THE MR. GRATTAN'S LETTER. HE second letter of Mr. Grattan to the General Board of Irish Catholics, a copy of which will be found in the latter part of this number, appears to me so very important, as containing the sentiments of the advocate who is to be entrusted with the care of the Catholic petition, that, although the Board has thought proper to pass it over without notice, I deem it necessary to offer a few remarks upon this singular document to my readers. Mr. Grattan begins by saying "I beg "to remind the Catholic Board, that "the first Resolution transmitted to me, was a proposal for a communication, from the Board, on the form "of a Bill to be presented to Parliament for their relief-and that I de"clined that communication, conceiv"ing that the forming a Bill was the 66 EXCLUSIVE province of Parliament. So, then, the Right Hon. Gentleman, in order to justify his refusal of an interview with a Committee from the Board, on a subject too of great interest, inasmuch as it affected the conscientious feelings of a whole people, is not ashamed to tell the Board, that the reason of his refusal was, that HE conceived "the forming of a Bill was the exclusive province of Parlia ment." But for the eminent services of Mr. Grattan, in favour of the cause of Catholic Emancipation, this must have been considered by the individuals composing the Board as a gross insult upon their understandings, in offering so weak an excuse for the denial of a request which is not refused even to the Committees of an Inclosure or a Turnpike Bill. As to its being the exclusive province of Parliament to form Bills, it may be so for ought I know, but it is an office of which the Legislators are not very tenacious, if we except, indeed, when Catholics are concerned. How often have we seen, in the reported proceedings of Parlia ment, the Minister, in cases of great importance, move for leave to bring in such and such Bills, which being granted, they have been immediately presented, without any objection on the part of either House that it was an infringement of their exclusive province? Nay, if my memory does not fail me, for I have not the papers to refer to, in this very session, when my Lord Castlereagh introduced his Bill for the regulation of his new Military System, one of the Members for the City of London moved the rejection of a clause respecting the London re giment of militia, which he said affected the privileges of the city, and informed the House, that the draft of a Bill was then under the consideration of the Common Council of the city to further the object of the noble Lord. To this motion both the Minister and the House agreed, and the Bill was discussed by the Common Council, clause by clause, before it was presented to the House of Commons, by whom it was passed, as well as by the Lords, without any objection to the mode being contrary to the prerogative of Parliament. Why, then, I ask, if it is not derogatory to the character of the Legislature to receive a language? Does Mr. Grattan begin to think with our bigotted and calumniating enemies, that the desires of the Catholics are so inordinate as never to be satisfied? Or does he mean to say, that the Catholic Board is not in possession of sufficient talents for the Bill, the form of which had been previously discussed by a few individuals, acting under the charter a city-Why should it be deemed an infringement on the province of the Legislature, because a body of men, acting for five millions of people, only wished to state in the shape of a Bill, how their griev-purpose, and that the task ought to be ancés could be redressed? The measure left to those who, in order to qualify was, in my opinion, particularly call-themselves for Legislators, feel neither ed for, and ought to have been received in a very different manner by the Right Hon. Gentleman, after he had witnessed the indignation of his oppressed countrymen at the late legislative attempt to relieve them. Let it be observed also, that the complainants are not represented, in a religious point of view, but, on the contrary, the Legislators swear that their doctrines are superstitious and idolatrous. The Board to be sure entertained an shame nor remorse in vilifying, by oath, the Catholic religion, although that religion is now, and always has been, professed by the greatest majority of Christians in the world. This is certainly a modest idea on the part of Mr. Grattan; but what can be a greater proof of the incapability of men professing one religion legislating for those of another in matters of conscience, than the late wretched attempt to relieve the Catholic body, by put idea that, by such a measure, "itting the most valuable part of it out of the pale of the constitution? And this, 66 66 which were introduced into his late to be insulted by such wretched sounfortunate Relief Bill. Lord Castle-phistry I know not; but this I am reagh did not think it beneath him to sure, that in no country whatever is consult on the subject with a certain the situation of a Catholic more trying barrister on this side the water; how than in this land of harmony-this came it then that the Irish deputation united kingdom. He is condemned by was treated with such neglect by the his enemies as unfit to take a share in leading members of their own country? a free representative government, beMr. Grattan, in applauding the wis- cause his principles are inimical to dom of the idea which the Board ex-freedom, and his doctrines slavish and presses on the subject of healing mea- despotic;-but, when he shews them sures and removing groundless alarms, that his mind is as free, as firm, and as says, "that those jealousies & alarms independent as their own, he is then (6 can only be removed by a spirit of reproved by his advocates, for a want "accommodation, and by such steps of temperance, and informed that he 66 as may unite the Irish and English never can succeed in obtaining his li"Catholics, and may harmonize the berty, unless he curbs his ideas, and "Irish Catholics with one another; evinces a spirit of accommodation. " and I do not hesitate to say, that How cruelly harrassing is this to a "without a spirit of accommodation mind that only asks for truth and jus"and conciliation, the Catholics will tice? Why does not Mr. Grattan call 66 never succeed." This is very kind upon the bigotted and intolerant facof the Right Hon. Gentleman, and we tion of his own Church to shew a spiought to be infinitely obliged to him rit of accommodation and conciliation? for his desire to see us so loving. But Why is the front of offending to be laid why are Catholics to be debarred from upon Catholics? This faction never their just rights until they all unite in ceases to slander and traduce us, by one mind? Are the English and Irish propagating, through the means of a Protestants more united on political false and corrupt press, the most horquestions than Catholics? As well rid and abandoned principles, as the might the people be told that they sum of our religious & political creed; must never expect a peace, because and are we not to be allowed to dethere are some of them who wish for fend ourselves with TRUTH, and properpetual war. The Catholics declare secute our cause with freedom, within their petition, that they ask no more out the mortification of being censured for themselves than they do for their by those who profess to be our friends, neighbours a simple repeal of all re- for failing in a spirit of accommodaligious disabilities; and can any thing tion and conciliation? This is exerbe more just? The only difference cising our patience pretty well.-Mr. which now exists in the Catholic body Grattan concludes his letter with a is on the mode of proceeding to obtain candid avowal of his views. (6 They this object. Some contend that the are, (says he) the complete Emancimeasure of Securities, as proposed by "pation of my Roman Catholic felsome of our advocates, will tend to "low subjects, without injury to their support the influence of the Crown, Church or their Religion; the perpeto rob our Clergy of their independ-"tuation of the Protestant succession ence, and thus infringe upon the li- "to the Crown, and the Preservation berties of the people. Others contest "of the Protestant Church. These the point, and say that the Crown are the sentiments in which I supought to have its ascendant power.- port the Catholic Petition, and in But is not this the case in all free "these I am sure I have the concur states? Of what use is discussion, if "rence of the Catholics."-Very we are not permitted to enjoy the free- good to be sure, Mr. Grattan; and if dom of opinion? How long we are the Catholic is not to be harnessed to 66 66 world will decide which party has the greatest claim to a spirit of accommodation and conciliation. The Catholics have declared, that "no settle❝ment can be final or satisfactory, "which has for its basis, or at all in"volves, any innovation or alteration, "to be made, by authority of Parliament, in the doctrine or discipline "of the Catholic Church." They have also declared, that they neither "seek to disturb the settlement of the Crown, as limited to the House of "Hanover, nor do they sue for any "alteration in the Church Establish❝ment. 66 66 66 the yoke, I do not see how he can re- | be in such fear for her existence? Do fuse his concurrence. For, as to the they doubt the promises of our Safirst proposition, it is all the Catholicsviour? Or do they doubt his power to require, as far as regard themselves, support his Church, without the aid and can easily be granted by a Bill of of an act of Parliament, and a pack of SIMPLE REPEAL.- -With respect to the oaths for securities?-However, the second, this is, I should suppose, al-case is now come to a point, and the ready secured by the Act of Settlement, in which it is enacted, "that "if any King or Queen should turn -66 Papist, or marry a Papist, the Crown "should descend to the next heirs, as "if the persons so turning or marrying a Papist were naturally dead." What stronger mode can be devised than this I know not; nor can I see how it is possible that the admission of about a score members into Parliament, professing the Catholic religion, should endanger the repeal of this Act: at all events it cannot be done without the consent of the Protestant members. If there is any fear To the former they are then that these gentlemen will not be "bound by their allegiance: of the true to their own Church, an oath, I 66 latter, as they have not the RIGHT, think, (for our Legislators are very so neither have they the WISH TO INfond of them, when Catholics are con- TERFERE with the honours, possescerned, and those pretty long ones "sions, or franchises."Can any too) might be enacted, compelling thing be more explicit, or more ho them, instead of making the declara- nourable towards our Protestant bretion against Popery, to swear that they thren, than the latter declaration?— will never concur in repealing the said If the legislature is still suspicious of statute. This must be a security suf- our integrity, I can see no security in ficient to satisfy the most timid, and putting us to our oaths. The only one too on a very liberal principle, as method left will be, on granting emanit will be confined solely to the Pro- cipation to the Catholics, to insert a testant members, and consequently clause in the Bill, enacting, that, on cannot be objected to on the part of all subjects, which may come under the Catholics.- -And now in regard the consideration of Parliament, relatto the last proposition. The Catho-ing to the Established Church, the lics can certainly have no objection to any measure which Mr. Grattan may think proper to adopt to preserve the Protestant Church, provided they are not constrained in preaching their own faith. I must confess I feel rather ashamed for our Legislators at their dread for the safety of the Established Church; because, if she is the pillar and ground of TRUTH-if she is the CHURCH OF CHRIST, which he founded upon a rock, and over which, he declared the gates of hell should never prevail-what necessity have they to Catholic members shall not be allowed to vote. The Protestant will thus be relieved from all reasonable grounds of apprehension; and the Catholic, I am confident, will feel no regret at the exclusion. If more is required than this, I hope we shall not be told, that the Catholics have not "adopted the "spirit of accommodation and conci❝liation." -The DR. DROMGOOLE'S SPEECH.eloquent harangue with which this gentleman prefaced his late admirable Resolution (see last vol. p. 286), ap. |