legiflature. Such an extrinfic power, acting with uniform force in a direction too frequently oppofite to the true line of our obvious interefts, can be refifted with effect folely by unanimity, decifion and fpirit in the people, qualities which may be exerted most legally, conftitutionally and efficaciously, by that great meature effential to the profperity and freedom of Ireland-AN EQUAL REPRESENTATION OF ALL THE PEOPLE IN PARLIAMENT. We do not here mention as grievances, the rejection of a place-bill,-of a penfion bill, of a refponfibility-bill,-the fale of peerages in one house, the corruption publicly avowed in the other, nor the notorious infamy of borough traffic between both ;-not that we are infenfible of their enormity, but that we confider them as but fymptoms of that mortal disease which corrodes the vitals of our conftitution, and leaves to the people, in their own government, but the shadow of a name. IMPRESSED with thefe fentiments, we have agreed to form an affociation, to be called THE SOCIETY OF UNITED IRISHMEN: and we do pledge ourfelves to our country, and mutually to each other, that we will steadily fupport, and endeavour by all due means to carry into effect the following refolu tions: I. RESOLVED, That the weight of English influence in the government of this country is fo great, as to require a cordial union among ALL THE PEOPLE OF IRELAND, to maintain that balance which -is effential to the prefervation of our liberties and the extenfion, of our commerce. II. THAT the fole conftitutional mode by which this influence can be oppofed, is by a complete and radical reform of the reprefentation of the people in parliament. III. THAT no reform is practicable, efficacious, or just, which shall not include Irishmen of every religious perfuafion. SATISFIED, as we are, that the inteftine divifions among Irishmen have too often given encourage. ment and impunity to profligate, audacious and corrupt administrations, in measures which, but for thefe divifions, they durft not have attempted; we fubmit our refolutions to the nation as the basis of our political faith. WE have gone to what we conceive to be the root of the evil; we have ftated what we conceive to be the remedy. With a parliament thus reformed, every thing is eafy; without it, nothing can be done : And we do call on and most earnestly exhort our countrymen in general to follow our example, and to form fimilar focieties in every quarter of the kingdom, for the promotion of conftitutional knowledge, the abolition of bigotry in religion and politics, and the equal diftribution of the rights of man through all fects and denominations of Irishmen. The people, when thus collected, will feel their own weight, and fecure that power which theory has already admitted as their portion, and to which, if they be not aroufed by their prefent provocations to vindicate it, they deserve to forfeit their pretenfions FOR EVER! To the principal inhabitants of the Town of Belfast. GENTLEMEN, AS MEN, and as IRISHMEN, we have long lamented the degrading state of flavery and oppreffion in which the great majority of our countrymen, the ROMAN CATHOLICS, are held-nor have we lamented it in filence-we wish to fee all diftinctions on account of religion abolished-all narrow, partial maxims of pòlicy done away. We anxiously wish to see the day when every IRISHMAN fhall be a citizen-when Catholics and Proteftants, equally interested in their Country's welfare, poffeffing equal freedom and equal privileges, fhall be cordially UNITED, and fhall learn to look upon each other as brethren, the children of the fame God, the natives of the fame land-and when the only ftrife amongst them fhall be-who fhall ferve their country beft. Thefe, gentlemen, are our fentiments, and these we are convinced are yours, WE, therefore, request a general meeting of the principal inhabitants at the town-houfe, on Saturday next, at noon, to confider of the propriety of a Petition to Parliament, in favour of our Roman Catholic Brethren. We are, Gentlemen, your most obedient Servants, Thos. M'Donnell Robert Thompson Thos. Neilfon Hu. M'Ilwain Robert Hunter Sam. M'Clean John Graham Wm. Bryfon John Tifdall Hugh Crawford AT a Meeting of the BELFAST READING SOCI ETY, January 27, 1792, the following refolutions were unanimously agreed to: I. RESOLVED, That civil and religious liberty is the birth-right of every human being; that Governments were formed to fecure them in the poffeffion of this right, and that states fhould be regulated fo as to protect them in the exercise of it. II. THAT doctrines of faith, and modes of worfhip can neither give nor take away the rights of men; because opinion is not the object of govern ment; because the mode of expreffing religious worship fhould be left to the judgment of God, and the decifion of confcience; and because perfecution, however it be difguifed, is deftructive of the equality of men, and the most facred laws of nature. III. That while we rejoice with every virtuous and enlightened mind, at the rapid progrefs which these principles have lately made, and the illuftrious events to which their happy influence have given birth-events, which are the proudest boast of human nature, and which will fupply hiftory with ornaments unknown to former ages;-it is with inexpreffible regret that we behold their circumfcribed operation in this our native land. IV. THAT Ireland can never deferve the name of a free state, while a great majority of her inhabitants enjoy the rights of citizens in fo partial a manner; while they are totally governed by the will of others; in a word, while they are unjustly excluded from all fhare in the making and the administration of the laws under which they live. V. In fine, it is our most fervent wish, that the nation would call for their deliverance, with a voice fo temperate as to excite no tumult, fo affectionate as to conciliate the hearts of all, but fo UNITED, and fo POWERFUL as to carry conviction to every fource of legislation. RESOLVED, That the above refolutions be published in the Belfast Papers. JAMES M'CORMICK, CHAIRMAN. BELFAST MEETING, ON THE ROMAN CATHOLIC QUESTION. JANUARY 28. 1792. IN confequence of a requifition, figned by fiftythree inhabitants, for a meeting of this town, to confider of the propriety of a Petition to Parliament, IN BEHALF OF THE ROMAN CATHOLICS OF IRELAND the greateft affembly was held this day that we ever recolle&t here, if we except the Celebration of the French Revolution, on the 14th of July laft. As the numbers that appeared could not be accommodated in the Town-houfe, an adjournment took place from thence to the New MeetingHouse, the galleries and ground floor of which, tho' very extenfive, were much crouded. THE REVD. SINCLARE KELBURN was called unanimously to the chair, in which fituation he prefided with the utmost propriety; and, by a knowledge of the rules observed in all regulated popular affemblies, he procured perfect order and regularity. MR. JOHN HOLMES, after a prefatory fpeech in favour of a liberation of the Roman Catholics, from the impolitic and ruinous fyftem of penal laws, and from their other incapacities, moved for the appointment of a Special Committee, in order to draw up fuch a Petition to Parliament as would probably produce an unanimous vote, and unite the whole inhabitants of this town in one general fupplication in behalf of their brethren of the Catholic perfuafion ;---and further, that it should be an inftruction to that Committee to make the following words THE PRAYER of the Petition---the preamble and body of the Petition to be modelled according to the fpirit and meaning of the Prayer: "We therefore pray, that the Legislature may "be pleased to repeal, from time to time, and as Speedily as the circumstances of the country, and "the general welfare of the whole kingdom will permit, all PENAL and RESTRICTIVE ftatutes at prefent in existence against the Roman Catholics "of Ireland; and that they may тHUS be restored "to the rank and confequence of Citizens, in every "particular." 66 * That part of the prayer marked in Italics, fhews what was afterwards expunged by a majority. |