It cannot be denied, that the intolerant prin- CHAP, LX. ciple of this Code must produce the same Protestants not effect upon the members of one Religion as upon more likely -- to abuse power those of any other that the Protestants would than Catholics. have equally just grounds of complaint, were they debased to the present condition of the Catholics that the latter would naturally be as Jikely to abuse excessive power as the former. No doubt they would.-It cannot be otherwise. It rests upon every experience of human nature. Is it not, then, inconsistent with the dictates of a wise and humane policy to persevere Persecution, in the persecution of any people: especially of humanc, a people-who have merely resisted inno Force can have no controul over the mind: Conscience is the most stubborn of all our moral feelings in matters of Religion, violence can operate only as the means of destruction.-A Government always compromises its power, when, proposing to triumph over honourable minds, it opposes the rewards and the frowns of the Law, to the promises and menaces of Religion. not wise or "Men-who look to the rewards of a life to Montesqu. Esp, d. Loix, Lib. come, are above the power of the Legislature: 24. c. 14% They regard death with too much contempt; CHAP. IX. Montesquieu's expostulation against Religious in tolerance. 66 "How shall the man be restrained by Laws, who believes, that the greatest punishment "the magistrate can inflict, will end in a moment to begin his happiness?" 66 "If Heaven," exclaimed the persecuted Jew," has had so great a love for you as to make you see the Truth, you have received a great favour. But is it for children who have received the inheritance of their father, "to hate those who have not? If you have this Truth, hide it not from us by the re manner in which you propose it. The "character of Truth is its triumph over minds 1 and hearts-and not that imbecility which you We betray, when you would force us to receive "it by pains, penalties, and tortures. "must say, that, if you loved your Religion, you would not suffer it to be corrupted by the ignorance of Persecution: and that, if any "one in after-times shall dare to assert, that in "the age in which we live the people of Europe "were civilized, you will be cited to prove that they were Barbarians-and the idea they will form of you will be such, as will dishonour your age, and spread execration over all your cotemporaries." These pathetic expostulations powerfully apply to the Anti-Catholic Code of these Realms: they combat every species of Religious In- CHAP. IX. tolerance, in whatever age, climate or nation : Intolerance they accord with our fixed predilection in reprobated. favour of universal Religious freedom-at all times so rightful-and, at this moment, so necessary to the safety, honour, and repose of this troubled Empire, "Nemo enim fidelius dare potest "Consilium quam is, qui id alteri "suadet, quod ipse, si in eodem loco * esset, facturus foret." CHAP. X. Subjects of this CHAP. X. "Of the Laws, which inflict upon the "Catholics divers other Penalties, Pri"vations, and Disabilities, not classed under the foregoing Titles :—and generally, of the injury and humiliation, " which the Catholics endure under the "continual pressure of Intolerance in "Ireland.” 1st Detached Penal Enactments. 2d General hard. ships of this Code. In the preceding NINE Chapters, we have treated of as many distinct classes of the Penal Laws, now in force against the Catholics of Ireland. The remaining part shall be comprised in the present Chapter.-It consists, partly of several detached Clauses and Enactments, dispersed immethodically amongst the Irish Statutespartly of certain Hardships, imposed upon the Catholics generally by the very existence of this Penal Code. This Chapter, therefore, must necessarily be CHAP. X. miscellaneous:and, being formed from a Arrangement. compilation of matter not reducible to regular classification, its Arrangement must be arbitrary,—We shall briefly sketch these remaining inflictions, in the order following, viz. 1. PENALTIES, for neglecting to take the Subjects of this Test Oaths, prescribed to Catholics by Chapter. the Statutes of 1773 and 1793. 2. Penal Statutes-not already specified. 3. Penal Clauses-of questioned construction. 4. Laws-respecting Education. 9. Property of Catholics-how endangered and 10. Commercial Catholics-how aggrieved. Laws. 12. Hostility against Catholics-sanctioned and encouraged, throughout every Department. |