The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1839-09-25

S. q LEAKIN
To Wm. Geo. Read, Timothy Kelly, Basil s. Elder,
Thomas Meredith, and Edward Boyle, Esqrs. Com
mliiee.
BALTIMoRE, Aug. 81. 1899.
SIR-We have lately passed through scenes which
caused me no little socitude for the religious society
under my spiritual jurisdiction, and, as their eccesas
tical organ. take the earliest opportunity, since my
turn from New York, TO express to YOU and those who
so nobly CO operated with you my thanks for the pro-
lection afforded to the Carmelite Convent. This duty,
we owe perhaps more to ourselves than to you For,
in the consciousness of having faithfully and fearessy
discharged high official obligation and in the helpless
sex Of those who claimed your protection You must
find tho proud and ample reco'nPense OF generous
heart.
Il i. with the deepes. grief that have witnessed
these scenes of violence which you called on to
repelscenes but little in accordance with the spirit OF
the Catholic pilgrims who first landed on our shores,
aud offered the open hand Of fellowship to the persecu
cd Of every creed and cline. In Baltimore especially
was not prepared TO expect them, where the very
name Of our city reminds Of the Catholic founder Of
MARYLAND one Of the earliest and trues friends Of civil
and religious liberty Yet it is in this city that we have
witnessed cruel and unmanly attack upon the repu-
tations and peaceful abode Of noensve women, many
Of whom are descended from the first coonists Of Ma
ryland and Who holding still the faith OF Their fathers
have chosen enter religious community and divide
their time between the practices of prayer seifdenla
and the instruction Of youth Connected as they are
for the most part with the oldest and respectable
Catholic families of the State and being unresiraned
in their communications with their friends and rela-
yes they have protectors out Of the Convent and out
Of the Priesthood able and willing to guard their rights
and 10 invoke for lhem If necessary the protection OF
the laws of the State But compassion for the inmates
Of the nunnery was the motive OF the assalans OF
the preses The escape Of an insane member OF their
community whom her companions had watched over
with the affection Of sisters, and who, every body will
now admit, would have been far happier with such
friends than elsewhere. made the preext for direct
mo upon them the most ruthless and terrible violence
from which, under Providence, they have been rescued
mainly BY your prompness and energy. rejoice to
add that every distinction Of party and creed was lost
in the general determination to maintain the rights OF
conscience and the supremacy Of the laws And
should be ungratefnl, il | did not publicly acknow-
LEDGE The obligations which we to the liberal and
lust course pursued generally by the press in the midst
Of those exciting events. | persuaded that tho
manly and upright efforts Of portion Of il had power.
full influence IN resisting the spirit Of persecution and
repellnp the calumnes which were industrously cir
culated in order to influence the public mind and to
urge on the reckless to deeds Of violence.
II would extend this communication unreasonably It
attempted to enumerate the many persons whose
generous exertions under my own observation.
must therefore beg you to convey my thanks TO the
citizens generally, and to those especially who
were personally engaged in the defence Of the Con-
vent, for the protection efficiently afforded in the
hour Of danger.
have the honor to be, sir, very respectfully and
SAMUEL ECcLESToN,
archbishop Of Baitimore.
General s. c. LEAKIN,