for copy Of the celebrated treaty OF
Limerick The object of this motion, could
not Of course have been isforr.nnsa--thc plea
that most ordinarily forms the basis OF call for
official papers and documents in the Congress
of the United States---for the treaty with ample
commentaries may be found in almost any Of the
numerous histories Of that much abused and
prosecuted counuy.--Its object was Of higher
charac,er,-it was TO expose before the civilized
world an instance OF most unexampled prrfid,
in the deliberate violation of solem combact--
to expose il too under the eye and in the teeth
of the Ministry SIR II parnell was more par.
ticulsrly induced to mske the motion, from
observing that most OF the petitions, Of late,
presented by the Catholics of ireland, referred
to the terms OF that treaty, to shew that the
statues passed to exclude them from the enjoy.
ment OF their civil and religious rights, were
violations Of the articles entered into ct the
surrender of Limerick in 1851.
After the expulsion of James the second, from
the throne of England, the Irish. still regard
ing him as their legitimate sovereign. and with
a view to the establishment of the ancen. in.
dependence OF their Kingdom and to secure the
enjoyment Of those civil and religious com.
muni'iess-encroachments upon which they
had much reason to apprehend from the Pro
testans ascendsncy, Invited the fallen mon-
arch, then at the Court Of France, TO assume
the reins of government. He sailed from Bres,,
and landed at Kinsale in Ireland in March. 1859.
He there met with the most hattering recep
ton, and an army of $4,000 brave and devoted
warriors was Immediately organised and placed
at his disposal. King William, alarmed Cor the
stability of his newly acquired throne, prompt
Iy dispatched scomberg, to dispense the daily
increasing Catholic forces This lead 20 pro.
tracted civil war, which terminated on the Sd
of October. 1851, by the surrender of Lime
rick, when certain articles were agreed upon
by the contending parties, TO which the great
seal of England was affixed securing to the
irish Catholics, in the MIST ample and sa,sfac
tory manner the perfect enjoyment OF their
religious rights
It's Tor copy Of this treaty, that cali has
been made: The motion, although opposed
by ministerial influence, after eliciting an ami.
mated discussion upon the construction Of the
enthusiastically passed. We regard this, as cor.
roboratve evidence Of the increasing popuIari.
ty OF the Catholic cause in the English Parlia-
ment.
We have never before deemed it necessary
TO refer to the provisions of this treaty, to ex-
hibit the clsims Of an oppressed people to the
enjoyment of their natural and inherent rights,
or to advance it as an argument in support OF
their pressing petitions for civil and religious
emancipation. We well knew that nation
which cruelty trampled upon the demands of
natural justice and humanity, could no. be very
serupuoas about the violation of an ancient,
artificial charter. We are surprised however,
10 perceive that any person who is al all co...
yersant With the history of that period-snd
who has taken the pains to examine the PROV.
sions of that celebrated treaty, can entertain
one moments doubts, az to its proper con.
struction. Its language is pain--simple and
unequivocal--it involves no ambiguous inter
probation admits no refuge for sophistry. We
nevertheless, find Mr. Peel, with his charac
teristic official holiness B efffootery, contend
ing tina, the provisions of the treaty wero no,
intended to embrace the Catholics generally
but proper construction of the articles, should
limit the privileges therin guaranteed, 10 those
.gho wers confined in the garrison Of Limerick. az
the time Of surrender. To exhibit some idea Of
the meagre grounds, upon which the English
ministry support this hesrtless Interpretation Of
the document in question, and to shew the
moral oblquity and political tortuosity Of
this distinguished statesman, we will quote
from Powders History, lst vol. p. 1879, the
preamble and first section of the articles.
"In behalf of the Irish inhabitants in the
city and county of Limerick, the counties OF
Clare, Kerry, Cork. Sligo and Mayo, it is a.
greed that
1st' The Roman Catholics Of this Kingdom
shall enjoy such privileges in the exercise o.
their religion as are consistent with the Laws OF
ireland; or as they did enjoy in the rsign of
Charles second; and their msjessies. as soon,
as their affairs will permit them TO summer