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Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software. The text has not been manually corrected and should not be relied on to be an accurate representation of the item.
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Intelligence . —r > Ptote 8 tont Satiety . 45 J
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Several ministers , chiefly from the country , who moved some of the resolutions , which we shall insert below . Mr . Easthope , M . P . for St . Albans , in proposing one of the resolutions said , that understanding it to be the opinion of an enlightened statesman , whose accession to power he hailed with sincere pleasure and hope , that all the disabilities under which the Dissenters laboured
were merely theoretic ; and perceiving it likely that he might be called upon in the House of Commons to deliver his sentiments , he had felt it his duty to come where he might gain information , because he was sure , if he were satisfied that the objections were purely theoretic , it would reduce much of his anxiety on
that question . He confessed , however , that he was now more surprised than ever , at the statement which had passed the lips of the minister of the crown . Was it not more than theoretic , that those who bore rank in society , and were distinguished by every thing which entitled them to confidence and respect , were told that the doors of the meanest
offices of the state were shut against them , unless they submitted to a test , to which in their conscience they could not submit > Was it not more than theoretic , that persons born and educated on the north side of the Tweed , and there enjoying all the privileges of the state , . should , the moment they passed that river , be laid under proscriptions , which were revolting to every honourable mind ? To him it was matter of
surprise , that these galling disabilities had not oftener been the subject of indignant complaint . Nothing was so much wanted for the relief of the Dissenters , as an uniform , a consistent , but temperate expression of their grievances . In bringing forward their complaints , the Dissenters must naturally think that the declaration of the Premier placed them in a Afferent situation than if it
had not been made . Mr . Canning was understood to say , that it was his anxious desire to afford relief to the Roman Catholics , but he saw no reason for relieving the Dissenters ; and he followed up that opinion by saying , that the grievances of the latter were merely theoretic . Now he ( Mr . Easthope ) was an ardent and unqualified advocate for bothj and the principle of his opinion was , that no man should jbe amenable to his fellow-men for the exercise of a
conscientious worship , that being a matter between his conscience and his God . The rights of conscience were the only intelligible grounds for advocating relief both
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to Catholics and Dissenters . One of his strongest private reasons for affording relief to the Catholics was , that nothing would more essentially contribute to emancipate them from the blind" , ing power and dominion of their priests , than the removal of the disabilities under which they so unjustly laboured . If , the agitation of this question would necessarily tend to overturn the present
administration , he trusted , that , notwithstanding the hasty declaration of the first Lord of the Treasury , their love of civil liberty would prevent them from bringing it forward at this particular juncture . But as they had given previous
notice of their intention—as many petitions were prepared—as their case needed explanation—as their cause was great and just—as no advantage would be attendant on delay , —he should now advise them to persevere , and would conscientiously afford his , perhaps feeble , but warm support .
After thanks had been voted to the Secretaries , Mr . Wilks rose , and began by stating , that he had resolved not to speak , but that their kindness had moved him from his purpose . He proceeded for some time with a rapid and eloquent review of the various grievances stated in the report , and which had occupied much
of the attention of the Committee during the passed year . In adverting to the subject of the Corporation and Test Acts he remarked , that he should not rest satisfied till those statutes were repealed . Of their origin , their intolerance , their persecuting principles , and their offensive operations , much had been well said , and more was needless . Their
introduction should , however , blazon in characters of fire a lesson to mankind . If , at the times of their enactment , the Dissenters had preferred principle to prejudices , nor meanly helped to forge chains for themselves , that others might be chained , the clanking of these chains
would never have been heard , and we should not now be required to struggle , that the fetters might be broken . Let men ever proclaim and adhere to truth and principle , and confidently leave their destinies and furtune to justice and to heaven . But the fetters must now be
broken , or at least we will prove that we are not heedless of their infamy , nor desire to hug our chains . The meeting had already evidenced their opinion , that no circumstances which have occurred recently , and since the application for relief had been announced , should induce a postponement of the attempt . In that opinion he concurred . Indeed ,
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Citation
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Monthly Repository (1806-1838) and Unitarian Chronicle (1832-1833), June 2, 1827, page 457, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse.ac.uk/periodicals/mruc/issues/vm2-ncseproduct1797/page/65/
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