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Dissentions exeited by this Penal Code.

Consequent agitation.

posed upon Ca

CHAP. XII. a counter-petition-hence an annual contest. The entire force of the Irish Government is mustered against the Catholics. All, that depends upon official influence, comes forth in hostile array. The hired portion of the press, the expectants in church and state, the venal speculators-all are compactly embodied against religious liberty. If the petitioning Catholics Hardships in hint at their great superiority of numbers, they tholic petition are rebuked as guilty of falsehood: if they venture upon proof of the fact, they are accused of practising intimidation. If they feelingly dwell upon their grievances, they are roundly charged with wilful exaggeration: but, if they enter into minute and faithful details, they are. loudly vilified as incendiaries, who proclaim mischievous truths for traitorous purposes. If Unfair accusa- they solicit a Parliamentary inquiry through

ers.

tions.

1805.

respectful Petitions, they are encountered by confident assertions, that those petitions are in ISIO-181. direct opposition to the wishes and good sense of

the Catholics at large: but, when they naturally endeavour to obviate this objection, when they resort to peaceable and rational measures for collecting and conveying the real sentiments of the Catholic body, and select their nobility, trate Catholic gentry, men of talents, learning, virtue and property for that purpose-the Lord Lieutenant

Contrivances, to prevent or frus

1 etitions.

Penal Code,

of Ireland and his Secretary, and their agents, CHAP. XII. instantly excite an universal uproar, affect a Dissentions exserious alarm for the public tranquillity, and cited by this occupy themselves in circulating Proclamations, calculated to disunite the people, to alienate the Uproar raised. Protestants, to hold forth the most spotless Ca- Meetings for tholics as instruments of sedition and treason, A. D. 1811. and as projecting a rival Legislation, in alleged violation of a dormant Statute.

against Catholic

the purpose.

tions.

In this spirit they institute State Prosecutions, State prosecuwith unusual parade, and at heavy public expence, against various Catholic gentlemen- Ante, p. 261, grounded upon a rigorous interpretation of an ill-penned Statute, menacing danger and penalty to Protestants as well as to Catholics: and, by such proceedings, it is attempted to drown the Attempts to just complaints of the Catholics in national plaints. litigation and discord.

drown all com

Hence it necessarily follows, that, to the pernicious prejudices which these Penal Laws naturally cherish, are superadded the mischiefs created by the hostile Government; by its long chain of influence; its incessant activity; its organized exertions in reviving, inventing, and circulating every, libel and slander, every pitiful jealousy every sordid suggestion, every senti- moting slanders ment of fierce defiance against the doctrines,

Its effect in pro

&c.

CHAP. XII. Opinions, characters, and persons of the Catholic Petitioners.

Dissentions ex

Penal Code.

cited by this Such is the course of this malignant spirit: such it must continue, whilst these Laws endure.

Its mischievous course.

It moves in a circle. It compels Catholic petitions-Petitions produce resistance-resist ance re-produces this evil spirit, and so the mischief revolves.

SECTION II.

Ignorance and Errors, prolonged by this

Penal Code.

THIS Anti-Catholic system produces

This Penal Code further mischiefs. It renders the great work of

renders reconci

more difficult.

liation annually redress (whenever the proper time shall arrive, and arrive it must) annually more difficult. It prolongs the mutual misunderstanding between Great Britain and Ireland, and the ignorance of each country respecting the actual state of the other. It retards their cordial union, and identification of interests. For, under this system, a Lord Lieutenant, Secretary, or other

public Officer, coming from England, enters CHAP. XII. upon his public duties, not merely uninformed, Misunderstand

but unable to procure information. He is hood- ing & errorsprolonged by winked upon his arrival, and consigned to a this Penal Code. certain class of persons, practised in systematic opposition to Catholic freedom. These men carefully beset him, and block up every avenue through which a Catholic might creep into esteem. They discredit every Catholic, by whispers and insinuations: maligning him indirectly, but incessantly and acting upon an unqualified proscription of the entire Catholic Body, without distinction of persons, pro-representation-perty, virtues, talents, or other merits. Thus tised. they poison the ear of every visitor every visitor against the persons, principles, and practices of all Catholics; and in this science they are eminently skilful.

The unsuspecting stranger gradually assents to their maxims, leans towards their wishes, and is pre-occupied by their narratives. He can

not presume, that persons, who possess the exterior of civilized society, and perhaps high station or rank, would descend to wilful falsehoods. He lends himself to their schemes, and acts upon their suggestions, until he finds it perhaps too late to retract. In time he probably

Instances of mis

commonly prac

See Lord Redes

Lord Fingall,

in 1803.

Duke of Rich

mation, &c. &c.

in 1811.

CHAP. XII, stumbles upon some awkward conflict with the Catholic Body, and commits himself by some dale's Letters to public act of glaring indiscretion. indiscretion. Should he incur disgrace or ridicule, his advisers mond's procla- abandon him to his fate, or perhaps are foremost in whispering his censure with feigned regret and moderation. Thus the system of delusion and error is upheld: truth is intercepted the Catholics remain utterly unknown to the governLord Redesdale, ment—and, finally, the English Statesman retires D.of Richmond. in chagrin, confusion, and disappointment :— deeply initiated, indeed, in the business of pomp, parade, jobs, festivities, and corporate addresses; but absolutely unacquainted with the People of Ireland, their habits, feelings, or real

Ld. Manuers,

interests.

Be his fate what it may, the Catholics still remain the principal sufferers, in every change and event, and through all their ranks and classes.

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