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AND WILL PREVAIL
. a AY
BIG BAW.
GREAT MEETING AT BLACKBURA,
. - | (Continued from our last publication.)
+) Mr, THOMAS WILCOCK:
. has Gr
he resolation I have just heard
> read rt An
8 sp, do shall
‘the B les be last to ackuowledge the gr:
Civil and: Religious Liberty ?
, perceive a great majorit
ish for conscience sake. How dif.
{ < ferent our own count y—ttus inod of boasied liberty—this land
ere we are. by a self-interested
‘and fanatic crew, held up to the good ¢ br stidn 4s disloyal and
dangerous subjects to the stare; they exclude us from ali posts
sein. Phey brand us with
+ foulest epitvets ; and 4! outh—for what tl Why, for not
| Samaking our conscivnces yield, brad, and become as pliant asthe
I all because we cannot con
of that chareu us by Law
‘established, ~ But { ask you, gentlemen, if xn Omnipotent Being
Las given power or authurity te any man, or class of men,
ja me, or fo you, * Unless you mould your religious teneta
fate such and such a form, you, shall not be’ entitled to be frees
Pa ; to enjoy the elective franchise, or to take your seats in the
: of. the kingdom, although sent there by the suffrages uf
lothe people,” No, no, this cannot be. Therefore, I, for one,
{will continue to clank any chains.» Never, while my just rights
| are withheld trom me, will { consent to slumber in iny degrada.
\ dion; to he, as it were, an alien, an outcust, an ex the land
~9f may birth, No, f will proclaim to the world the iajusiice of
‘aay oppressors. Iwill, by all legal and consiitutionnl means,
* endeavour to sever the irona that shackles me; andnet me ulone,
“but all other individuals, whatever their creed, if not at variance
1 order_nor subversive to heveg: principles of Govern
Way then, let me inquire, is the most prominent teature
in Magan Chasta violated towaris we? In the Bill of Rights,
itis laid dowa, that no meabee of the Community shail be taxed,
De having a voice in sending Representatives to Parliament,
vice versa, Yet we are taxed equally with our more favo
neighbours We are ealled upon to furnish our fair share of
sinew and blood in defence of our country against the invading
foe, When we enter tne army, we are not called upon to state
ahat we believe in the 39 Articles of the law established Church,
No such thing. We swear ailegiance to our King and our
Courtry, and that ix all Ludeed woat more is wanted ? oe:
the commanding offer of our fleets and armivs cauttonsly ace
“erpt none uader his baaoee but such as adhere to the Church of
~Eagland! — Does ne object to the Dissentor and Catholic goldier 7
3 not. The Church of England soldier, the Dissenting
‘suldier, and the Catholic soldier, all, all, are sent, without dis:
‘tinction, on the forlorn hope ; they storm the ciadel together ;
they fall in the same enterprise, and lodge in the same charnel.
house. Why then shall they nor stand on the same level in their
intercourse with the sons of Alvion? Every just man must, in-
deed does allow, that there ougit not to exist any Partialities or
preferences for one more than another, In the words of the
patriotic Junius, I will say, * This is not the cause of faction, or
of party, or of any individual, but the commun interest of every
“maa in Britain,” ‘
“ Hereditary bondsmen, know ye not,
“ Who would he free, themselves inast strike the blow ?””
¢ SPENCE ascenied the platform to propose the second
Resolution, and was greeted with loud and long continued cheer-
iF He observed that he was oa the left hand of the Cha
=
3
=
jhe band at which the reprobate will stand on the great day of
Judgment, he then procerded : we are not a meeting of design.
ing enthusiasts and angry bigots, forming an unhallowed coalix
tion against the religion and liberties of our brethren 3 "tis not
ting of designing Statesmen, arch impostors, angry zealots
a met
and crouching Ecclesiastics, glorving in Ireland's divisions and
ns, that they may fatten on the extinction of our liber-
grow rich by the spoils of our political debasement |
meeting of crocodile religionists, weeping over bleeds
tng and distracted freland, to miake her easy
sons an ease prey to their feigned w
commemorate the bluod-stained victories of arthur Dake of
Wellington nor to weep for the premature dissolution ; we are
‘not met to celebrate the triumph of the Cross over the Cressent,
nor to glory in the brilliant achievements of Codi ington, who
mized the blood of infidel rulers with the waters of Navavino i
‘we ure not met as and tes, that would pass by our
woonded brother and afficted uvighbour, No, we are met as
goad Samaritans to heal the wounds by which the empire is
agitated, and consclidate the strength of Britain by healiag res
“oratives, by the anioo,uf. all, ects and partes in the bonds of
‘aternal love and national ccncaid, Recent events, Mr, Chair-
i je made me vow, like Hannibal, 10 pursue with renova-
cer
free bora Briton ia
t
‘oot
Senter, every non-comformist, every man who worshius God ac
cording to the dictates of his conscience. freed from galling
| uojust, and impolitic restrictions, and that the asious penalties
which sill continue to disgrace the aunals of England, by fer
tering conscier-tious Christians, may be spredily erased from the
on [fearlessty affirm. that a
Catholic Monarch, who woul unnerve the sivews of a uacion’s
strength by barbarous, cruel and rur tess policy, by closing
up the avenues that lead to fame, avd barring tie gates of weila
torrited preferment, by proseriptive laws agatust his Protestant
subjects; a disdem of steel would become his head and an iron
@ his hand:
Supremicy; but when the law person’s
required, th ir nosiniy to Catholic tenets will not ine
duce the «ell paid Minister to evtinquish @ portion of his claims;
We may oppear upon the arena of Vhevlogical dixputation, one
and another denying ty.
i Ights, the foes of our politi
| cal freedom, laugh at our trail and iatlible notions, and tauat us
| with “ there thow shalt go, and no fi tier, for the
the Constitution are feaced round with tiorns and briars, to
preclude vou trom its entrance” Tusay deny that Wesley was
| sent of God, av Moses and Aaron were $ ott ay say that
| the timid Pope John the 8th was a’ woman, while the champions
of modera orthodoxy placemen, pensiouers, atrain of munopo-
i pendants and Coast cormurants, care not that the same
fate befel Wesley, and his adherents 48 happened to Core and
his partiza
| Peter, provided they retained their places, pensions,
tions Yvs, Mr, Chairman, those Scriptace dixseminaters aud
their compeers would acknowledge the Koran aud its frightful
mass of absurdities for Divine Revelation, did the emoluments
of office or kingly favour depend upon the avowal, Af augther
Feproachful Heary ruled England with a rod of iron, and ree
quired un acquiescence inthe most reveling dogmas, very few
Fishers woutd be found amungst ihe Protestant hierarchy, and
to entertain the idea of fading another Sic Thamus Mor
be quite preposterous. igion is metamorphosed into a State
|, fed with enormous tithes and hurdensome taxes, richiy
caparisoned with exterior pomp and vageantry,. rode by craft
statesmen, ambitious lawyers, rauk iapostors, arch hypocrites,
j fawning favourites, courtly sycophants, and time-serving ectie-
; Siasnics So well trained iv this pampered animal to the views,
j desires, and wivhes of his employers, that hesbecomes uamal
agenble without their presence and aysisiance, So many sable
ostlers rub him down, stroke his maue, aud. provide provender
for him, that he can very cvadily discri:ninate the members of
his proprietor’s household ; but should a fe w patriotic Cathohes
journey on this favourite charger, the wooden horse
filled with awned men would move witht amore velocity, though
apostate priests, renegade lawyers. andiufilel papisis, may ride
im with ease and sslety. Phe enemies of our liberties are
fanning the embers of aucient prejudices ivto religious warfare,
that they may distract aud divide us, but { trust my countrymen
will have the never to be forgotten crisis of 1798 constantly be-
fore their eyes, that they ina avoid the snares of hired emisva.
ries, aod their more than diabolical emplovers. Lain aware
the demons of discord are let tone, (0 prey upon the cre-
dulous and unwary, to seduce them tnt crime, that they way
traffic in their blood. Fly illegal Societies aad secret associa-
tions, as Lot did from Sodom, Louk upon the mua who would
incite you to revolution, or advise you to join auy dangerous
confederacy, as adevil ia bumaa shaps, Recollect, that in
8 licentions soldiery was let loose upon the unassuming
daughters of my native land; picture to yourseif the hoary~
headed father enveloped in the flanes of his cottage, while, as
the immortal Curran said, the weeping, vencrable matron, witb
her virgin daughter by her side, hourly anticipating desolation
wed dishonour—the raffiaa gang arrive—the feast of plunder
hegias—the cup of madness kindies in ite circulation, while the
wanton glances uf the ravisher become concentrated upon the
devoted victiin, May the shamruck never again be crimione
with the blood of wy countrymen ; may they refrain (rom noc-
turoal rambling and party feuds, which have mace my country
fnonrn and rrligion weep.. The depression uf the Cathuiics,
said Mr. Burke, ig aot the petsecution of a sect, bot tyranny
vera peuple, Let them continue their systeu, but Heaven
gly knows what fatal eatastrophe may terminate ils careet,—
We caunot long reinain the Ieluts and Gibeonites of our native
land ; the blood of Catholics imay be libated in torrents 40 biges
{ry and intolerance. but.there have deen stains. enough apon the
Briush annals, wud the olive scepire will guvern hetter than the
row rod by which we have been subdued, Mr, Spence then.
moved the
2
Qd
3
3
ark of British Liberty with onr blood, we will
o ever cease t
petition for a total :
ntinue
and unqualified repeal of laws whieh: sti
h these sentiments, we are
which tend to mar
b Of the subject, and keep millions of well deserving
citizens iv a state of unmerited vassalage,”
Mr, JOHN SPARRO W, in secondiag the
Wey SACTUND AW, WAR CUE
ivileges of
nor would they cere if harlais ruled che See of | bow to eppreci
situa)
e would
Resolution, “ That while we are det . deik, to allay oar thirsty expectations, Did-“e make the at.
‘olution * ro determined ta.defead the | munmeut of our rights eaclusively a Cathone qxexiton, E for one.
u
i i kind; to the mau of colour,
disgrace the aunaly of Engtand:. Therefore, in | CO88Cienge to be extended toall maakind; tot . |
re : teelead to pention the | #6-well as to his more favoured brother ;. ta.the Jews as well as :
Sodom, and as a Resolution, said: ' to the eloguent speeches which had been deliverrd, had tid. ta.
‘Gefence of py siyllaad caigious sighs, {wish to see ev ery Diss In siving toaddh ess such a respectable assembly as the owe which.
2
“s
@, US39,
unwilling (o let this opportunity pass, without gisivs veut to .
those sentiments which are to be found in whe’ tree-iuin heart
alour—whieh Ehave imbibed from my enidhood—and which the t
tyraghy of Wt Liws has Gized deep in the :nacrewiot my
[ts outof my power garb ay poor atid soushiul ideas
in the sumptuvus decoration of eloquence soong as bam,
my bosom thioos with an ardent desire
| injastice—pérvaps L might be move correct were «10 say preja>
| dice~withbolds from me. Iguorence and iw dice may asperse
the motives which have brought this meeuns ¢ gether; or way
, besparter with theie calumny the indiituals. who bave courave tow t
} boldly to declare their senuments.« To these | would inake e+
ply—lay the fault to nature, when she planied in uy breast a
British heart, tat loathes the tyranny aud consemusthe cruel,
tyraut 4 . . . .
“—_Yes, my freeborn su
Has scorn still left to sparta
id trown defiance on ther
Were 1 that base born thing which culuniny: would have me be, 1
then should I mevit every opprobrious eprhet; ail (nose miste- {
presentations which are so cous,
-| by the prejudices and the vile,
through these eyes,
exc ye
| enactinents, whic! "
[their ancestors, Bul we teen, and feel ic herary, and ca
| Nicipate ia the ery the demand, for a ies.ormion ot vue long
| withheld rights, Lathe Resulutiom whicu Lhav the honour 6
secund, it is slated, “ that, while we are determbardty delend !
| the ark of Brisjsh liberty w «blood, we wiih neve
"petition for a total aad unqualified repeal ot Jans wtuch disgiace
~ véta of Eagiaad.” We will never ceas# to pethioa. - Aint
| Why showid we 2 Can the supporters uf bigotry for a inoment 4
entertain the idea? Are we at theie command to sloop tu base *
and mean submission to their impetus mandates 1 Noy ua:
ali the Gigots that clinth earth's surface shail otey the utterance . i
of one solitary sigh, or stop the efforts of one Stugle they that .
tends (0 the advancement of Civ wud Religious Liberty. The ;
fell sprit of bigurry hides itediuinisned tivad, A favourable
gale now swells our sails; the destined port appears ia view—.
the worms disperse—the geute gepuyr breaties s4rcily on our
Swelling canvas; aud our stately bark, our brauicous vessel,
bears‘tamphant forthe harbour, One word wore, aud b have
done with tae subject the cause of bigotry, Gentleuien, fe an aw
galloping consumption. As weil. might the bark of ine fisher-
man atempt to ascend the cataracts oi the Niagara, as our eves .
Sues (0 stem the torrents of fight, “the march of iateilect,” ?
“the march of mind,” or whatever else you please to call it,
which now majestic roils, like the toaimmng billowy of the trouuled . :
Ocean, Onward to the beach, The tatier part of the Resolution !
hws been su eloquently dwelt upon by the last Spewker, (hat i€
would be useless to say any more on that head ; and, in conclas
sion, Twill only add, that | trust—that is, 1 woold fa Gaser
myself—that tor time is not far disiaut whea those odious lawe.
“hich fetter conscieoce and mar the loyalty of the subject, wail
be erased from the Statute Book, Aud tay the s.neof Evin,
whose woes have Leen so pathericalls displayed to our view be
their talented country man, ere long, in the beawutul language oF
arcan, * walk AYroad in all the native majesty of thei souls, .
redeemed, regenerated, and diseathralled vy the icresistbie be ;
uius of universal emancipation.”
The Rev, Mr, GORLUN, Reman Catholic Fries:
the third Resolution,
“3. Resolved— Phat the thanks of this Meeting arejustly dae,
aad hereby given, to the Friends of Ciriland Rengious Liverty.,
aud particufsrly to liberal und enligntened Protestauts aud Dis. .
Seuters of the Borough of Leeds, tur their late wanty avowil
of their ecudments in. We great cause of Civil. aud Religions.
Freedom.” oe
fir, E. BROWN rose to second it, and procerved as follows :
Eellow-stowasmen, | eath upou the Wieuds of civil und relict
| liberty mantally and constiaionally tv come forward at tus
eventful and momentasus e
| held libesties, on the broad ba
| From east to. west, frum noritste south, every maa who p
| for constitutional righss should boldly come torward aud declare:
jtoat bis Neart heats resvoustve ta the sacted. call. We have
‘tong been lucked upon.us a degraded caste, treated ne aliens ia.
the of our farhes all aud vinegar have been given ux to.
, oposed
would not have appeared here beture you, Lwish forliverty of i
to the Geatiles, , ; : ‘
Mr. R. WITHERING LOS rising to’ Propose the fourth ‘
Resolution, said that the densely crowded assemily, la listening, «
Bandu very cousiderable time, aud the tom hands become ;