Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1835-06-19
THE POPISLI PLOT

~ ''S '"''' u''e 70 s"uu" uic wings WIN The
THE POPISH PLOT
we owe an apology To worthy Correspondents for
inc delay which has taken place in the publication Of the
following Communication 1t was received in the of.
nee, while the Senior Editor from homeland since
his reurn it has been postponed in consequence of va
nous engagemens.-He laws il before the public-
WIN such explanations as the subject seems TO demand
We arc sure our Correspondent is liberal in his prin-
cpes to make objection 10th SIDES being heardand
he is too great Friend to Truth, ,ceL as to LiJeru
not TO wish the question to be fully and fairly developed
We are further prompted to this course by the isre
presentations which, learn still aioat in other
quarters upon the subject of this Correspondence.
TO TIE EDITORS or THE ENQUIRER
Having lately noticed in some of the public prints
criticisms or structures letter said to have been writ
ten by Mr. Van Buren, whilst he Secretary of State
to Mr. Cicognani, American Consul at Rome in reply TO
two letters, written by the latter to the formcrLGnd
also having noticed in the Enquirer some remarks ON
tat suplcct made by yourselves, with view Of excul
pating Mir Van Buren, from the charge of npropriey of
motiven writing the letter alluded to, take the liberty
10 say mat notwithstanding those remarks any thing
else have in vndicaton of Mr. Van Buren, there
yet remains in my humble estimation nj least degree
OF obscurity mystery hanging over that letter which
is very far from being satisfactorily exclaimed In tLe
hrst place. would remark, that. understanding as
/ do, there were nc particular relations ex;sns b
tween the two Governments there is difficulty in ap-
pretending the true cause, which produced or led 10
the correspondence in question. Was it merely a
wish TO indulge in the idle ceremony of bandyng com
piments between functionarics of tile two goyernmens7
should imagine not least The part of the Pope or as
Mt Hr. van Burn styles him The head of great and
Christian Church. 1t would be too dleAfor hm-Ifs So
1t follows that there specific object aimed M
and what was that object The letter of Mr. Ccornan;
rs skingy peculiar in of its traitsit sets forth
the very favorable sentiments Of the Pope towards te
American Government and Nation. And after stating
how much the Pope is graied at learnin0 tat L;e e
pie and Church receive the protection of this Govern.
ment, lie, the writer, wishes know what sentimenie
Mr. Van Buren, might think proper to recprocate for
those very favorable sentiments expressed by the Pope
towards this Government and naon--and he Mr. ii.
cognan wishes further to be made the areter of those
sentiments 10 tie Popcal at the instance of the Pope
his Secretary of State as may be reasonably nresnn
ed Now let me ask, what influence can be nationally
drawn as to the object of This enquiry the sen-
ments OF this Government and the people towards The
PoPe' Can any person, acquainted with the history
OF the Roman Catholic Church and people, and the
zeal with which they propagate their doctrines and on
deayer to extend their power and influence both no;t
caly and enthusiastically, wherever they can get otng
TO The utmost extent avoid suspcc:ing and believing
that the object OF this inquiry the part Of the Pope
was to ascertain what prospects existed in this country
for planting The PoPish standard and extending its in
ence hcrcf Mr.. Van Buren, not ignorant of the
character Of the Roman Catholic Church In this respec
presume; and also knew that u.s. and always las been
the sworn enemy to Republican Institutions and human
liberty IN every shape and form-And if So did IL be-
hooye him. occupying the elevated station which he then
did in our Government TO give an answer conched in
terms atterng and well calculated TO encourage
the Pope 70 all the in his power TO extend Tie
influence and spread Of Catholicism in this country
Could he indeed, have written letter couched n ieins
more hattenng or more encouraging Aficf rcoucet
ing Mr. CicognaBi 10 prOcatc the kind fccIinpa
Of the Pope, in the full extent and spirit, and re-
qnesting him 10 seek the earliest opportunity to do
SO, be goes on to inform him that his Church occupies
the same elevated ground in this country which every
other Christian Church does and that Religious freedom
IS fully guaranteed and secured TO all denominations Of
Christians, without coercion in any possible shapcnot
only by the Constitution Of the United States but by
the Constitution Of each individual Slate i'm the Tfnon
As much as TO say To the Pope in Whatever part of this
land Of Freedom--thi3 wide-c xended Contincnt--in
whiclisoever Of these many United States you may
choose to uniur your banner and plant the standard of
PoPey you will end in al and throughout free and am
pie scope for all your zeal and all your energies "ith
out coercion in any possible shape" AL this NAV be-
and is very true indeed but where the necessity Of
Mr.. Van Buren's writing in style hatternq, Ave,
and in being minute and particular. too, unless he
really intended wished to favor the scheme Of extend
ing the influence Of Popery in this country or had
other motive for doing other than writing in the usual
style Of etiquette
il is fact Messrs Editors Of which pcrhapsyou may
not be appriscd, That large portion Of the Proesans Of
THIS country have, for spne time past, viewed with
feelings Of Jealousy and alarm, the efforts which have