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122
British Catholic Assoctation.
The most numerousand respectable public meeting of the Bri-
tish Catholics ever held since the days of Harry the wife-killer,
assembled at thé Crown and Atchor Tavern in the Strand, on
Satarday, 26th May last. ‘The great room was crowded to ex-
cess, and a great number of Ladies gave grace and animation to
the seene, "The chair was taken at oae o'clock by the Dake of
Norfolk, Hereditary Earl Marshal, who was supported by the
| Facls Fingal and Surrey, Viscount Gormanstown, Lords Clif-
ford, Stafford, and Killeen, Sir Edward ‘Bellew, the Ifon.
Messrs, Puilip Stourtou, Edward Petre, Hugh Clifford, Preston
&e. Messrs, Blount, Bedingfield, Howard of Corby Custle,
"Phomas Stouor, jua. Eyston, Gage, O'Connell, Wheble, Ros-
cou, Witham, Quin, &e. &e—There were also present, the
Earl of Doaouzhmore, Lord Belgrave, Lord L. Gower, Lord
‘Nugent, Mr. Horace Twise, and other distinguished members
of the Commons’ House of Parliament. >. /
‘The Duke of NonFotk opened the business of the day by
expressing his sincere sorrow at the late decision of the House
ot Lords, which disappointed the just hopes of six millions of
trish ant half a millioa of English Catholics, beeause of their
adherence to the religion of their forefathers, notwithstanding
they had fought and bledin the battles of their country. His
Grace complained, in the most indignant terms, of the manner
in which tne evidence before the Committee had been garbled
‘nd misrepresented during the lute debate, and conjured the
Satholics, both of England aod Ireland, to be steadfast to the
cause, and to iilustrate by their conduct the imagery of the
oet when praising the Thames, which was . wos
_ © Strong withoutrage, « :
And, without overflowing, fall.” —(.2pplause.)
Lord CrarFrorp adJressed the meeting.—Forty-seven years
of hope, his Lordship said, had passed over his head, aud he
spusted thal he should be the last of his family exposed to disn-
pilities for religion's sake. - The people of England have been
called bya learned and eloquent gentleman, a great and gene-
rous people, Grext and generous they certainly are, but it is
‘the fault of highmindedness to. be too confiding. 'e the
Catholics complain that this great and generous people have
sutfered themselves to be imposed upon by the grossest misre-
- presentations respecting us. We are held up as persons ub-
‘worthy of uotice, as undeserving to be admitted to the pale of
_ the. Constitution—nay, the very mind of our Sovereign is at-
tempted ta be poisoned by the imputation ofour holding towards
him an imperfect and divided allegiance; Ispurn the im-
» pntation as calumnious—I denounce it as most grossly false and
anischievously dangerous, and f defy them to prove that we are
not loyal to the person of our king, for the Sovereign is part of
our Censtitution. To the unthinking part of the people we
are represented as persons blind, by clinging to an idolatrous
form of worship; asa class with whoa no faith is to be kept
with those differing from them, aud as therefore unworthy of a
place in the social system.—(Cheers.) But,’ my Lord; [ see
ja the perspective of the future a glcam of better times. His
Lordship concluded by moving the following resolution :—
* That this asseciation has witnessed, with feelings of pro-
fpand admiration and gratitude, the splendid eloquence, and
the conticued and laborious attention with which the: princi-
Jes of Civil aad Religious Liberty have been triumphantly as-
serted ia both Houses of Parliament, in the late debates on the
Catholic question, and we-embrace the earliest opportunity to
offer our warmest thanks to thoze Members of the Legislature
-who have so ably advocated our cause,’ . a .
* ‘The Hon. Eowarp Petre seconded the motion.
Lord Doxoucnmors said he never was so surprised as he
hhad been by the sentiments which had been delivered by some
of his Majesty’s servants +. he was shocked at the denunciation
that there was little hope of the Catholics ever obtainiag the
end desired. The speeches that had beca uttered had oreated
_ disgust. Fis Lordshiy concluded by adverling to the part the
Keeper of his Majesty's conscience had taken respecting the
question, and sat down amidst repeated cheers.
Mr. Brounr next addressed the meeting. Ie denied that
the Catholics were distinguished by thatintolerant spirit which
their enemies imputed to them. The principal accusation
which was made against the Catholics was, that their religioa
was peculiarly proselytizing, and incompatible with their alle-
The accusation applied to other
religions a3 strougly as io the Catholic. [le held in his hand
a report read at a meeting held in that room, in which it was
stated that during the course of last year a million of tracts had
been circulated by the Religions Tract Society, (Cheers) In
the same paper the Roman Catholics were charged with pro-
fessing a peculiarly proselytizing religion. He did not find
Yault with the Tract Society for endeavouring to. disseminate
giance to their Sovereig
3
their own peculiar tenets;.it was the right of every Englishman
to promulgate his opinions, which would be tried by’ the test
of trath : but what he complained of was, that the same paper,
siving an acount of the distribution of these tracts, should con-
tain calumnies on the Roman Catholics. (Hear,) “When ini-
viduals, instead of appealing to trath aud reasun, indulged in
abuse, and locked themselves up in the armour of penal laves,
jt was a proof of the badness of theireause. The Hon. Gea-
jJemen sat down, after moving tho following resolution :
« That, impressed with the deepest gratitnde towards our
fellow subjects for their support of the great question of Cathu-
He Emavcipation, we hereby offer them our siucerest thanks, | King’s Foglish consei the King, |, ha 4
and assure them’ that we seek no liberty for ourselves, which £¢ FE ee ae ey ee kenner afit
we do not équally desire for our fellow countrymen of every
yelizious denomfoation.” ~~ -
Mr. Howarn of Corby, seconded the motion.
Mr. Rossow thea poposed the next Resolution—prefacing
‘anvactioas, which were loudly
by some remarks ou {2 late tz
_upplanded. The Resolutgon was as follows :—
“That the great cause ig which we are engaged has been
materially assisted by those enh,"htened members of the Eng:
tish Bar, and of the two Univers, ties, and also by those Gen-
lemen of the City of London who hive signed Petitions to the
Legislature in favour of our claims; x13 we hereby request
shat they will be pleased to accept our ancerest thanks?”
Nir. Pattsp Howarn of Corby, secoadal the resolution.
Mr. Quis followed. aud dwelt for g consin' erable time un the
causngnences of the teiaporary deieat which fae Catholicg had
.
&
sustained, but at the same time he declared his full and ample
confidence, that no lack of exertion would be made manifest
on their parts, in consequence of it,—( Cheers.) - Far was it from
him to. hold out the least intimation, which could by any pos-
sibility;be tortured into an expression of menace, or of pro-
jected violence. —The, Catholics required not such weak aids.
"—Vivlence it was true had been used towards them—and op-
pressive means hal been resorted to, for the purpose of ob-
structing their way to a participation io the .privilezes of the
Constitution -—bur the great triumph of the Catholics would be
in the moderation which they should on all occasions evince.—
They would oppose only to the force which was employed
against them—the justice of their cause.—(loud applause.)
Mr. Quin coneluded by moving the subjoined resolution, which
was seconded by Mr’ Hnsry Wituam. * :
“-That, confiding in the continued co-operation of our nu-
merous friends and advocates ; in the generous character of the
people of England, in the integrity aad vigour of our indepen-
dent Press, but, above all, in the immutable justice of our
cause, we will firmly persevere in claiming the restoration of
our rights, neither elated by oceasional victory, nor depressed
by temporary defeut, for we owe it to the free spirit of the Con-
stitution, and to the consistency of Englishmen, never to sub-
mit to the degradation of being governed by oppressive and
unequal laws.” yor Be
-~ Mr O’ConxxEtt then roze, and addressed the meeting in a
speech of nearly two hours.—The measure, he said, of which
they complained was of too recent a date—the injury which
they had sustained, was yet too frezh, too galling in its effects,
to allow his reason to assume the ascenlaut over his feelings,
and to give his judgment time to operate on and influence the
tenure of his reflections.” He should nevertheless be as res-
pectful in his allusions, and as moderate in the remarks he had
to offer, a the over-boiling fervency of his [rish blood would
permit.—(aughter and applause.) By rejecting that bill which
the Commons had sent up to them for their concurrence and
approval, the House of Lords had inflicted a vital injury on
the stability of English power, and on Irish feelings and Irish
honesty.” They, however, would not be cast down by that in-
jury.—The Catholics were sometimes in derision termed “ Ro-
man.”"—He was a Catholic, and proud he was to say that in one
thing at least hz was a Roman—he never would despair.
loud and continued cheering.) But on what was this boastful
assertion founded? Why should he say that which he felt had
not reason nor sound policy to support it? Where: now, he
would ask, was there-a rational hope for a Catholic? Sv here
should he !ook for consolation underthe present greatand serious
disappointment? Washetolook back? Alas! there was nothing
cheering in the even's which had for some time past, met
them iu the way to success and dashed their hopes to the
earth. Did History furnish any grounds for the supposition
that those who h d been found incapable of maintaining their
plighted faith, and preserving the terms of a great national
contract, would now in the. hour of success be induced to
yield any reagon, any inducement to them to. proceed in: the
course they had adopted? Was this, he would ask, the: ex-
ample the Irish’ Catholics had given, when they had on two
occasions come into power?’ Did they in the reign of Mary
seek by retaliation to revenge the blood of their slaughtered
ancestors?—(Cries of no, no.) No! thank God, they. did
not! and that at least was one triumphant cousidera-
tion. ‘(Loud ‘eheers.) Not one drop of Protestant blood
had been shed—not one particle of Protestant property had
been then sacrificed. Ia the reiga of James ‘II. the Ca-
tholics again came into power, and their conduct was marked
by the came spirit of forbearance. He had heard it justly
stated in the Louse of Commons—no,. he must not say that,
Mr. Twiss, which was distinguished alike for vigour of thought,
strength of reasoning, and historical accuracy, that in the reign
of James there were but fourteen Protestants in the House of
Comnions, and eight or ten in the House of Lords; the rest
\gere Catholics, . Were Protestants excluded from it by law?
‘No, the people returned both Protestants and Catholics; and
ne one, then, stood up to say that a man should not be permit-
ted to sit in Parliament unless he heared mass, and attended
auricular confession, No, no, it was left to their enemies to
say that Catholics should not be admitted there, for the sacri-
fice of the mazq was impious and idolatrous. Mr, O'Connell
then alluded to a statement made by Mr. Dawson, who thought
the second James, on the authority of Archbishop King, who
was refuted by the Rev. Dr. Leslie, and yet, in 1825,is quoted
in Parliament to convict the Catholics ot [reland. Ile next en-
tered into a brief history aud defence of the Irish Catholic As-
sociation, and reprobated the penal act which extinguished
that body. He called on the Catholics of England to eo-oper-
ate with those of Ireland for the repeal of this act, for, said he,
it is a step to return to the old penal law; and how can I tell
the people of Ireland they ought to be tranquil, and not fer-
ment in their hearts tbat black stuff which makes political dis-
content mischievous—that fire suppressed, that explodes only
the more dangerously on account of the compressiva that has
when they see this unprincipled, dixastrous measure has been
adopted? I confess I do find ground for hope in the things cal-
led arguments which are employe: against us, if | had not seen
any in the records of ancient history, in the violation of trea-
sociation. I begin with the first in dignity, the Keeper of the
is a liberal, and turns not the liberal side of it; he has an Irish
conscience, and I hope the keeper of it will very soon be a
beral persuii, and he will turn to the liberal side of it; and his
Majesty, my. Lord, has a tlanoveriaa conscience, that con-
science is in his own keeping; it has no contradicting colours
or differing sivles—it is all liberality and justice.” Who cannot
see that the guilt of refusing that to us which the King per.
sonally gives to Iris Hanoverian subjects, lies in the miserable
machinery of a boronghmongeriag Administration, which pre-
vents the king from doing justive to all? There were two other
Fobjections against us. .1 thank’ the quarter from which they
come; I thank him sincerely for the first of them, for I must
unaffectediy admit its truth and justiee, and I will abide the
event of it fairly. J¢ was this—if you emancipate the Catho-
Teg, said the Lord Chancellor, you must equally give liberty of
but he saw it in the newspapers, in the powerful speech of
fit to attribute persecution to the lish Catholics in the reiga of
withheld it?'» How can { tell the people of Ireland to hope,
ties, aml the recent case of the suppression of the Catholic As-
consciencvs—he has an English conscience, and the keeper of it
conscience to all classes of Dissenters—(hear.) I thank you
heartily, my Lord Eldon, that is exactly what we say j.our-pe-
tition is that—we Jo not come before Parliament makiog a
comparison: of theolegical doctrines, we revere our own, We
are not indifferent to them, we know their awful importance,
but we say liberty of conscience is a sacred-right—(A voice
from the crowJ—* You have it.”). [thank the gentleman
whose voice hear. You, my Lord Duke, possess liberty ot”
conscience. Are you not the premier Peer of Fngland—could
any one deprive you of that right? could the King upon bis
throne, or the Chancellor on his bench, make apy decree
against it, if your conscience permitted? . There is such a li~
berty of conscience as that alluded to in Spain, where every
man is at liberty to be of the religion of the ruling power; but.
now that Ferdinand is returned, no man is allowed to dissent
from that religions and let me not be thought to prefer the
Cortes tohim. ‘They trod npoa the Church, and threw away
the people, and deserved to lose their power. The Dissenters
have it not, for neither Smith, of Norwich, nor Wilks, the Se-
eretary of that excellent Association for liberty of conscience,
(who published ia their own, my creed upon that subject,)
they could not fill an office in any corporation, for the moment
they were proposed, the cpposite candidate would tell them,
« You have not taken. the sacramental test,” and the electian
would be void; and the candidate who had fewest votes would
be returned, This was good and fair reason to hope, that the
principle is calculated,. in spite of miserable bigotry and indi.
vidual acrimony, to make its way’ all over England. ‘The li-
beral portion of the Dissenters ave with us. I fiad, therefore,
reason to hope. Liberty of conscience is our principle, aut
even in despair I would retafa it; for I um confident that force
may make hypocrites, but not true believers—it may compet
outward profession, but it is not in man’s power to change the
heart; and because | know that force is always resorted to by
him that thinks he has the worst of the argument, Dut, for my
own part, being conscientiously convinced of the superiority of
the Catholic religion over every other—and putting it to thi+
awful test of sincerity, tat I know an eternity depends upon it
—with that awful conviction, all {ask of my Protestant bre-
thren, who. believe their own-religion to be the best, is, that
they would give the same practical proof of their conviction ot”
its superiority. Let them give: their religion what I
for mine—a.clear stage and no favour, and let the advantage
be decided by conscientious men, and the will of the eteraal
God. Another argument: of the Lord Chancellor was——it
seemed indeed rather a word than an argument—that this was
a Protestant Constitution, and the word Protestant Constitu-
tion came out very frequently. This was rather an assertion
than aa.argument, and it has this defect 9s an assertion, that it’
happeas, my Lord, not to be true. ‘There are four descendants
amongst the Catholic Nobility, of the day of the Barons who -
xtorted Magna Charta froma tyrant. It was Catholics who-
instituted the hereditary succession in the House of Lords as a
separate [Touse; it was Catholics who instituted the represen-
tation-of the people in the House of Commons; it was Catho-
lics who instituted the Trial by Jury, standing as a shield be-
tween the people and power, making‘the administration of the
law a domestic concern, and preventing any man giving a false
and flagitious verdict to day in fayour_of despotism, lest he
himself should be the victim the next. Are not these ingre-
dients in the Constitution? { would not forget the treason Jaw
of Edward IIf., which is the perfection of wisdom in that respect,
for many and many a victim would fiave been sent to prema;
ture death and destruction, but for the advantage of that Ca-
tholic statute of Edward IIL, and whenever despotism has
ruled over this country, the first step that has been taken, from
time to time, and it was one which inimediately followed the
Reformation, was to repeal that Catholic statate, and deprive
the people of its benefits. We have it now; but though wo
have it now through its being restored by a Protestant Parlia-
ment, it was drawa up by Catholic hands, it was passed by
| Catholic votes, it was signed by a Catholic Kiog, and will Lord
House of Lords, and the office of Chancellor too, are no par- ;
tion of this Protestant Constitution? If that office did not ex-
ist, I suspect that the Protestanism of the Chancellor would not.
be so-extremely vivid as itis at preseat. (Laughter.) ; The
seals he bears, the mace which is carried before him, were
borne by,’ and carried before many and many a Catholic Bi-
shops aud the first layman who held them was the martyred
Sir T. More,, who, as it was well said in Parliament, left the
office with ten pounds in his pocket; a Catholic example to
the present’ Protestant Chancellor. Protestant Constitution ¢
What is it, if money be not one of the valuable concerns of the~.
Constitution ? “ Will the Chancellor say itis not?” If the Cow-
stitution be Protestant, let the Protestants pay tie tithes an!
the taxes; let them pay the Church rates and the Grand Jury
cess for us in Ireland. Jfit be a.Protestant Constitution, let it
their taxes, This is the admirable and inimitable equity
of the Lord Chancellor, Here is a. keeper of a con-
science for you! Here is a distributor of equity. It shall
be Protestant to the extent of every thing that is valuable aul:
useful; to the extent. of every thing that is rewarding aod
dignified; for every place of emolument and-authority, and
every thiag that elevates a man, and is the recompence of le-
gitimate ambition, To this extent it shall be Protestant? but’
for the burdens of the State—for the: shedding. of human
blood ia defence of the throne:-for all that bearaona man,
even to the starvation of his family by the weight of taxation,
which so few are able to pay in this country, and by whicly
not seen the miserable blanket aad the single potato pot sold.
by the tax-gatherer in my native country !) - Ob, shall I, I say
be told that for all that is useful the Constitution shall be Pr
testant, and that it shall cease to be so the moment there
any thing of oppression, money-making, grinding,. or taxa-
tion ?--(cheers.) 1s it just to take the entire value, and give
no valuable considerationjn return? Isit just to accept la-
bour, and pay no wages? _ Is this equity in the Iligh Court of
Chancery? From your tribanal I appeal to the'living God.
who shail judge us all: and in his presence I proclaim the foul
iniquity, the barefrced injustice, of loading us with all the
burdens of the State, and keeping us from its advantages.
‘After the Chancellor, he would refer to the Speech of a Right
Reverend Bishop, which was said to have been sonorous,
mygical, aad well delivered»highly pleasing to his party.
ask ©
Eldon tell me that the Treason Law, the Trial by Jury, the.’
be so entirely; let us not have to fizht their battles or pay .
so many have been reduced to poverty in-Ireland (for have I ‘
oF 9am _
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