The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1809-10-03

DeseartcS, DcsprcauS, rcne,or, Cables, @a.sen-
di, HoubigaRt, Halebrsnche. Massilor. Nicoe,
Pope. Pascal, Racine, Winslow, Winkclman.
&c al sincere Catholics but to speak serio,Sly,
il is pleasant; To lose ourselves in such brill snt
company.
FAUST add, that ia Wishing to undeceiye lis in
regsx. to what you call ereiu!ices you err in the
choice OF means for conviction can only be the
effect OF reasoning man cannot detach HI alice
ton from the object most dear to him, unless tie
motives that support 1t are destroyed. But it
injuries that revolt are substituted tor arguments
that convince, we are sure To strengthen the al
hesion TO principles which are rooted in the mind
and the heart. If to convert Mus Sulman, in
s.ead OF proving to hun that Mahonet was an
inpostor, should commence by placing before
his eyes picture in which the Coran and the
Crescent were trampled under foot, his heart EN-
Uttered would cloud his understanding, and
prevent all access to nv attempts. Apply these
reflections to the true religion, and see II YOU
have not failed entirely in dePlorsbe design.
Persecution, my dear Barlow, does not consist
only IN exiting, incarceratng. and disseminating
men; Julian invented riDre cunning not less cru
eivexations. They have been refined among us
at the end ofthe eig..,oet.th century, in harassng
and decorating tic Catholics without cessation
by repeated IsYectives, by multitude OF those
little means, whose application was continual tor
,urc s'npioUs verses, songs, epigranS, carica-
tupes, every thing WAS made use oi-You are We
them IN any thing Your engraving is an offence
against the freedom of religion a sort of perse-
cution which your heart d,Ssvows reelection
will bring Oh regret. Believe me, my friend, that
these injured Catholcks will not make use OF re-
pr'ssls true plety opens her bosom to erring
brethren, without opening 1t to error 10 ep'ighr-
en- them she places The torch OF truth in the band
of charity. Having but moment to exist IN this
world, we should love our ieliowmeR, be be-
ncvolent towards all, whatever may be their fe-
ligion, their color or their country Jesus Christ
has given both precept and example IN their
turn; he displayed alternately lirmness and good
ness towards the Pharisees ms parable OF the
Samaritan is perpetual Judgment against per
secutors
Ifyou should say further, that France offers
examples worthy of condemnation, aad that pre-
vlous to censuring an American, my zeal should
be eXerci ed to convert my cOuntrymen.; far
from weakening the obi seton, would fortify it.
would say, that, IN coGAtry where SO many
truths have returned to their wells, we print
ed and circulated freely the obscene poetry of a
member of the national sttute, and the rhapso-
dies OF romance writers, who serve up atresh I'M.
pieties so many times re!sted. would say too,
that, without respect to the first body of the
state, which oughC to give an example Of decen-
cy, immortality is authorised, by psopling the
garden of the palace with hcentious statues, to
such degree that virtuouS mothers dare not con-
duct their children thither.
You see that l am far from avoiding object
ons; but by my disapprobat;on OF I'm offence, IL
which have no share, and against which my col
hague Laniunais protested vainly in full SEN
ate. tho lph with the general assent Of the sena-
tors, l have reserved to myself the right OF tel
ling you that to recrirnnate is not to answer
and that what might he alledged as AN example TO
follow, Cannot be but abuse to reform
GOrani observes that the RIGHTEOUSNESS OF paint
ing and sculpture had exercised disastrous IN
q IL ar,,ls off He
arts had drawn away sound minds ir'n useful
and necessary studies, had depraved their man
ners, euervated their courage, and tomented the
most hateful vices When public shame IS
tinct, do not expect to preserve the private Vr-
tues and when religion is publicly insulted,
il is wound TO morality, a national calamity.
Many times have ] repented having employed
so nany efforts to defend the arts and those who
cultivate them against Vandalism not that those
arts which are called JIHs, and winch ale aot al
ways gsod, are bad in their very nature but,
almost always they are tlatterers and coruptsrE,
which by an iuconceivablc fatality, precede,
bring on, escort, and follow deprivation, Even
in his time the illustrious GersonS complained
OF it, to whom France owes a monument, and
whom she has almost forgotten he was griey-
ed to see scandalous pictures, and lihiiinous
work, the Romance Of the Ross, expose 10 the
eyes of youth. At the moment / am wr!.'n3, we
are mcnaced with new edition OF 1t.
What will be the fruit of nv reInonstrancc !!
You are not one OF those men who are afraid 10
acknowledge that you are wrong. man is al
ways honorcd in doing act OF reparation.
appeal to your loyalty, to your dellcacy. hls is
to put you at strife with yourself.
Ny soul is oppressed IN iinIn:; cause ofblame
in man, in whom see so much to praise. Your
character is not degraded by meanness, like that
the greater part Of your brethren the poets :
you have not prostituted your talents to- aduat-
on; do not tarnish them by lncredulty, nor by a
sort of persecution. Placed at the sylmm,t of the
American Parnsssus, creditor OF glory, you
have sung in beautiful verses that liberty you de-
Tended with your arms 81 you came 10 lender
her homage at the bar otthe national convention,
where, IS president, l answered ia mAuner
l1hat accorded with the principles you proclaim
ed Our hearts were in unison.
The true foundation of political liberty is in
the gos gel for it perpetuaiy reminds men, that
having all proceeded from the same stock
they compose only one family that there exists
among them, not sbeeie. .frekatioash.D as has
been SAID in wei! known work, but a real con
sanguinity, whose bond is indestruclble. The
gospel increasingly inculcates on men spiri,
OF charity and fraternal sentiments. The chris
tan religion would be perverted and disguised,
If it were subordinate To the caprices of rulers
and the passions but we'll understood and right
ly practlscd it is the most Cerlaia guerantec Of
the purity Of puolic and private manners-Under
It's wings my friend, your state of society was
raised and consolidated, aud the domestic vir-
tues heTeditar!J Transmitted IT is 10 that With
out doubt, that YOU owe, among other advanla-
ges, that of having wife gifted with many
rare utial i. es and nestimabic virtues. Ingral-
tude alone cou'., mistake the benefits Of this au-