count of his being a leader in opposition or administration. Permit me now, Mr. Chairman, to return my most grateful thanks to you and this assembly, for the patience with which I have been heard, the honour which has been conferred upon me, and the indignation which has been evinced against an infamous assassin, who has attempted to surprise and calumniate a man, who had devoted near thirty years of his life for the purpose of breaking the chains of his countrymen. No. VI. Resolutions of the Roman Catholic Prelates in 1799. At a meeting of the Roman Catholic prelates, held in Dublin the 17th, 18th, and 19th of January, 1799, to deliberate on a proposal from government, of an independent provision for the Roman Catholic clergy of Ireland under certain regulations, not incompatible with their doctrine, discipline, or just principles:- It was admitted, that a provision through government for the Roman Catholic clergy of this kingdom, competent and secured, ought to be thankfully accepted. That, in the appointment of the prelates of the Roman Catholic religion to vacant sees within the kingdom, such interference of government as may enable it to be satisfied of the loyalty of the person appointed, is just, and ought to be agreed to. That, to give this principle its full operation, without infringing the discipline of the Roman Catholic church, or diminishing the religious influence, which prelates VOL. II. b of that church ought justly to possess over their respective flocks, the following regulations seem necessary : 1st. In the vacancy of a see, the clergy of the diocese to recommend, as usual, a candidate to the prelates of the ecclesiastical province, who elect him, or any other they may think more worthy, by a majority of suffrages:-in the case of equality of suffrages, the metropolitan or senior prelate to have the casting vote. 2d. In the election of a metropolitan, if the provincial prelates do not agree within two months after the vacancy, the senior prelate shall forthwith invite the surviving metropolitans to the election, in which each will then have a vote:-in the equality of suffrages, the presiding metropolitan to have a casting vote. 3d. In these elections, the majority of suffrages must be, ultra medietatem, as the canons require, or must consist of the suffrages of more than half the electors. 4th. The candidates so elected, to be presented by the president of the election to government, which, within one month after such presentation, will transmit the name of the said candidate, if no objection be made against him, for appointment to the holy see, or return the said name to the president of the election, for such transmission as may be agreed on. 5th. If government have any proper objection against such candidates, the president of the election will be informed thereof within one month after presentation; who in that case will convene the electors to the election of another candidate. Agreeably to the discipline of the Roman Catholic church, these regulations can have no effect without the sanction of the holy see; which sanction the Roman Catholic prelates of this kingdom shall, as soon as may be, use their endeavours to procure. The prelates are satisfied, that the nomination of parish priests, with a certificate of their having taken the oath of allegiance, be certified to government. Richard O'Reilly. P. J. Plunkett. Daniel Delany. James Caulfield. J. T. Troy. F. Moylan. Edmund French. John Cruise. Subsequent Resolution of the Roman Catholic Electors. The prelates assembled to deliberate on a proposal from government of a provision for the clergy, have agreed, that M. R. Doctor O'Reilly, M. R. Doctor Troy, and R. R. Doctor Plunkett, and such other of the prelates who may be in town, be commissioned to transact all business with government relative to said proposal, under the substance of the regulations agreed on and subscribed by them. Thomas Bray. Edward Dillon. F. Moylan. Daniel Delany. Dublin, 28th January, 1799. James Caulfield. John Cruise. No. VII. At a meeting of the Roman Catholic prelates, assembled in Dublin, on the 25th Feb. 1810, the following resolutions had been unanimously adopted : 1. Resolved, that it is the undoubted and exclusive right of Roman Catholic bishops to discuss all matters appertaining to the doctrines and discipline of the Roman Catholic church. 2. Resolved, that we do hereby confirm and declare our unaltered adherence to the resolutions unanimously entered into at our last general meeting, on the 14th September, 1808. 3. Resolved, that we are convinced, that the oath of allegiance framed and proposed by the legislature itself, and taken by us, is not only adequate security for our loyalty, but that we know of no stronger pledge that we can possibly give. 4. Resolved, that having disclaimed upon oath all right in the Pope or any other foreign potentate to interfere in the temporal concerns of the kingdom, an adherence to the practice observed in the appointment of Irish Roman Catholic prelates cannot tend to produce an undue or mischievous exercise of any foreign influence whatsoever. 5. Resolved, that we neither seek nor desire any other earthly consideration for our spiritual ministry to our respective flocks, save what they may, from a sense of religion and duty, voluntarily afford us. 6. Resolved, that an address, explanatory of these our sentiments, be prepared and directed to the Roman Catholic clergy and laity of Ireland, and conveying such further instruction as existing circumstances may seem to require. No. VIII. Resolutions of the Irish Catholic Laity against At a meeting of the General Committee of the Catholics of Ireland, held at D'Arcy's, in Earl Street, on the 2d of March, 1810, LORD FFRENCH in the Chair, The Most Rev. Doctor Murray read to the Committee a written communication from the Catholic prelates of Ireland. It was unanimously resolved, That the thanks of the Committee are due, and are hereby given, to the Most Rev. and Right Rev. the Catholic prelates of Ireland, for the communication now made to us through the Most Rev. Doctor Murray and the Rev. Doctor Hamill. That the thanks of the meeting are due, and are hereby given, to the Most Rev. Doctor Murray and the Rev. Doctor Hamill, for making the communication, That, as Irishmen, and as Catholics, we never can consent to any dominion or control whatsoever over the appointment of our prelates on the part of the crown, or the servants of the crown. That the thanks of the Committee are hereby given to Daniel O'Connell, Esq. for the faithful discharge of the duty of secretary. FFRENCH, Chairman.. |