Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1829-05-05
FOREIGN.
MEETING AT EDINBURGH ON THE CATH.
OLIC GU CSTION

most numerous meeting was held at Edin-
odrgh ON Saturday last, TO petition in favor of e.
Emancipation. Few meetings have caused greater
excitement in Edinburgh, nor was anxiety ever
more displayed to obtain admission; for although
shilling was paid by each person for admission,
the doors were beseged long before the hour AT
winch they were to be opened; and when they
were opened, the rush was very great, and the
room was crowded in every part. The gallery
was filled with ladies'. Among the gentlemen on
the platform, besides most OF the requsiiionists
were-Sir r. Lison, Rev. DR.. Chalmers; Pro-
fessors Leslie, Russell and Pillans; Robert Fer
guson, Esq. of Raith; John Horner, Esq; j. Hope
We're, Esq; Rev. Henry Gray; Rev. Mr.. Hunter
OF Swinton; Rev. Z. Craig, Rev. DR.. John Ritch-
lie; Rev. John Brown; the Convener Of the Trades
&c. From the various speeches made ON this oc-
casion, we select for the perusai Of our readers,
the following eloquent and philosophical speech
made by DR.. Chamers:-
SPEECH OF DIR. CHALMERS.
fit the Meeting an support of the Catholic
Cfdinis, IN Edinburgh, on the I4th March.
understand that the present ting would not
have been called had il been for certain anter-
or efforts made in this city and the object OF which
was 10 obtain signatures for a petition against the
Catholic Emancipation. We should have remained
quiet, and this perhaps would have been as signi6-
cant am oppression as we could have given of our
confidence IN the measures proposed by his Ma
Jesty's Government. Had there been no public
exhibition on their part, understand that there
would have been no public exhibition upon ours
And advert TO this simply for the purpose OF re-
marking, how delusive the indication often is OF
the state OF public sentiment, in as far as il is
grounded either the majority of petitions or
III tire majority oil signatures. The truth is that
they are the non-conents, the alarmists- who are
IN motion. And the contents scarcely ever think
OF moving but in the capacity of counter-aIarrn-
ISIS Meanwhile, II arithmetical deduction were
TO be made OF all the petitioners both sides OF
the question, il would be found that the great boz
dy of the public, the great body OF the population
were In state OF rest (cheers,) and they count
with us, not with our opponents Cloud cheers) We
nave read OF expressive silence; and this is what
their silence expresses (cheers.l There may have
been local effervesceEce here and there, but
mainly and throughout the land, there is q gener-
al attitude, oil quiescence perhaps the strongest de-
monstration that could be given OF the reliance
which the people OF Scotland. have on the wisdom
and the safety Of the measures now in agitation
But would scarcely have adverted to the exis.
tence OF another petition and Of other petitioners
hadit not been for the designation which they
have assumed OF Anti Catholic leaving to US then
II might appear the goodly designation OF Pro-
Catholic. Never was grosser imposition prac-
tised on the public, and the popular mind, than
by means OF these two words. We are not Pro-
Catholic We are not hostile, neither are we in
different to the holy cause OF Cheers
cannot answer for others, but in vindication
of myself, l can at least say, il is in the
spirit Of devotedness to that cause that come
here, because in this emancipation of pa.
PiS'S = SEC ioI IIOlcStduIS a Sui greater anC
more glorious emancipation Immense cheer.
ing) The truth is, that these disabiitie.
have hung as lightweight around the Pro-
testant cause for more than century.-They
have enlisted in opposition to it some of the
most unconquerable principles of nature resent.
ment because OF injury, and the pride of atiher.
encc to suffering cause Immense and proiong.
ed cheering.] They have transformed the whole
nature OF the contest, and by so doing, they have
rooted and given tenfod obstnacy to error flout
cheerg.V Utr TO H. l. .-f..
aspect OF tyranny, while theirs we behol,
generous and high minded resistance to wha
they deem TO be oppression tremendous cheer
ing) they have transformed nation of here
Tics into nation oil heroes. We could have re
futed and shamed the hereto out of his errors
but we cannot bring down the hero from his alti.
ude; and thus is that from the first introduction
oil this Heterogeneous element into the question,
the cause OF truth has gone backward cloud
cheers.) II has ever since been met by the un-
yielding defiance of a people, irritated but not
crushed, under sense Of indgnty, and this not.
able expedient for keeping down the Popery oil
ireland, has only compressed it into firmness and
closed II into phalanx, which, till opened by
emancipation, we shall find to be impenetrable
Gentlemen would draw arguments from history
against US, but there is one passage i'm history
which they never can dispose OF. How comes il thai
Professionalism made such triumphant progress in
these realms when il had pains and penalties to
struggle with; and how came this progress TO be
arrested from the moment il laid on these pains
and penalties in turn enthusiastic cheerngO
What have all the enactTnents Of the statute book
done for the cause of Professionalism in Ireland
tcheers') And how is it that when single hande ed
truth walked through our Island with the might
and prowesJ of a coDquerc r, so soon as propped
by the authority Of the state, and the armour OF
intolerance was given 10 her, the brilliant career
OF her victories was ended enthusiastic cheering
FOR several scconds?) IL was when che took up the
carDal and laid down the spiritual weapon, ii was
then that strength went out OF her. She was
struck with impOency (cheers) on the instant, that
IRON warfare OF principle il became warfare of
politics Cloud applause.) There are gentlemen
opposed TO us profound in the documents of histo-
ry, butshc has really nothing TO offer half SO in
siructive as the living history that is now before
our eyes. win the pains and penalties 10 fight
against, the cause OF Reformation did almost eve
ry thing in Britain; with the pains and penalties
on its side, IL has done nothing, and worse than
nothing, in Ireland Qoud cheers.) But after all 7.
1t Is question which does not require the eyi-
dence OF history for its calculation. There shines
upon IL an immediate light from the known laws
and principles oil human nature. When truth and
faisebood enter into collision upon equal terms.
ana DO so with their own appropriate weapons,
the result is nfallible. .Nngnn est psritas. q
pT0udf66if. But IL 10 strengthen the cause of
truth, you put tho forces Of the statute book I'M
der her command, there instantly starts up on the
side oil ialsehond an auxiliary far more formidable
(cheers) You may lay an incapacity on the per.
son, or you may put restraint and limitation on the
property OF Catholics but the Catholic mind be-
comes tenfold more impregnahle than before We
know the purpose Of these disabilities They
were meant 10 as barrier of defence for
Protesanis against the encroachments of Pope,v:
and they have turned out barrier Of defence kor
Papists against the encroschments Of Protestant
ism. They were intended n line Of circunval.
,son round the strong holds Of the Protestant
Faith, and 10 effect they have been line of cir
cumvallatjon around the strong hoids ~ The f,,L