7 CHAP. X. Rich. 2. c. 12. Aliens." c purchasing or presenting to benefices,❞—yet their naturalization in Ireland is so facilitated 2 Nels. 1290. by numerous statutes (as we have already shewn) that the disability of alienage is easily to be surmounted; and thus, an Alien Jew, or Mahometan, becomes enabled to exercise this and every other right, without any restraint whatsoever. Ante, p. 106, &c.-Chap. 3. SECTION IX. Considerations, in the choice of a Country. Questions, Laws dangerous and burdensome to the 1. WHEN a man of reflection finds himself at liberty to choose his place of residence to exchange his native country for another-or to return from a foreign land to his own-he is naturally guided by the result of such inquiries as the following, viz. Are the Laws of that country grateful to the people? Are the enjoyment of property, and the rights of conscience, protected? Are social intercourse, and private feelings, CHAP. x. free and unmolested? Discourage settling in the Anti-Ca mischiefs. With deep regret we must acknowledge, that ments against the aspect of Ireland, at present, offers no in- Ireland, undes viting answer to any one of these inquiries.—tholic Laws. The intolerance of the laws, the consequent disunion of the inhabitants the menaces of force -military exhibitions-apprehended dangers, foreign and domestic-the distracted state of society (if “ society" it can be termed) Consequent -the painful scenes which daily afflict every humane and generous mind-have shaken the foundations of peace, impaired the confidences of society, and poisoned the springs of cordial intercourse in private life. Of these effects the proofs are but too manifest, and annually multiplying-to the heavy injury and discredit of the country. Thousands of esti- Emigration of mable families, possessing good fortunes and milies-from liberal feelings, have become voluntary exiles from Ireland. Protestants, as well as Catholics, have emigrated in disgust and sorrow: the former, heart-sick of witnessing the oppressions practised upon their Catholic fellow-countrymen, 4 estimable fa Ireland. and disdaining the ignoble partnership in a vex- Protestants and, atious ascendancy: the latter, naturally flying from a condition of galling humiliation, insult, and injury. The incomes, example, presence, Catholics. CHAP. X. and counsels, of all these persons-are, of course, lost to their country-perhaps irrecoverably. Perils to property in Ireland. Persons de terred from Gettling. The same misfortunes have prevented the return of many Irish families, who have acquired large fortunes upon the Continent, in the Indies, or in the Colonies, Their valuable capital, experience, skill, industrious habits, enlarged views-what a treasure of improvement would they not yield, to the native land of their possessors ! For years past, we have had opportunities of learning some interesting particulars of this nature and we can affirm, without exaggeration, that, during the Loss of Capital, last 20 years, capital to the amount of not less than FOUR MILLIONS sterling, with all its attendant benefits, would have been transferred to Ireland, by Irish families residing upon the Continent and in the Colonies-if the Penal Laws against Catholics had not disgusted and deterred the proprietors. through the Penal Laws. Instances. Some had actually reached London, on their return to Ireland, for the purpose of purchasing estates, building dwellinghouses, and settling in the land of their fathers-but, upon becoming apprized of the prevalent intolerance of its laws, system of government, and state of society, they have either stopped short in England, or returned, with breaking hearts, to resume CHAP. X. their accustomed habits, and breathe their last complaints-in foreign climes. Every man, interested in the welfare of Ireland, must feel, that these facts suggest reflections truly distressing. 2. The inquiries, which we have supposed, shall employ the remaining Sections of this Chapter. And, First-that which regards the secure enjoyment of private property. Perils to property in Ireland. Protestants, as Catholics. That the Anti-Catholic systeni, in its tendency, Hazards, to must necessarily involve property of every kind, well as to Protestant as well as Catholic, in continual and serious hazard, will be generally admitted.In fact, no man in Ireland, of whatever class or persuasion, can be said to enjoy that reasonable security in this respect, which is a principal object of civil society. and burdens, Our purpose, however, is merely to demon- Peculiar dangers strate in what manner this system operates, so as affecting Catho lic property. peculiarly to endanger and burden the property of Catholics in Ireland. This may be done, by simply collecting together, under one view, some of the hardships unfolded in the preceding part of this "Statement." CHAP. X. Ante, chap. 2. p. 81, &c. exclusion from Parliament. 1. Catholic property cannot be secure, whilst it is liable to be burdened by partial and unequal imposts-under the authority of a legislature, from which Catholics are, both actually and virtually, excluded. They may be (as Insecurity, thro' formerly) subjected to double taxes, to laws for incumbering or lessening their property-nay, they are, at present, obliged to pay a greater cation, &c. &c. proportion of public taxes, whilst they receive less in return, than their fellow-subjects. Unequal taxation, confis Ante, chap. 3. P. 95. Tolls and exactions 2. Catholics, in corporate Cities and towns, are burdened by various tolls, petty Corporate cities charges, and vexatious exactions-from which Protestants are exempted. and towns. Ante, chap. 7: 3. They are subject to a heavy and frequent land tax, called Vestry Cess" applotted and exacted in a manner highly ob Parish rates jectionable. No other class of the people is "County Cesses." excluded from parish vestries-or subject to taxes, over which they can exercise no controul, 4. They are liable to other annual Ante, chap. 9. charges upon land, termed “ County Cesses"——— not less than half a million sterling-levied by P. 221. |