RIGHT OF SELF-DEFENCE INFRINGED. “but the Justices of the Sessions may exercise the CHAP. VIII. 66 powers, as often as they please." General restraints, enforced against 3. These modifications are, however, Catholics alone. illusory. For, it is observable, that the warrant of the Lord Lieutenant or Secretary is rendered necessary only in cases, where a Justice makes search for examination, &c. under the authority of the Statute of 1807-but, where he acts by virtue of former Statutes, he is not subject to this controul. C. 21. Therefore, no alteration is made touching the 15 & 16 Geo. 3. enormous powers which the rigorous Statute of sect. 15-17. 1775 (already cited) has vested in any one Justice-of" searching for, seizing, and carrying "away (at any hour of the day or night) all arms and " ammunition whatsoever, belonging to, or in the pos"session or custody of, any Catholic (not duly qualified "and licensed) or in the hands or possession of any No modification (< person in trust for any Catholic; and, for that pur-1775. 66 pose, of entering into the dwellinghouses, &c. of "Catholics and others-and of summoning Catholics See Ante, ❝at his discretion, whenever they appear to infringe P. 175, &c. "the Statutes, which forbid them to have or use "arms, ammunition, &c, of the statute of CHAP. VIII. Hostile opera tion of these Laws. SECTION V. The Catholics continually en dangered. Consequential operation of these Prohibitions. 1. THESE Laws, then, inflict countless injuries and insults upon the defenceless Catholic. They place him altogether at the mercy of others: empower the Justice and the Constables to break open his dwelling house at midnight; to search every part of it: to summon him to a public scrutiny upon oath to deprive him of arms to criminate his truth and loyalty: to mark him with fine and imprisonmentLiable to pillory to consign him, at discretion, to ignominiouš punishments-pillory and whipping. and whipping. Cottager, peasants, &c. exposed. They expose the Catholic cottager, petty farmer, artizan and peasant, to repeated outrages, wanton and infuriated: and this exposure not merely invites, but actually produces, most barbarous excesses. His wife, children, dwelling and property, are continually unsafe. In many districts this is tragically exemplified. Where the armed yeomanry are exclusively Protestant-where arms are profusely dealt out to Protestants alone, without distinction of Hostile opera property, or character-and where religious CHAP. VIII, virulence is sanctioned or cherished by an intolerant Administration-there the perilous con- tion of these dition of Catholic families can scarcely be imagined. Laws. The Northern counties of Ireland have ac- Anarchy in the North of Ire cordingly exhibited frequent scenes, shocking to land. every humane mind. There, periodical enormities disgust the eye and ear. Atrocities the most unprovoked usurp the merit of zeal for the constitution. The meridian Sun is witness to murders, of industrious and peaceable Catholics, perpetrated by armed men-unpunished: perhaps protected. Thus, a cruel bigotry protracts the convulsion of extensive districts: sanguinary conflicts debase the people-and the sway of ferocious anarchy supersedes the mild influence of Christian charity. How just, tho' indignant, was the exclamation of the celebrated Doctor Samuel Johnson ! "The Irish," said he, "are in a most un- Boswell's Life of Dr. Johnson "natural state; for there we see the minority "prevailing over the majority. There is no "instance, even in the Ten Persecutions, of "such severity as that which has been ex"ercised over the Catholics of Ireland." CHAP.VIII. 2. Perhaps no other Nation in the universe contains a class of people, immersed in a No other people state so gloomy and so grievous. equally ag. grieved. Vassals in Ottoman em pire. In Russia, each vassal is protected by his Noble no other man can oppress him with impunity. In the Ottoman Empire the masters are few, indolent, and of mild natures: the practical condition of the subjects, and even of the Christians, is generally tranquil and safe. The Koran does not permit men, who have once laid bids persecution down their arms, to be vexed for their religion. The language is simple, but emphatic" Oh, The Koran for Mahomet's con Infidels! observe your Law, and I will "observe mine." Mahomet the Second, when he conquered duct in Greece. Greece, permitted the inhabitants (though bound by no previous stipulation) to enjoy their religion without disturbance-a permission, neither revoked nor evaded, to this day. 8vo. 1791. In South America, the Spaniards have always De Page's travels, vel. 2. 35. admitted the Peruvians, &c. to all civil offices, South America, and to every benefit of their Laws and constitution without restraint of any kind. Slaves in West Even in those regions, where human liberty forms a subject of avowed and legalized traffic, the sable Slave is the object of his owner's peculiar protection and solicitude: bis person is CHAP. VIII. safe; his maintenance and dwelling ensured; Slaves in West his health, and even amusements, consulted; his Indies, &c. merits rewarded: and if, by industry or chance, he he can acquire property (as frequently happens) how treated➡ may purchase his freedom, and, with it, all the rights and respectability of a free citizen. But the hapless Catholic, in Ireland-under the eye of civilized Europe-what a contrast does his lowly condition present ! attempt the picture. ** we dare not the Catholics. In his vain struggles to shake off his odious Compared with thraldom to extricate himself from the toils the condi ion of of Penal Law-he meets new impediments continually arising, new suspicions to be allayed, new chagrins and mortifications to be endured. The Laws have so environed and enchained him, that, in the dreary prospect of futurity, no glimpse of freedom opens upon his longing eye, no chance of even personal security against the coming evils-save in the choice of acts, which his forefathers have ever abhorred APOSTACY, OR TREASON! Dire to the Catholics, ominous to these Realms, Dangers of this the hour of exigency-the moment of urgent call when the alternative must be chosen !!! system. |