CHAP. XII.

SECTION IIÌ.

General virulence of this Penal Code, against the Catholic Peasantry, Poor, &c. &c.

this Code

tholic peasantry

poor.

LET it not be pretended, then, that Virulence of the grounds of Catholic Petitions are light or against the Ca frivolous that the Catholic peasantry, arti- artisans and sans, and poor, are too lowly for the frowns and pinching malignity of this Penal Code: that it curbs only the fancied ambition of wealthy and intelligent Catholics, but inflicts. no injury upon the lower orders: that, in fine, their real causes of complaint are narrow or partial-not enforced by the wishes of the nation, or even by the sympathy of the Catholics at large.

Alas! the Penal Code against the Catholics of Ireland is far from being in a relaxed or languishing state. No clause is permitted to slumber: no merciful connivance is tolerated: even obsolete enactments are now forced into fresh A.D.1811—12. vigour. The System works incessantly, to the prejudice of every Catholic: and, though sometimes unobservedly, yet eventually with sure and grievous efficacy. Even when it bears a mask

CHAP. XII. ed appearance, it is not less malignant, than when raging in the most furious aspect of per

Virulence of

this penal Code secution.

-against the Catholics of all ranks and classes,

No Catholic is so exalted by rank, fortune, or talent, or so depressed by poverty or ignorance, as to elude its baneful influence, to remain insensible of its contumelious and exasperating operation, or to suppress his murmurs against its long continuance.

Whichever way he turns, this monstrous System meets his eye, to dishearten and dismay him : to blast his best and fairest hopes for himself and his offspring, Whatever he utters or does, or meditates, whether in the intercourse of public life, or in the bosom of his family: whether he struggles for the general good or for his personal welfare: whether he seeks the comforts of harmless recreation, the rewards of active merit, or the advancement of his growing progeny-he still finds his paths continually obstructed by this Penal Code, its temper, its chain of influence, its partizans and its instruments. It frowns upon his approach, repels his touch, and frustrates his dearest and most rational wishes.

Thus, the Law, to others an object of attachment, gratitude and pride, is to the Catholic only a dark and gloomy barrier in life: exciting

new struggles, new defeats: producing heavy CHAP. XII. injury, and loud complaints. The Law, in fine, virulence of bids him despond, and sink, hopeless of freedom, this penal Code: unrespected, in mute unavailing regret and tholics of all chagrin.

ranks and classes:

Catholics for

Hence his natural and incessant eagerness for Eagerness of all relief. Hence the throbbing agitation in the complete relief. bosom of every Catholic, and of every class, whenever a ray of hope gleams upon his benighted condition.

This hope, this eagerness of relief, paralyzes his industry, and consumes the best energies of his soul. It distracts his studies, and benumbs his love of country and of Laws. All his faculties are absorbed in the fond, but fruitless, contemplation of this sole and favourite object.

May we not venture to ask-Is not this alone an enormous grievance? Is it not grievous, that the portion of time, and the leisure for other. occupations, which the enjoyment of perfect attention confreedom affords to his fellow-citizens, must ne- pursuit.

cessarily be consumed by the Catholic in perilous efforts for his own relief, and in the study of measures for facilitating this relief? And is not this a further and heavy TAX upon his time and his labour-or, in other words, upon his property?

Their time and

The candid op

SECTION IV.

Appeal to Reason and Feeling-on behalf of the Irish Catholics.

Ir there be any candid man, inclined ponent invited to question this Statement as highly coloured, imagining the or to view this Anti-Catholic Code with indifcase of the Ca

to the test of

tholic to be bis ference, we invite him to the unerring test of

' own.

Reason and Feeling and we intreat him for a moment to imagine the case of the Catholic to be "his own."-Let him suppose himself to be so branded and incapacitated, as is here shewn; to be set aside and stigmatized by the Constitution, as unworthy of filling any office of trust, honour, or emolument, in his native country : to be forced to distrust the protection of the Picture of Ca- Law, in affairs of property, liberty, and life: to and humiliation. be peremptorily denied that share of distributive

tholic suffering,

justice, which apportions reward as well as punishment according to the deserts of each member of the community to find closed against him every path, which his ambition, his courage, his genius, or his industry might prompt him to explore.-Let him imagine himself to be so taxed, so tèazed, so worried, and so contemned in his country, as to feel his situation more vile, in many respects, than that of the "outcast Jew."

Appeal to the

and feeling.

-Let him see himself shunned in private CHAP. XII. society as a degraded being-daily sinking in self-estimation, yet indignant at the scorn test of reason attached to his lot, and vainly looking around for the succour and smiles of those Laws and that Constitution, which exalt his fellow citizens upon his mortification and misery. Then let him, indeed, consult those alluring and eloquent panegyrists of the British Constitution, the Montesquieus, the Blackstones and De Lolmeswho have pourtrayed its blessings in such fascinating colours; and let him ask them, whether he partakes of those inestimable blessings, or shares in that "POLITICAL LIBERTY," which Political liberty. they have pronounced to be the very end and purpose of that admired Constitution? Let him interrogate his own heart: does he enjoy LIBER- Liberty of TY OF CONSCIENCE? Is he perfectly free to follow its pure and harmless dictates ? or are his children, in a state of Servitude or of the Catholics, Emancipation? The answers will readily be found. They are graven upon every true and honourable heart,

Conscience,

Is he, whether enjoy

So much for the present condition of the Catholics of Ireland. From this condition they seek to be fully extricated not through the wilderness of gradual Emancipation, but by the broad avenues of right and justice and upon the great principle of RELIGIOUS Liberty,

ed at present by