Chronicle of the 17th instant :-"On Thursday night last, Sir Henry Par nell presented the Petition of the Roman Catholics of Ireland to the British Legislature, and gave notic that on that night fortnight he intend ed moving that a Committee of the whole House should take the Claims of that numerous and suffering portion of his Majesty's subjects into its consideration, for the purpose of putting an end to the wretched state of the Country, by conciliating Five Mil lions of its Inhabitants. Mr. Tierney asked who the Petitioners were--miserable affectation!--Mr. Tierney knew, although the Petition was not in the hands of a Party Member, that the Petitioners were the Population of Ireland; that they were the People, who, contributing to maintain the strength and to uphold the glory of the United Kingdom, form at this day the only portion of Christians in Eu rope who suffer for their religious te nets. We know that there is an In

unrestricted enjoyment of civil rights | gan to be felt, as may be seen by the in common with their Protestant fel- following excellent observations which low-subjects, unaccompanied by veto-I extract from the Cork Mercantile istical arrangements for their Clergy. The Petition has been consigned into the hands of Lord Donoughmore and Sir Henry Parnell, Bart. for presentation, to whom the General Petition from Ireland was also confided, the noble Lord and worthy Baronet having, in the most patriotic and constitutional manner, undertaken to advocate the cause of their suffering coun. trymen upon the very principles on which they wish it to be conducted, namely, equal and unfettered rights. By entrusting the care of the English Petition into the hands of Lord Donoughmore and Sir Henry Parnell, we shew to our Irish brethren the desire we have of acting in unity with them in this great and highly interesting question, and we offer an opportunity to the truly noble and honourable advocates for our civil privileges of proving to Parliament and to the nation at large, that in pleading the cause of the Irish Catholics they are also pleading for the Catholics of the whole empire. Sir Henry in present-quisition in Spain; but we also know ing the General Petition to the House of Commons, fixed the debate for the 24th instant, but it was subsequently put off for the 30th; consequently, this number will be at press before the question is determined for this session. That the discussion will be interesting there can be little doubt, and the gratitude and thanks of the Catholics will be ever due to the worthy and honourable Baronet, for the iudependent method he has pursued in bringing forward this momentous question before the representatives of the people. It is now divested of all party feeling, and stands upon its own basis-the subject is now cleared of all the intricate machinery invented by party motives and ministerial intrigue, and the division will point out who are the real friends of religious freedom, and who are only so in name. To the Whig party it will be a complete touchstone. This is already be

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that the inhabitants of that country are of the same religion as the Inquisitors; and hence, though new sects are prevented from springing up, there is, in fact, no religious persecution, because there are no persons to be persecuted; and hence, we do not in an account of any victims to the tri bunal. But in this country, the great bulk of the people are shut out from the chief benefits of the Constitution, and daily vexation makes them well acquainted with their degraded state, and their anxiety for relief leads them to the constitutional mode of Petition

and as the grievance is general, so is the complaint. Until Mr. Tierney can point out some description of Ca tholics who are not affected by the Penal Code, he should not suspect that any Catholic has been wanting to his duty in coming forward to Peti tion. The fact is, every Catholic in Ireland is anxious for relief. There

can be now no mistake, in consequence | Sir Henry Parnell has acceded to their wishes; he has made himself acquainted with their state of suffering, and he has offered to lay their case before the House of Commons, and to call upon that House in its wisdom to adopt the only remedy which will be

of which the Legislature may, intending relief, be unintentionally led to create new mischiefs and more afflicting persecution.-Sir Henry has had the good sense to confer with the aggrieved, and from their own mouths he has learned the extent of their suf-efficacious-Simple Repeal,-He has ferings; from them he has learned the already begun to redeem his pledge relief which would be effectual; and no party, no request of affected friendhence from this patriotic and consti- ship, no name is likely to prevent the tutional Member of the House of complete fulfilment of his promise and Commons, the Parliament will receive the felicity of Ireland."-Little furthe true statement of the evils which ther need be added to these just and exist, and the remedy will be pointed trite remarks. We must not, however, out. Already, of course, the ene- build our hopes too high, in imagining mies of Emancipation have begun to that the application will be successful shew themselves, and the disappointed this session. Too much prejudice yet Sir John Cox Hippesley announces, exists, even amongst those who profess that the Catholics must not obtain to be “liberal minded" men, to pretheir freedom until he shall be made vent the accomplishment of that de Chief Commissioner of Catholicity. sirable object, when religious distinc Last year the Petition was indeed pre- tion shall be done away, and the insented, but no discussion was moved habitants of this land of freedom live thereon; last year it was acknow- in the full enjoyment of equal laws. ledged that the Catholics were ag- and equal rights, grieved, but no remedy was proposed for the grievances under which they laboured. And why? Because the Catholic People would not consent to have their Clergy enslaved, in order that their Aristocracy should get into place. Because they would not consent to increase the influence of the Crown, which many wise Statesmen had complained was already too great, and had gone beyond its constitutional limits, and threatened the destruction of Civil Liberty. Last year the man who presented their Petition Would not consult with the Catholics, because he and the Catholics differed as to the sort of relief which should be given-hence the Catholics have

DEMOCRATICAL VETOISM. -The

pleasure which I experienced, in common with every sincere well-wisher to the independence of the Catholic Clergy, in beholding the manly and disinterested opposition of the free Press of Ireland to the late impious scheme of establishing a ministerial controul over the appointment of the Prelates of the Catholic church, and through them an influence over the whole body of the priesthood, has been succeeded by a far greater degree of pain, in having of late witnessed an attempt of the Catholic Press to overawe the clergy in the exercise of their ecclesiastical functions, and thus placed their confidence in a pa- founding a Veto infinitely more pernitriotic Senator, who, unallured by cious and destructive in its effects than power, by influence, or by any other the one which has been so warmly restate seduction, has determined, for jected. Averse to Vetoism of every the good of the Country, to acquiesce kind, whether exercised by the Exeto the rational and constitutional re- cutive Government, or the voice of quest of his Constituents-the People popular opinion, I shall take leave to of Ireland. We congratulate our enter my protest against the usurpaCatholic Fellow Countrymen upon tion of such unjust measures, and enthe choice which has been made. deavour to shew the misconceptions

now

which have existed throughout this un- | not shrink from their support against

gious principles in strong and energe tic language, he is to be immediately denounced as a calumniator of the people, and his "individual' conduct is not only to be dragged before the tribunal of public opinion, but a threat is also to be held out against his su

fortunate contention.-The circum- auy aggressors."-Thus then we find stance which gave rise to this unwar- that a Veto is to be exercised upon a ranted interference of laymen with clergyman, when exercising an essenecclesiastical concerns originated, in a tial part of his spiritual functions, by sermon which was delivered by the the writers for the public press and Rev. Mr. Ryan, at a consecration of laymen are to sit in judgment upon prelates, held at Townsend-street cha- the orthodoxy of the doctrines, or the pel in Dublin, on the 24th of Febru- justness of the reprehensions which ary last, and, in consequence of what may be disseminated from the chair fell from the reverend preacher, he of truth, and from which they are was denounced by the Dublin Evening bound to receive instruction. Of Post, if I recollect right, as having course, should a preacher in his dis"dish'd himself."-Unwilling to be course differ in opinion from an editor behindhand with its Protestant coad- of a public paper, on a subject conjutors, the Catholic Press took up the cerning the doctrine or discipline of subject, with a warmth, not only un- the church, should he censure a notobecoming, but truly alarming, and at-rious breach of immorality or of reli tacked the preacher with the most gross invectives and personalties. In defence of the venerable Hierarchy of Ireland and the whole order of the priesthood, none have stood more conspicuous, nor rendered greater service to that body, than the Cork Mercantile Chronicle; great then was my surperiors if they should dare to approve prise, and keen was my regret, on reading the following menace in that paper of the 8th of March following: "THE SERMON. We have not, as yet, received a copy of this promised gift; but will probably have it before our next day of publication. In the mean time, we have only to remind our readers of the ground of our difference with the reverend gentleman. Mr. Ryan has thought proper, on a most particularly public occasion, to condemn, in offensive terms, certain acts which WE HAVE APPROVED. We have undertaken the defence of those acts, against the vituperations of Mr. Ryan. Our contest is with Mr. Ryan, and Mr. Ryan only, respecting the individual misconduct of that gentleman; nor is it our inclination to connect that misconduct of the individual with any other persons or considerations whatever. If, however, we shall be compelled to extend our censures, we shall do so very reluctantly, but very unflinchingly. The calumniated Clergy and People of Ireland may rest assured that we shall

the sentiments of the preacher, however consistent they may be with truth.-Alas! what more could the enemies of our divine religion desire, than to see such a Veto as this brought into general practice? Indeed, if my Catholic brethren once adopt this sys tem, short-lived will be that glorious and super-exalted Hierarchy, now the boast and veneration of Irishmen which Mr. O'Connell said, is destined to last till the globe we inhabit shall crumble into eternity. Soon will it be shattered by the turbulent attacks of contending passions, and swept away by a torrent of jarring opinions.Such a Veto as this would be infinitely more fatal than the one attempted by the late relief bill, and by far the most disgraceful. In either case, the hierarchy must fall; but in the first it would sink by the intrigues of our enemies; while, in the latter, it would perish through a misguided fondness, and we should resemble the ape in the fable, who smothered her darling young through excessive tenderness. The Mercantile Chronicle says that

DS,

conduct of the Dublin clergy who, signed the Bridge-street Resolutions; whether it was canonical or not, I shall give no opinion, let it be decided by the proper tribunal; I shall merely confine myself to what has been urged by the press, respecting the obnoxious passages in Mr. Ryan's discourse, as quoted by itself, and endeavour to shew that it has been governed throughout the contest by the most egregious misconception that ever pervaded this terrible but at the same time useful instrument.

Mr. Ryan has thought proper to condemn certain acts which it has appproved, and that it has undertaken ess the defence of those acts. "Our contest," it continues, "is with Mr. Ryan, respecting the individual misconduct of that gentleman."-If a public paper is thus to usurp what alone belongs to the episcopal order; if the press is to assume the exercise of that power which alone belongs to the church, for Mr. Ryan was engaged in his pastoral duties, away goes the independence of the spiritual authority, which is as essential to the To return, however, to the quespurity of religion, as a free form of tions. Mr. Ryan is accused by the temporal government is to the happi- Catholic Press of having uttered a ness of society. Were indeed a Ca-"most false and wicked charge against tholic clergyman liable to have his conduct dragged before the public, and that public too a mixture of heterogeneous creeds, for whatever he might judge proper to urge in his orations from the pulpit, for the benefit of his bearers, by the instruction of some, and the just reprehension of others, few would be found possessed courage sufficient to condemn the corrupt and irreligious manners of the age, but their study would be to find a palliation for immorality and latitudinarianism, in order to fall in with the tide of popular opinion. If the Catholic press persists in acting upon this mischievous principle, it will do more injury in a few years to of the Catholic church than attempts of the bigotted and hireling Protestant press would ever be able to inflict upon it for ages. In short, it would assist to destroy that fabric which has hitherto been invulmerable to the efforts of persecution and proscription, by undermining the divine authority which has been delegated to her by the crucified Redeemer of mankind. But what are the acts

of

the

cause

all the

the Catholic Laity, by which it was imputed to them that they assumed to themselves an authority to repeal an article of faith; and also that they and the clergy usurped the exclusive rights of the episcopacy a charge not less insolent and unwarranted than the other." (I quote from the Mercantile Chronicle.) Let us now see what Mr. Ryan said to cause this heavy attack upon him Addressing himself to the prelates present, he says," You have seen meetings consisting of mere laymen, assuming an authority which the church cannot claim; an authority to repeal an article of Catholic faith. Such an article has been formally disclaimed ; and spirit, at once dastardly and pre sumptuous, has been sent forth to the world, as the result of repeated deliberations, the disavowal of that tenet of our religion, which teaches us that there is only one faith by which man is to seek salvation. THE CATHOLIC VOICE OF IRELAND HAS ALREADY REBUKED THIS ACT; but the perturbed spirit to which it owed its existence remains. Driven from

which Mr. Ryan has condemned in its first lodgments, it returns with such offensive terms? And what are sevenfold activity and strength. With the charges which the public press the most whining professions of at has brought against Mr. Ryan? Be-tachment to the Catholic doctrine and fore I reply to these questions, I shall just premise, that with the difference of sentiment which exists as to the

to the prelacy, it actually proceeds to usupe the exclusive rights of the epis copacy; for, my lords, it has already