APPENDIX. There are statesmen and divines, who think the question concerning catholic emancipation, ought by no means to be treated on religious grounds. The British constitution identifies itself with one peculiar religion: it looks a little paradoxical, therefore, to say, that the British legislature should not argue a question on religious grounds, which relates to the admission of people into all the privileges of that constitution, who hold opinions directly at variance with the religion of it.-It a cause is good, it matters very little on what ground it is argued, or opposed.-Truth will prevail. Objections to particular grounds of arguing betray weakness and fear. It is impossible to say that mischief might not arise from opposite religious opinions in the same civil constitution;-for, I hold, that a constitution, though founded upon the equitable laws, and wise maxims and precapts which the deity has given to man, will become like salt that has lost its savour, unless kept free from pollution, and particularly from religious errors and corruptions.-A very little observation will shew that the moral conduct, T and general character of a people, will depend very much upon the nature of the civil constitution, under which they live.-The subjects of an idolatrous tyranny, will be wretched idolatrous slaves, without principle and without virtue. If the catholic question is only considered on civil grounds, the corrupting principle may be admitted into the British constitution, and all the fatal consequences of such admis. sion will then be inevitable. The advocates of the catholics deny that giving them what they ask, would introduce this corrupting principle into the British constitution, and in opposition to such an opinion assert, or rather predict, that the removing the disabilities they labour under, would in a few years effect a complete change in their religious creeds, and fill them with just and proper notions concerning the only kind of service and worship required of man, by his great creator.They allow themselves, therefore, to be the advocates of people who profess a religion, that is not worth supporting; in other words, that is not deserving the name of religion. When the brother of the Jewish lawgiver admitted the corrupting principle into the religion of truth, were the idolaters purified from their errors and corruptions, and did they become more virtuous, and more upright than they were before?-If the friends of the catholics had better grounds for their assertions and predictions than they have, still, they cannot be -- ignorant, that the laws of the deity do not allow a bad act to be committed, under the idea that some good may arise out of it fifty years afterwards.――Good seed does not always produce equally good fruit:-from bad seed, men are seldom weak enough to expect a very excellent return, even in the richest and most highly cultivated soils. It is rather a singular opinion to maintain, that, if a few catholic peers and opulent commoners were permitted to sit in the British houses of parliament, and all the privileges of the constitution were granted the ca. tholics of these united kingdoms, six or seven millions of people would quit the religion of their fathers, and of their early years—that religion which they now believe to be exclusively divine. This would be an extraordinary religious effect, produced by an act, which their friends consider of a civil character only, and never to be treated on religious grounds.What kind of principles can those men have, who will persevere in false worship and idolatry, because their pride is wounded at not receiving what they demand from persons, who look upon what they call religion, as disgraceful to a rational creature, and highly offensive to heaven?-But, these proselyting privilegesthese converting concessions-these protestantism producing favours, are thus spoken of by one of the ablest advocates of the catholic claims.—“ Here I think it will be found, in consequence of various relaxations that have 66 “taken place in the severity of the penal laws, "that in fact there remains no very great deal "for the protestants to bestow, or for the catholics to receive at least, not such an . amount as to create any rational apprehensiou "concerning the mischief of any such conces"sion."*The various relaxations that have already been made in favour of the catholics, having produced but little alteration in their religious opinions, and the protestants having at this time "no very great deal to bestow" according to the author of the Calm Statement ' of the Catholic Question,' it seems to follow, that the predictions of the catholic advocates, concerning the disappearance of papal errors in these realms would not be fulfilled, although emancipation should be granted them, and all their wishes should be complied with.-Their opinions upon other matters relating to this question may perhaps be equally erroneous;and "mischief" may arise out of "concessions" "of no particular value," instead of perfect satisfaction and content, quickly to be succeeded by a thorough conviction and public acknowledgement that Jehovah is the only object of real worship, and that the adoration of saints, images, and two pieces of wood nailed across each other, with every other superstitious formality and imposing pageantry in religion, ought to be abolished. * If the catholic priests thought that A Calm Statement of the Catholic Question. page 15. emancipation would overturn their religion in fifty years, to be at all consistent, they must oppose it with all their influence and power.Such an anticipated rapid falling away of six or seven millions of people from their holy faith, would necessarily fill them with the greatest alarm, and deepest regret.-They would therefore lose no time in petitioning the British government against emancipation:-they would entreat their nobles to relinquish all thoughts of the house of Lords:-they would beg their men of consequence to give up all thoughts of the house of Commons:-they would earnestly solicit their Barristers to think no more of a seat amongst the Judges, or upon the woolsack amongst the Peers;—and would endeavour to persuade their opulent and respectable families to cease from vexing themselves, because they cannot "be sheriffs, or hold an "office in a corporation, or vote at vestries, or present to a living in the established church;" for, all these rights and privileges they would assure them, would only tend to endanger their venerable and divine religion, and sink them in the abyss of heresy, along with the protestants of England.— - It is said by the friends of the catholics, that their religion is nothing like what it was formerly. A want of power will frequently produce a great alteration in the practice of individuals, and nations, and churches also, whilst the principles and policy of the two former, and |