CHAP. III. " well as to the Protestants-and thus to give "them a solid and substantial advantage, by Freedom of except Catho 66 relieving them from the heavy and oppressive deOffered to all, «mand of Tolls, which, on most occasions, ope"rate in opposition to the interest of the indus"trious citizen.” lics. 4Geo. 1. ch. 9. 19 and 20 The Legislature further extended this premium to Protestant foreigners, by a Statute of 1718, declaring, that they should be naturalized, and exempted from Municipal Offices and taxes for seven years. Again, in 1780, they enacted, that all foGeo. 3. ch. 29. reigners, upon taking the oath of supremacy, should be deemed naturalized, and exempted from serving upon Corporation or parish Offices for seven years. Liberal preamble to an illi beral Statute of 1780. The preamble of this Act curiously exemplifies the profession of enlarged policy, united to the practice of senseless intolerance. It recites, that 66 "Whereas the increase of people is a means of advancing the wealth and strength of any "nation; and whereas many foreigners and strangers, from the lenity of our Government, "the benefit of our Laws, the advantages of our "trade, the security of our property, and the "consideration of the plentifulness of all sorts of "useful and profitable commodities with which CHAP. III. "Ireland abounds, might be induced to settle Freedom of "in this kingdom, if they were made partakers 66 Corporations. Ridiculous ic. consistency of the Irish Leen- gislature. of the advantages and privileges, which the "natural-born subjects of this realm do joy, &c." 66 Strange infatuation! that could avow such admirable principles of political wisdom, and yet persevere in a religious oppression, disgraceful to every sacred name! Geo. 3, ch. 38, In 1784, the Irish Legislature renewed their 23 and 24 suit to foreign Colonists, by a fresh invitation-51. (with an exception, however, against Jewish visitors.) But in 1796, they removed the landmark of 36 Geo.3.c.48. Christianity itself in this respect for they en acted, that "All foreigners of every description, In 1796, Turks Jews, and ralized. (not excepting Turks, Jews, or Atheists) shall Atheists, natu"become naturalized, liege, and free subjects of "this kingdom, upon settling and taking the "oaths of supremacy, &c."—that is, upon taking But Catholics Oaths, which all persons whatsoever, whether they believe in any Religion or in none, can conscientiously take the Catholics alone excepted. 5. Thus are the Cities and towns of Ireland peopled and governed and this is the not so. Corporations. CHAP. III. system of Municipal legislation, enforced in daily Freedom of practice against the Catholics. It prefers the foreigner, the outcast, the infidel--to the native Christian. Contrary to the received maxims of all other nations, ancient and modern, the antiPrinciple of quity of a man's family or settlement in the vernment in country constitutes his disqualification from trust; the recency of his arrival is his merit. To adhere to the Religion of his ancestors is a crime; to reject all religion is a passport to power. This is the practical wisdom of a soidisant tolerant Government. Municipal go Ireland. In 1812 Civil Servitude That this system is just or honourable, or consistent with the spirit of any good Religion, it would be difficult to demonstrate. "I cannot conceive," said Edmund Burke, "how any thing worse can be said of the Pro"testant Religion of the Church of England " than this-that wherever it is judged proper of the people "to give it a legal establishment, it becomes defined by Ed-"necessary to deprive the body of the people, (if they adhere to their old opinions) of their "liberties, and of all their free customs; and "reduce them to a state of civil servitude.” of Ireland, as mund Burke. CHAP. IV. CHAP. IV. 66 Of the Laws, which deny to the Catholics the right of being eligible to various Offices, "connected with the Profession and Adminis"tration of the Laws." gratitude, due Bar. 1. BEFORE we enter into a detail of A Tribute of the many Offices comprehended within this class to the Irish of prohibition, we hasten to render an honourable homage to the public virtue of the Protestant Bar of Ireland. We can say, with truth and gratitude, that the Protestant Bar have never solicited or favoured the interdiction of Catholics from the profession of the Law, or from advancement to its offices, or indeed from any other right or privilege of the Constitution. To their Their uniform eternal honour, they have, throughout every discussion of Catholic complaints, uniformly evinced a sincere and active liberality of principle. Even when it was proposed to repeal those clauses of liberality. of the Irish Bar. CHAP. IV. the old Penal Laws, which sanctioned Bills of The generosity Discovery, and confiscations of Catholic property, and consequently formed the most lucrative branch of professional practice-the Bar of Ireland not only did not oppose or retard the measure, but with manly and memorable zeal stood forward in its support, and cordially contributed to its Their just claim upon the gratitude of success. Indeed, the Members of this honourable the Catholics. profession possess claims of peculiar strength and justice upon the affection and esteem of the Irish People of every description. The Catholics especially, as the most exposed to oppression and injustice, have derived from them the most essential support and have invariably found a bulwark of protection-almost their only one-—in the generous and intrepid advocacy of the Irish Bar. 2. To the Anti-Catholic code of Laws, therefore, not to any illiberal spirit of monopoly in the Members of this profession, is attributable the class of Exclusion, which we are now to consider and which comprehends almost every de&c.interdicted sirable Office in the Profession, or Administration of the Laws. The Offices of this description, to which the Catholics are forbidden to aspire, by the letter of the Statutes, are the following, viz. Enumeration of Law Offices to Catholics. |