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aeif-reproach for uot attempting , years ago , to throw off the burthen . If they did not make a vigorous effort , it seemed likely that they would'bear the burthen during the whole term of their natural lives . The Dissenters should , therefore * pledge themselves as men and as Christians , never to allow , the question to lie dormant , but to pursue their way to the
Legislature , through good and through evil report ; and if they refused to grant their rights , they should always hear of their wrongs . The Legislature might in that way be forced into the charity of the unjust judge , who did what was right , that iie might no longer be troubled ^ with hearing what was wrong . The Rev . gen ^ tleman- coucluded by moving the folioWr ing resolution : — ¦
" That this Meeting agrees in the opinion , and participates in the feelings of the Committee , on the subject of the postponement of the application to Parliament for relief from the Corporation and Test Acts , and that the resolution of the Committee upon this subject is hereby adopted as the resolution of this Meeting : viz . That we feel unfeigned
and deep regret that the majority of the United Committee saw reasons sufficient , in their view , to justify the postponement of the question of the repeal of the Corporation and Test Acts for the present session of Parliament ; that we would most earnestly impress upon the United Committee , and upon the Dissenters generally , that the great cause can be
promoted in and out of Parliament by discussion alone ; and that we trust that no occurrences whatever will be hereafter suffered to interfere with the steady , unr falling , and increasing exertions of the Dissenfe i ^ , to relieve themselves and their posterity from the oppression of these unjust , and mischievous , and abominable statutes . "
The Rev . Dr . Rees , in seconding the motion , said , he concurred in all that had fallen . from his Reverend friend . Like him , he was . neither afraid nor ashamed to , confess , that in the United Committee he had also lifted his voice against the postponement of the question . The resolution was put and carried .
Mr * Bowling said , that he had had the honour of following the footsteps of his Reverend friends op the occasion to which thqy had referred . He was not of opinion , however , that , they ought to be deferred by the decision of . the Committee from regaining the ground they had loBt ., Ry patiently submitting $ o that tficfwm , their friends and foes would connuler tjie Dissenters to be the same doubfc
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ful and backward race , who had for forty years borne the opprobrium of these disgraceful and abominable statutes . He was glad to find th&t the Honourable Member who had agreed to second the motion for their repeal , agreed with him
{ Mr . B . ) , that they had retreated from action when victory was in sight . That Honourable Member had expressed his willingness to advocate their cause , whenever his services were requested by the body of Dissenters . When they were taunted with the observation of the First
Lord of the Treasury , that their grievances were theoretic , they ought to put themselves in motion , to shew that Right Honourable Gentleman that his position was false—that their grievances were real ^ and their chains intolerable , and that they would wear them no longer . Some colour was certainly given to the remark , by their agreeing to wait another session for the discussion of their claims .
Dangerous and imprudent , however , as that postponement was , it had yet caused light to arise ; teaching the Dissenters this lesson—that by using all the influence they possessed , such an impulse might be given , as that , do what they would , or resolve what they choose , they could not but go forward . He then
moved" That the above resolution be respectfully communicated , by the Chairman and Secretary , to Lord John Russell and John Smith , Esq ., and that they be assured of the full confidence of this Meeting in their future exertions on behalf of Religious Liberty , whatever may be the state of political parties , and even though from any motives any portion of the Protestant Dissenters should be inclined to withdraw
the . statement < of . their grievances from the notice of the Legislature . *' Mr . Cordelu seconded the resolution , which was then put and carried . . Mr . Richmond moved" That the cordial thanks of this
Meeting be given to Lord John , Russell and John Smith , Esq ., for the readiness with which they , undertook to introduce the question of Hie Corporation and Test Acts iuto the House of Commons ; for their willingness to fulfil their generous pledge , notwithstanding the doubts and fears of some of the Protesfant Dissenters
themselves ; and for their constant and signal services in Parliament to the Sacred cause of Civil and Religious Liberty . " The learned gentleman justified the United Committee for the step they had taken . He did not regret the opposition which it had stirred up , because it-would preserve the stimulus for . the next sear sion of Parliament ; but circumstanced
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536 Intelligence . + « British and Foreign Unitarian Association
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Citation
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Monthly Repository (1806-1838) and Unitarian Chronicle (1832-1833), July 2, 1827, page 536, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse.ac.uk/periodicals/mruc/issues/vm2-ncseproduct1798/page/64/
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