24 The Rice Institute Pamphlet
The core of their complaint seems to be contained in the
following two paragraphs taken from the address :
. . . [T]he Roman Catholics of Ireland still remain subject
to severe and humiliating laws, rigidly enforced, universely
felt, and inflicting upon them divers injurious and vexatious
disabilities, incapacities, privations, and penalties, by reason
of their conscientious adherence to the religious doctrines
of their forefathers.
For nearly the entire period of the last twenty years, the
progress of religious freedom has been obstructed; and
whilst other Christian nations have hastened to unbind the
fetters upon religious dissent, the Roman Catholics of Ireland
have remained unrelieved.10
What were some of these unjust laws and penalties in-
flicted upon the Catholics of Ireland? Byron listed a number
in his address : (1) They were not allowed freedom of religion
in the army but were compelled to attend Protestant services.
(2) The Church could not purchase land in Ireland upon
which to construct its buildings of worship; instead, it was
compelled to lease land from the laity. This practice sub-
jected tire Church entirely to the whim of the landlord, who
might terminate the lease at will. (3) Irish Catholics could
never have full benefit of trial by jury until permitted to share
the privilege of serving as sheriffs and undersheriffs. (4) The
laws which were passed in favor of the CathoHcs were, in
many cases, rendered nugatory by the evasive action of the
administrative officers. (5) Cathofics were not permitted to
endow foundations for the education of the priesthood with-
out being subjected to the interference of the Orange Com-
missioners for Charitable Donations.
The remainder of the address was concerned with certain
minor abuses, bitter denunciations of the “vipers of intoler-
ance,” and regrets that subjection of a people stifles so many
talents and useful resources. He concluded by stating that
his opinion, as his vote, was in favor of the measure.11