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Learned Gentleman had alluded to him , did not call for a single observation on his part ; but he felt it necessary to state that he had , on a former occasion , presented a petition from 10 , 000 Dissenters of Great and Little Bolton against the Catholic claims . And for himself , he could not see why Dissenters should be
prevented from petitioning the Legislature any more than any other class of his Majesty ' s subjects . It was true , that the Indemnity Act protected the Dissenters in holding some offices , bnt there were many which they could hold without it ; why , then , should they he debarred from praying against a measure , the effect of which would be to endanger the established religion of the country ? The Dissenters always approached that Honse in respectful terms , and surely there could be no inconsistency in their wishing : not to entrust power into the hands of those of its abuse by whom our history furnished such ample proofs . It had been
* aid , that all tests ought to be repealed , and if this Bill had that for its object , then he felt sure that he might count upon the votes of many honourable members , who , as Englishmen , and members of the Church of England , could never consent to such a step , however favourable to the claims of the
Roman Catholics . With respect to the Test Act , the Bill now pending did not touch it ; so that , even if the Bill passed , it would operate equally upon Catholic and
Dissenter . Mr . Brougham , in order to prevent any misapprehension , was anxious to explain , that the opinion thrown out by S j iia , as to the removal of tests , was entirely his own , aud had nothing whatever to do with the framers or supporters of the Bill . That Bill would not go one step beyond the objects specified in it , so that any member supporting it would not be pledged to a single point further . " Oil , but , " said the Right Honourable Secretary , " the Bill does not touch the Test Act . " Cerrainly not , and the Right Honourable Gentleman , in saying so , was * rguing with him . For had not the Ronian Catholic a right to complain when » e found the Dissenter turn upon hiui and say , " True , we take office , and are protect ed by the Indemnity Act , but we ai"e determined that no measure shall
pass which will place vou in a similar situation >" Mr . W . Smith was glad that this conversation had arisen , as it would tend to remove a mistake originating in the ouse , and thence spread through the ^ uniry , that the Dissenters labour under
" ° disabilities , disqualification or re-& Uki" At the P P er tiwie he should awe to prove satisfactorily , that they
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labour under all three , and that they ought to be relieved from the unjust burthen . Mr . Abercrombib contended that no petitioners had ever come before the
House with a worse grace , or with less consistency , than those Dissenters who petitioned against the claims of the Catholics . The Dissenters generally , were an enlightened and liberal body ; but he could not view with any feelings , of respect the conduct of those who now obtruded themselves on the notice of the
House for such a purpose . They were fanning the flame against the Roman Catholics , and yet at the same moment they had a Bill before the House for relieving themselves from disabilities ; that which they would not allow others they eagerly claimed for themselves . ( Hear !)
Looking at the public press , he found that the papers which most favoured the object of the Dissenters opposed the Catholic Bill , on the ground that it was exclusive , and did not embrace the Dissenters . When the Dissenters found , therefore , that this argument was of no avail , and that they would not be
benefited by an alteration of the law , they turned round and opposed any concession . He had never yet given any vote on the subject of the Test Act , but if he were governed by his feelings and not by his reason , he should certainly support that disabling statute as a punishment to those who were now so anxious to resist
concession to their Roman Catholic brethren . However , upon principle he was opposed to the Test Act , and would vote for its repeal , that the better class of Dissenters might not suffer for the worse . The petition was then read , and the question put that it lie upon the
table-Mr . Brougham . I have to return my thanks to ipy Honourable Friend who spoke last , for the light he has thrown upon this subject , and for what he has said regarding the views and conduct of that body of Dissenters which lias been so forward in petitioning against concession to the Roman Catholics . No doubt
that very prudent class thinks that if it shews itself ready to aid the Church at a moment when the Church is in such need , when it cannot raise even a feeble cry of i ( No Popery ! " the Church , in return , will help the poor lame Dissenters over the stile , after the many yelps for
assistance . Give me leave to say , that I know the Church better ( hear , hear , hear!)—I mean the High Church , not the great and , 1 believe , liberal body of the Church . The High Church may hold out a delusive hope , in order to induce these Dissenters to volunteer their petitions , butt It will never make tbe slightest
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In telligence , — -Parliamentary : Dissenters and Catholic Claim * . 443
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Citation
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Monthly Repository (1806-1838) and Unitarian Chronicle (1832-1833), July 2, 1825, page 443, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse.ac.uk/periodicals/mruc/issues/vm2-ncseproduct2538/page/59/
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