The pilot and transcript. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1840-1841, 1840-11-10

sence, that the whole contributions Of the party
in the city Of Baltimore had not been equal t.
the sum which l had been compelled to advance
from my own private means in support OF the
paper.
But | told them that Il ey had presented this
question in a rev aspect. l did not believe.
with the committee, that my structures on Bish-
op EnglandS conduct would e:.danger the sue
cess of the party. So far from it, believed that
1t was one Of tAe strongest arguments that could
be urged against the election Of Mr. Van Buren,;
but if the committee could satisfy me that Bish-
op England's influence had already reached a
point where it was dangerous to discuss his at
tempt to bring the Catholic Church, as body,
in support of a candidate for the Presidency, it
would become my duty to resist its influence
with all the means in my power. proposed,
however, to disavow for the committee any re-
sponsibility for my editorial course, and drew
up at once a statement to that effect, which they
said was sufficient, inasmuch as it presented the
question fairly to the public.
In the mean time, Bishop England continued
10 iliisb LIS VI
ganized press throughout the country took up
the subject. He wrote electioneering letters, Of
which the following is sample:
The following is the reply of Bishop Eng
land to an invitation to attend public meeting
at Detroit.
FROM THE BISHOP OF CHARLESTON.
CHARLESTON, S. C. Sept. IS, 1910.
Gentlemen-I was yesterday honored with
your invitation of Aug. 20, to meet the Vice
President of the United States, on the 2Sth inst
at Detroit
The compliment which you pay him is one of
those political movements from which | have
kept aloof though am free to confess my opinion
is, that the administration, Of actich he forms so
conspicuous q part, has acted for the benefit Of
oar Union, and does not deserve the Uituperd-
ton aoih aoIich 1t is assaulted
1t may perhaps tend to show the spirit of
some of its opponents, when so humble an indi-
vidual as | am, and for SO many years citizen,
though must confess to the crime OF having
been born in distant land, and of having vol
UNFAIRLY come hitker, dare not express this simple
opinion without being denounced in unmeasured
terms, and the persons whose religion | teach,
threatened with determination if it it be dIscov-
cred that from any cause there shall be found
majority in favor of Mr. Van Buren, in any dis
riot where Catholics are numerous.
have suffered insult and oppression under
tee penal rode against my religion in Ireland and
| came hither flattering myself with the eXpec-
tation that there existed at least freedom of
thought, and liberty for any citizen to express
his opinions that the public officers Of the Union
were not guilty of that mql-administration which
was imputed to them by their competitors.
| have been more than once convinced of my
mistake; and if my religion and its professors ere
to be made the victimsof my imagining that in
~ 1 IL H.. ~. Ill
liberty of political opinions, expression and ac-
ton, wonld far prefer being again in my for
mer position; for the Orangeism in Ireland Is
mercy compared to the insolence OF those who
here insult us by their expressions of kindness
and condescension, whilst they threaten US with
unless we stoop to be their slaves.
am aware, gentlemen, that they who are
thus disposed in our regard, do not form the A
merican people, but knew that they are hume
rous and active, and should regret for the sake
of our republican institutions, that they had the
power to work their will. They would indeed
begin with the Catholics, but others would soon
feel the effects of their success.
take the liberty Of sending you a couple of
papers which will show you the occasion of my
remarks.
have the honor to be, gentlemen,
With great respect,
Your ob't servant,
JOHN, Bishop of Charleston
1t will be seen that he charges that threaten
Catholics with determination, and that he ex-
pressly says that he would prefer TO be back
again in Ireland, to the condition in which he
that he and his religion would be
placed if those whom he thus denounces had
the political power of this country.
Could he have made a stronger appeal to the
passions and prejudIces of those upon whom this
letter was designed to operate? 1t was saying
to them that the Wings were more intolerant
than Orangemen, and that their condition would
be worse in this country than it had been in
Ireland, if Gen. Harrison should be elected
Could words have been used more calculated to
enlist the Catholic Irish in the cause of the ad-
ministration? That you may judge of the tone
of the Catholic press, make short extract
from their paper, published in Boston:
"Duf' Green, man than to whom is not attach
ed a more unenvlable notoriety cannot be found n
the whole length & breadth of the land, vountar-
IL steps forth the assaer Of and not only ISLANDERS
this universally esteemed and venerable Preate
but recklessly launches forth his anthemas on
the whole Catholic community, as deserving not
merely all the penalties of OUTLAWRY, but
as even fit candidates of the FELoNs CELL and
the GIBBET."
esThe Catholics in this country, if until now
they have [been] in doubt as to which of the
parties of the day they may find not only kin
dred sympathy, but a community of feeling and
effort, for the attainment OF those great objects
of all human legislation, equal liberty, equal
rights, and freedom of mind, will now have no
room to hesitate. We think they will not look
tamely on and their pastors villified, their
faith insulted, their characters impeached, or
their persons threatened, eoitho,t spivning icith
just indignation, all fellowship and c0,pierion
tcith such parties as can justify by its patron
age commentators, the authors Of ISLANDERS so
gross and aa,merited, as Duff Green upon
Bishop England and our Holy Religion"
These indications taking with them their
own Interpretation. In former number, have
quoted Webster's definition, to show the dis
tincton between resist and erteYn,inate. That
distinction is so important to right understand