Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1826-10-02

| followed up the enquiry, and soon discovered
that the general impression amongst the best
l informed citizens OF the Southern States was
| altogether unfavorable to Catholics, upon the
principle that the Catholic religion must pro-
duce effects which would be fatal to our state OF
society and government So lar from condemn
ing those gentlemen, my respect Tor their kind
ness was increased, thought lamented the mis-
| take into which they hadfallen as to our tenets.
and the general character OF our religion. And,
my friends, il our religion was what they were
| led to believe it was, very few, IT any, OF US,
would continue in the communion OF the Holy
! See. More extended travelling gave me an OPP
| portunity Of making more extensive inquiry;
! and every where i'm twelve OF our states, where
/ had the means of knowing pretty accurately
! the general sentiment, have no doubt now up
! on nv mind, that as body we are undervalued
Inv orr fellow-citizens; and that this arises not
/ from any bad feeling on their part, generally,
towards as, but from their mistaking our cha
racter and tenets l believe the great majority
are we'll disposed to meet US with cordial affee-
ton; but fear there are some whose interest
and whose bigotry urge them to keep US estran-
ged from each other.
Having convinced myself ofthe truth of the
facts which have thus stated, my next inquiry
was into their cause. shall give you my opin-
ion and its foundation. have not hastily form
ed it; nor have an unfriendly feeling towards
nv fellow citizens.-These States were British
Colonies now little more than half century
ago. In every one OF them except Pennsylva-
MIA the Penal Laws against Catholics were in
full force, and in most of them they were exc
cuIed with unrelentlng vigour. In Pennsylva-
MIA though the Catholic was not legally peise-
cuted he existed under the moral degradation
which resulted as well from the superior sef-es-
TEEN of the Quaker as from the Protestant view
ing him as his inferior in the mother country &
in the other Colonies Perhaps twill be scarce
ly depression mere to remark that Pennsyl-
vania has been amply repaid for her just benev-
oence. The rapid improvement OF that State
has been generally attributed to the steady, So
Der industry of the Quakers, no one will deny
that they are the prominent figures upon the
canvas, and they no, only will bear inspection,
but at a distance will appear alone; \ ct he who
examines closely, will, behind their large coats
observe much fthe back scenery is concealed,
he will also discover, that the Irish and the
few German Catholics whom their friends sent
to till the back country are found where that
back ground is visible TO be those upon whom
the drudgery devolved; and they are painted,
busily engaged at the plough and with the axe
When The drum called forth the Colcnists to
battle, the Pcnnsyvaniana line was consequent
ly found 10 be principally composed OF Irish
Catholics New-York then had her persecut-
ing law, but since it has been repealed the Irish
Catholics have wrought her up into wealth as
they previously did Pennsylvania.
l shall only state that at the period of the
Revolution the Catholic was by British policy
by British continuance, by British example, and
by British law degraded in every colony, per-
secuted in all but one. The feelings Of nations
do not suddenly or very quickly subside, much
less become altogether diherent.-Only hall q
century mas passed away since this was the case
and it could hardly be expected that all this
feeling could be forgotten by this time. Men,
will always be prone to say, there must have
been some good cause for legal oppression. Do
not mistake me, ] do not intend 10 say that the
excuse will ever hold coed for the oppression
of Protestant by Catholic, Or if so it can on
" be in Spain, but in all other places it is but
reasonable, some philosophers say, to suppose
the Catholic gave cause, OF if he did not the
Pro,estan, thought he did, which is equally sui-
fcent. Now you and probably believe that
no cause was given; but let us concede that
there was cause, and leave TO those who made
and executed the penal laws to settle their &C
counts with just and merciful God. think
we may fairly state this as one cause ofthe pres
ent dis-esteem in which believe we are held
by many of our fellow citizens; it operates ST.
lently, imper ceptibly, but eficacously. 1t re-
solves itself into this solloquy. "My ancestors
was obliged by circumstances to oppresss Cath
olics, my ancestors were good, they could no, be
guilty ofcruelty or of injustice, l have heard
them say there was good cause; for that former
ly Catholics were more dangerous than those
ofthe present day are. We have relieved Them
! am glad of it, il their predecessors had been
as good as those now, the harsh laws would
no, have been necessary, but still there issome-
thing not RICH, about their system " In such
way as this does good heart endeavonr to
indulge lis feelings o. affection for its family &
fer its fellow citizens, but the fame of the fami-
ly requires an imputaton upon the Catholic, s.
we are naturally the sufferers.
Thus that strongest bias to which the human
mind is liable, that bias arising from affection
for ones kindred, respect for the cherished me-
mory of ones immediate ancestors, creates in
good and amiable minds, a powerful though
unsupported prejudice against us. There are
no minds over which this prejudice has more
extensive and a better established dominion