CORPORATION AND TEST ACTS. (Hansard, 6 February 1828)

§ Mr. W. Smith

presented a petition from the Roman Catholic inhabitants of Kilmain, praying for Catholic Emancipation. He begged to embrace that opportunity of disclaiming, on the part of the Dissenters of England, any junction with the Roman Catholics of Ireland; and, at the same time, distinctly to disavow any hostility, on their part, to the claims of the latter. An incautious and unauthorized paragraph had found its way into the newspapers, which had created the supposition now contradicted by him. For himself, he had voted in favour of that question on every occasion; and he should continue to do so. But with respect to the Dissenters, their case had been under consideration, and they had been advised by their friends to stand on a different ground from the Catholics. The position in which the two parties were placed was, in fact, 125 the same. The grand argument of both was, that no man's civil and religious liberties ought to be kept separate; yet as, owing to circumstances, the case of the Dissenters was peculiar, it was thought better that they should keep apart from the Catholics. But, whether carried separately or in union, it was his settled opinion, that the success of both was essential to the safety and well-being of the state.

Mr. Denison

presented a similar petition from Clapham. One third of the subscribers thereto were, he said, members of the church of England, and amongst them was a clergyman of that church. The hon. member for Norwich had stated, that the Dissenters were unwilling to make common cause with the Catholics. Whether they were right or wrong in so doing, he would not give an opinion; but he was quite sure that the whole kingdom ought to unite hand and heart, in endeavouring to obtain a repeal of the Test and Corporation acts, and of all penal restrictions upon religious liberty. There could be neither tranquillity in Ireland nor safety to England until the point was carried; and he entirely agreed with the hon. member who had said, that the House should grant it while it would be received as a boon, instead of waiting until it should be extorted from them in a moment of danger.