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But, even

Condition, of

Oaths.

contingency of his having taken and sub- CHAP. X. scribed those oaths and declarations. though he has complied with this condition, taking the though he has not been prevented from doing so by ignorance, inadvertence, or bodily infirmity, yet this is not enough-he must, moreover, preserve the certificate of his qualification as carefully as any deed of conveyance. It is a necessary muniment of his title. This condition, Certificate, to be therefore, must weaken the security of his property-by superadding novel stipulations to his rights, and the incumbrance of fresh pretexts for question and litigation.

7.

preserved.

construed with

the Catholics.

Another serious hazard, affecting Penal Laws the properties as well as the persons of all Ca- latitude agains tholics, must flow from the doctrine long prevalent in Ireland, and even recognized some years since in the Irish court of King's Bench, (nor yet disavowed) namely, that, in the construction of questions affecting Catholics, "the "Penal Laws against them are to be deemed "remedial and to be construed as such, with "latitude for the protection of the Protestant "Church."

Such doctrine, if pushed to its utmost length, Dangers, resulting from must place Catholic property in imminent dan- this Doctrine. ger-and, in its spirit, almost amounts to a

CHAP. X. formal re-enactment of all the severest Statutes Penal Laws, against Catholics in Ireland.-Yet what security con trued with has the Catholic against this doctrine, in its most wasting latitude?

latitude

against the Catholics.

These hazards and burdens, concurring with the general mischiefs of the Anti-Catholic code, and the public hazards arising from the perverse spirit of the Laws-render it impossible to affirm, that the Catholics of Ireland enjoy security of property-that benefit of civil society, never to be neglected in a well ordered state.

SECTION X

Commerce a

Laws which aggrieve the Catholics of Ireland, in Trade and Commerce.

1. THE Commerce of a nation is a belonging to all common benefit, to which all classes of the

public benefit,

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inhabitants are equally entitled. It furnishes them with the means of procuring articles, which all may require. It causes a circulation of money, creates industry, animates labour, and,

by affording subsistence to great numbers, CHAP. K. contributes to render a country flourishing and

populous.

Commerce, however, cannot long prosper, or

d. Loix, Lib. 20

connected
For, the Liberty, and

security of

countries, property

necessary to

even subsist, without perfect security of property, Montesq. Esp. and the enjoyment of civil liberty. The enter- c. 4° prizes of Merchants are necessarily with considerations of this nature. opinion of greater security, in free inclines men to undertake every thing, and in- commerce. spires them with the confidence necessary for the boldest speculations. They promise themselves brilliant advantages from the smiles of fortune, and chearfully expose whatever they have acquired, in order to acquire more: being certain, that in a free country, they run no other risk.— "Eo impendi laborem ac periculum, unde Liv. Hist. "emolumentum speretur. Nihil non aggressuros homines, si magna, conatis magna, præmia proponantur.

2. How far the Trading and manufacturing interests of Ireland have been generally impaired her credit and capital diminishedher merchants, of all descriptions, depressed, by the perilous posture of public affairs, and the unsettled state of property-resulting from

CHAP. X.

Ante, ch. 2.8.3.
P. 77-80.

polized-to the

prejudice of Catholic Merchants and Traders.

In a preceding Chapter, we briefly touched upon the valuable services, which a member of Parliament can render to his personal connexions Parliamentary and private friends" Advantages in tradeinfluence mono❤ ‹‹ indemnity from burdens-preferences in local "competitions." By such an alliance, it is notorious, that a merchant or trader may manage his business at the custom-house, the treasury, and the privy council successfully enforce his claims soften the rigour of official regulations→ explain away suspicious circumstances-and procure accommodations in the payment of duties, the freighting of ships, loading and unloading of goods, &c.-to an extent sufficient to bear down all competition. From all participation of these advantages, the Catholics remain wholly excluded.

Protestant Cor.

porations

tholic Mer

chants and Traders.

2. Commerce and trade must necesinjurious to Ca- sarily be exercised in Cities and towns, These are placed, by law, under the dominion of Protestant corporations composed of persons, filling the offices of Mayors, Aldermen, Sheriffs, Burgesses, Common Council men, &c. &c.Of these persons we have already treated at large.

Ante, ch. 3. P. 98-102

The Catholics, however wealthy, industrious, skilful, intelligent and respectable, are rigidly

Trade.

excluded from all these offices. Hence, the CHAP. X. Protestant merchants and traders possess decided Corporations local advantages over the Catholics-which injurious to fair frequently serve as substitutes for capital skill and industry bestowing factitious credit, personal respect, and undue priority of information. The number of Protestants, thus

favoured, has been shewn to amount to nearly Ante, ch. 2. 4000-in the different Cities and towns of P. 95; &ei Ireland. How severely must Trade be oppressed, and its freedom coerced, in a country, where those persons monopolize all power; influence, and public recommendation-enjoying (at the expence of the community) unquestioned authority, exemption from tolls, preference in the markets, and peculiar favour in all beneficial contracts, within the influence or disposal of the Crown!

chants, Artisans,

Whilst, on the other hand, the Catholic mer- Catholic Merchant, tradesman, artisan, &c. is involved in a &c. aggrieved. continual, but ineffectual, struggle against, not only the general severity of the Anti-Catholic system, but also the peculiar hardships and vexations attached to his lot, in his particular town. He sinks under the pressure of these accumulated burdens. He is debased by the galling ascendancy of privileged neighbours: depressed by partial imposts: undue preferences

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