Изображения страниц
PDF
EPUB

3. The exclusion of the Catholics CHAP. II. from the honors and benefits of the Peerage House of Peers operates, therefore, like their exclusion in other

cases, equally to the detriment of the public, and to the depression of the individual.

refuted, that

For it is really but a puerile and confined Vulgar errer view of this interesting subject, to argue, as only ten Cathol some have recently argued, that "there are not aggrieved.

more than about ten Catholic individuals actu"ally aggrieved by this exclusion. The number "of Catholic Peers," say they, "does not exceed 7 “in England, 8 in Ireland, and 2 in Scotland: "not more than two or three of the Irish and "Scotch would probably be elected as represen

[ocr errors]

tative peers: the united number therefore, would “not exceed ten-and these are the only persons "entitled to complain."

This reasoning is palpably fallacious. According to the letter of the Constitution, every situation of honor, trust and power, ought to be accessible to every citizen. In daily practice the Protestants enjoy the full benefit of this principle. It is withheld from the Catholics. All access to the honors and powers of the Peerage is closed against every Catholic. Even the hope of ever attaining any participation in them is denied. This exclusion operates as a bar against every Catholic, who might, otherwise, reasonably ex

lic Peers are

CHAP. II. pect to count the ennobling of his name amongst House of Peers the possible events of his future life, and whose

Every Catholic

this exclusion.

[ocr errors]

actions might accordingly be influenced by this incentive. It damps his industry, impairs his energies, and insults his feelings,-whilst no is aggrieved by similar impediment stands in the way of his fellow subjects of other persuasions. The Catholic is deprived of a powerful spring of action, which might have impelled him to deeds of the highest value to his reputation and interests, and of the most signal advantage to his family and his country. Therefore, this exclusion, by the partiality of its principle and the general mischief of its spirit, inflicts a wide-spreading injury, not merely upon a few Catholic Peers, but upon the Catholic community at large.

The ancient

4. That the ancient Catholic Peers

Catholic Peers are peculiarly aggrieved by this exclusion, will

peculiarly un

fortunate.

[merged small][ocr errors]

persecutions of centuries, they present at this day a disheartening spectacle of shattered greatness. Blameless in private life, circumspect in the narrow sphere of their public conduct, they are, nevertheless, treated with ignominious distrust. A Catholic Peer indeed, stands in a singularly distressing predicament. He is subject to all the responsibility and charges of ostensible

rank, yet bereft of its incident patronage and CHAP. II. power; nay, debarred, by honor and etiquette, House of Peers from many pursuits, many means of providing

for his children, which are free to a Commoner ;

rity affecting

The ancient Catholic

Peers.

from all enterprizes of trade, from all gainful Peculiar seve occupations of a merely pecuniary nature. professions of arms, diplomacy, and literature, afford the sole legitimate pursuits, in which a nobleman is permitted to seek for wealth or advancement. From these pursuits the Catholic Peer is deterred by the letter of the Laws, or by their necessary operation. Still more galling to a well-constituted mind, must be the state of systematic insult and contempt, to which the Catholic Peer is exposed. His conspicuous rank points him out to continual notice, and as a mark for hostility; whilst his powerless and unprotected condition invites repeated aggression, and pros- Subject to trates him before the slights and spurns of official scorn, insolence. Poverty, obscurity, personal privations-these might be tolerable, but, alas! to be made

A fixed figure for the time of scorn
To point his slow unmoving finger at
Oh! this is too much!

slights and

CHAP. II. A late Catholic Peer (Lord Petre) universally House of Peers revered for his valuable endowments of head and heart, has feelingly complained of this exclusion,

as amounting to little short of a personal imputation. In pathetic language he thus vents his indignation:

Reflections,
&c. by the late
Lord Petre- 66
Booker, 1804.

Upon the insult and dis

exclusion.

"Is it not an insult to me, to be debarred

from exercising my hereditary right of legis"lating in the Peers' House of Parliament, "merely because I will not take oaths, and "subscribe declarations, of which my conscience

66

disapproves and to be cruelly told, in the same breath, that any oath I may take can"not be depended upon? Is it not disgraceful 46 to any man of honor to stand as an object

[ocr errors]

of suspicion, and the victim of, at least, an "implied stigma, in his native land, for no other

66

reason, but because he prays to God in his "own way, and professes the Religion of, not "only his forefathers, but the forefathers also of "those very persons, who impose restraints upon "him, and are, at the same time, ready to express "the highest veneration for their ancestors in "other respects."

We close this view of the disabilities Catholic Peer which peculiarly affect the Catholic Peers, by doubly disqualified as Legis- observing that, as the law now stands in Ireland, the Catholic Peer is precisely the only maṛ

lator and as

Elector.

in the community, who is wholly disqualified, CHAP. II. not only from sitting or voting in either House of House of Peers Legislature, but also from voting at the election

of a member for either.

By the express words of the Act of Union, he 40 Geo. 3.

eh. 29. Sect. 4

is disabled from voting at any election of a representative Peer to serve in the Parliament of Catholic Peers doubly disquathe United Kingdom; and, by the standing order lified. of the House of Commons against the interference of Peers, he is forbidden to interfere or vote at the election of any member of the Lower House of Legislature.

SECTION IV.

"As to the House of Commons.”

1. THIS exclusion is still more im- House of Com

mons.

portant in its extent and operation. It comprizes a greater number of situations of trust and poweramounting at present to 658. These 658 mem- The extensive

this exclusion.

bers and their connections are in continual con- operation of tact with the people of all descriptions; they transact a great quantity of public business→→→ controul the public purse, correct abuses, eriminate delinquents. They have frequent opportunities of manifesting personal favour or ill-will:

« ПредыдущаяПродолжить »