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to her own laws her Churches and Chapels are licensed by her own Ordinaries, and dispensations when required emanate from the Archbishops of Canterbury or York. Jews and Quakers I believe are free to marry according to their peculiar ceremonies, or were till recently. Protestants, Dissenters, Roman Catholics, and the indifferent masses are under a law binding in all respects the local allegiance. That such should be the case until the end quarter of this century, Roman Catholics were under such heavy disabilities is not astonishing, and argument is supported by similar laws in other portions of Her Majesty's dominions, and a very small minority have not protested and agitated for relief is no reason which should not do so. As a fact the Roman Catholic Church has always and everywhere protested and protected against any law that interferes with her freedom of action in respect of the administration of the Sacraments, and therefore the argument that similar laws or more severe prevail in other Catholic countries, is no argument against our demand for Justice. That unjust or oppressive laws prevail elsewhere is no reason for maintaining them here.
The English Government to its honour has always refused to recognize the extension of the penal laws against Catholics to the Colonies. It has proclaimed throughout its wide dominions the principle of toleration of all religions, and a scrupulous regard for the rights of conscience. It extends its toleration to every religion...