The  exclusion  of  papists  is  a  separate  considera-
tion. The  laws  against  popery,  as  far  as  they
are  justifiable,  proceed  upon  principles  with  which
the  author  of  the  Considerations  has  nothing  to
do.  Where,  from  the  particular  circumstances
of  a  country,  attachments  and  dispositions  hostile
and  dangerous  to  the  state,  are  accidentally  or
otherwise  connected  with  certain  opinions  in  reli-
gion, it  may  be  necessary  to  lay  encumbrances
and  restraints  upon  the  profession  or  propagation
of  such  opinions.  Where  a  great  part  of  any
sect  or  religious  order  of  men  are  enemies  to  the
constitution,  and  you  have  no  way  of  distinguish-
ing those  \vho  are  not  so,  it  is  right  perhaps  to
fence  the  whole  order  out  of  your  civil  and  reli-
gious establishment :  it  is  the  right  at  least  of
self-defence,  and  of  extreme  necessity.  But  even
this  is  not  on  account  of  the  religious  opinions
themselves,  but  as  they  are  probable  marks,  and
the  only  marks  you  have,  of  designs  and  princi-
ples which  it  is  necessary  to  disarm.  I  would
observe,  however,  that  in  proportion  as  this  con-
nexion between  the  civil  and  religious  principles
of  the  papists  is  dissolved,  in  the  same  proportion
ought  the  state  to  mitigate  the  hardships  and
relax  the  restraints  to  which  they  are  made  sub-
ject.
