The pilot and transcript. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1840-1841, 1840-11-21

one for the manner in which might conduct it;
| azd that wished i 70 be distinctly understood
that my object was 70 advance the public inter-
ests, regardless of the cligues and under cur
rents by which we were surrounded; aad that in
this view, preferred taking my own private
means TO establish The paper, relying up the
patronage which the public might Voluntarily
give, and therefore released the Committee from
all o5lsglon in relation 70 the press, except the
obligation to support, in good faith, free press
| devoted 70 the advancement % oal common end
| This Interview had the efart Of hsrrlonizng the
! Con- nittees; ard in consequence, they volunta-
r.ly Proposed and adopted resolutions strongly
Recommending the paper lo The patronage Of the
party. This statement is due TO layself, as well
as to . RICH: understanding Of the relation be-
tween the Committee and mys<lL
/ now proceed to state theqac-i0n At issae
between Us, and upon which they have denounced
rae and my paper. At a convention of Bishops
of the Catholic Church, held in this city, they
issued pastoral letter, from which ;he folicw-
ing is al extract:
Beloved Brethren, tee from this conlauliyfa-
ton; Keep aioof from these criIucs-refeet that
Won are accountable, not only t. society, but to
God, Tor the honest, fearless, and independent
exercise ei yHlr OWL franchise; that il is trust
oon6ded e you, not ior YOUR private gain, bnl
ior the public good, and that. il yielding to amy
undue influence, you either through favor OF al
fsetjon or the moivs. Of dishonest gam, against
your own deliberate views Of what viii promote
your country's good, yon have violated your
trust, AL yoa have betrayed yoir conscience,
ana you are 4 renegade 20 your country.
It viii be seen that while this extract asserts
a truth frou which no one will dissent, its loyo<
depends entirely ON It's application. 1t requires
the members OF the Catholic Church 20 vote I'M
der the high obligation OF religious duty; and,
believe, is the iirst attempt in this country to
exercise the power of the Church as political
body. Extracts from the pastoral letter were
extensively circulated through the political
press. Accustomed for years 70 guard the c!ta-
del Of public Liberty with vigilance, ard to cx-
anime well the bearing Of every new proposition
Il looked on in silence, until Bishop England,
the rrpused author O! the pastoral address, came
out openly as the advocate Of the existing ad-
1nirisLration. Under such circumstances could
no. but consider his CoIulAhus letter supple
uent 60 tia pastoral address, and these, taken
together, an open attempt y bring the whole
authority the Church into the field OF politics;
and Speaking upon the subject, said
IF ''fron amy cause, any religious sect should
combine ard throw their weight, III a body,
in behalf OF any Political candidate, it is an
argument why Others, differing with them in
opinion, should oppose the candidate, whom
they may thus combine to support And ii
it should 50 turn OFT that, under the inau-
ence Of bishop England's letter, or any other
cause whatsoever, The Catholics a body, should
unite IN behalf of Mr.. Van Buren,, it will be-
come the duty of every Protestant to unite, not
only to resist Mr. Van Burcn, bat TO resist Cath
olicisln.n
To this Bishep England took great exceptions,
and declared that this proposition 20 resist Cath
olicism as political influence, was proposition
to erte77ri,tate the Catholics, and great excite
J rnent was produced in this city. The Central
! Committee appointed subcommittee to wait
upon me, and was told that they entertained
great approheiisions that the Wing ticket would
be defeated. not only in this city, but throughout
the State, in consequence of my remarks, and
| the relation which bore 10 the party. To this
committee replied, that, in the first place, |
| could not admit any right in the Central Com
rnittee, as such, to call in question the manner
! in which conducted my paper, and protested
| against the form OF proceedings which they hae
! adopted told them that with the members 0
vr-n,,ld Int all
give me pleasure To confer; that they were no
more anxious than / to promote the success o
the ticket, and that 10 member of the commit
tee or OF the party would make greater sacri
fees of money or of feeling to promote it.
took thc liberty Of referring to the past to de
, rnonstrate this, and they admitted, IN my pre-
+, sence. that the whole contributions Of The part
. in the city of Baltimore had not been equal t
: the sum which had been compelled to advanc
? from my own private means in support Of I'll
paper.
But | told them that they had presented thi
question in new aspect. did not believe
with the committee, that my structures on Bis!
? op England's conduct would e:.daHger the sue
cess of the party. So far from it, believed tia
1t was one OF the strongest arguments that eoul
be urged against the election of Mr.. Van Buren,
b,, If the committee could satisfy me that Bish
op England's influence had already reached
: point where it was dangerous to discuss his at
: tempt to bring the Catholic Church, as body
D in support of a candidate for the Presidency,
: would become my duty to resist its infiuenc
j with all the means in my power proposed
c however, to disavow for the committee any re
sponsibility for my editorial course, and dre'
: up at once statement to that effect, which the
: said was sufficient, inasmuch as it presented tn
d question fairly to the public.
0 In the mean time, Bishop England continue
: to illuminate his anathemas against me. His o.
ganized press throughout the country took u
the subject. He wrote electioneering letters,
which the following is sampler