Mr. YOUNG said, the right of the Catholics to participate in the enjoyment of the privileges which their Protestant fellow-subjects possess, had been so fully recognized, that he expected the decision of that day would have been made almost without remark. It should be recollected, that although the Catholics have claims, those who differ from them have feelings; and therefore the conduct of the House should be that of a Protestant Assembly. He did not like the mode which had been pursued; and notwithstanding the splendid imagery and playful fancy of his learned friend from Annapolis, too much had been said against one description of the professors of religion in de fence of another. He was decidedly in favour of the Petition, and should give it his utmost support; but at the same time he wished it to be understood that he was a Protestant. He admitted the principle, that every man who contributed to the support of a Government is entitled to an equal enjoyment of privileges, when no injury could result from such a state of society. In the early progress of the reformation, there had been doubtless virtues and faults on both sides; but, he was satisfied no Catholic at the present time would have advanced half what had been urged that day. The Hon. Gentleman then took a review of the progress of the Protestant Religion in England, from the time of its introduction during the reign of Henry VIII. down to that period when it was deemed necessary to establish the test oath, for the protection of the Protestant ascendancy. It was generally admitted that those restraints are no longer necessary even in the mother country; and the object of the Petition is, to request that an Address be presented by that House, praying for their removal in this: that is all which is asked; and he willingly gave his assent, that an Address should be presented: but he wished it to be such a document as became a Protestant Assembly. Several other Gentlemen spoke to the same effect, and the Resolution was agreed to unanimously. "To the KING'S MOST EXCELLENT MAJESTY: the humble Address of the House of Representatives in General Assembly. "May it please your Majesty, "WE, the Representatives of your Majesty's faithful Commons of Nova Scotia, tender to your Majesty the assurances of our earnest and Joyal attachment, and respectfully beg leave to offer this humble. Address. Ever solicitous for the maintenance of those institutions, which form the sources of our power, while they constitute the objects of our pride, we gladly avail ourselves of any occasion which can give them additional strength, "We have ever thought, that where a community of civil interests exists, it was there expedient to create a unity of public feeling: such unity it has been the study of your Majesty's faithful Commons to promote, and its fruits are now happily visible in the general aspect of the Province. "We beg leave to assure your Majesty, that your Majesty's Roman Catholic Subjects in this Province are second to none in loyalty and attachment. We have been the witnesses of their civil conduct; and it is but a testimony due to truth, when we say, that they evince as zealous a disposition for the maintenance of your Majesty's Government, as any other denomination of your Majesty's loyal Subjects. Convinced, from a length of fortunate experience, how auspicious for the future interests of the Province such a condition is, we feel that we shall best consult our own prosperity, by using every method in our power to insure its continuance. "We have already, under the sanction of your Majesty's Government, removed every restrictive law upon your Majesty's Roman Catholic Subjects in this Province, which has been followed by their gratitude unwilling to pause, we would now solicit the gracious exercise of your Majesty's prerogative for their additional benefit, and in compliance with the unanimous voice of your faithful Commons,-We solicit that you would be graciously pleased to dispense with the Declarations against Popery and Transubstantiation,' as inapplicable to the present situation of this country, and tending to create invidious distinetions among your Majesty's loyal Subjects. "Devoted to our duties as the Representatives of your Majesty's faithful Commons, we feel confident your Majesty will accept this Address. And when your Majesty considers, that we appeal to heaven for the due fulfilment of our duties, and that we consecrate, by the sanctions of religion, our natural attachment to your Majesty's Person' and Government, your Majesty will accept these our solemn pledges as adequate securities. Confident in your Majesty's favourable construction of this Address. your faithful Commons hope eventually to find, that tho' at our several altars we may practise our several faiths, yet at that public altar, where the spirit of our country presides, the only creed will be that of Christianity," Keating and Brown, Printers, 38, Duke-street, ( Catholic Miscellany. INDEX TO VOL. VIII. Page. Abbé Francois de Véron Administration, present, On the Admission of Roman Catholics to Seats in Parliament. Antiquities, English Catholic Association, Irish Catholic Béarne, Restoration of the Catholic Religion in.. Berington's Faith of Catholics... 394 9 221 34 Biographical Notice of Right Hon. George Canning. 169 72, 220, 288, 360 Bishops', Catholic, Declaration, Townshend on the 116 Botany. 246 Bristol Bible Meeting 202 British Catholic Meeting. British Reformation Society. Buenos Ayres, Journey from, by Captain Andrews Buonaparte, Napoleon, Scott's Life of Butler, Mrs., Lines on... ... Dr. Wiseman on Syriac Literature... Essay on the Dark Ages..... Church and Monastery of Jarrow.. Comparative View of the Effects of the Revolution of 1688, in England and Ireland. Considerations on the Admission of Roman Catholics to Seats in Parlia- Conversion of James, Seventh Earl of Derby. Correspondence of George III., Lord Kenyon, and Mr. Pitt.. Dark Ages, Essay on the. Declaration of the Catholic Bishops, Townshend on the. Derby, James, Earl of, his Conversion.. De Vaux, a tale.... Dr. Coombes's Essence of Religious Controversy Dormer, Lord, edifying death of Earl of Roden, Letter to the Edict of Nantes Effects of the Revolution of 1688, Comparative View of, &c.. English Catholic Antiquities........ Enquiring Protestant, Reply to Essence of Religious Controversy. 73 375 207, 277, 350, 426 120 96 271 173, 364 11 391 311 Page. Irish Catholic Association.. Jarrow Church and Monastery Journey from Buenos Ayres, by Captain Andrews. Lectures on Ancient and Modern Literature, Schlegel's.. 394 73 179 187 93 371 289 110 251 20, 78, 157, 246. 48, 128, 191, 268, 346. 412 20, 78, 157, 246 72, 144, 220, 288, 360 29 336 371 246 311 73 69, 138, 209, 279, 352 147, 224 363 72, 144, 220, 288, 360, 432 49, 129, 201, 269, 347, 413 66, 136, 206, 349, 425 Protestant Mind, State of with respect of the Catholic Question Question, Catholic, State of the Protestant Mind with respect to the .... 229 Sketches from my Study ... Statement by the Council of the London University 239, 301 406 404 |