The Columbia Democrat. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1837-1850, 1840-08-08
FROM the Pcnn5y ylyanian Of July %.
MR.. VAN BUREN, AND THE CATH
OLICS.

urday last we published correspondence
between Bishop England and Mr.. Patrick
Sharp Of this city, IN reference 10 an effort
on The part Of MIR. Van Buren, 10 exclude
MIR. Francis Cooper, Catholic, from a
seat in the New York Legislature. The
Bishop, in his letter TO Mr.. Sharp, promis-
ed to give an explanation of the charge in
the United States Catholic Miscellany, the
paper which it was originally published,
in order that it might have equal publicity
with the charge itself.
We find, accordingly in the last number
Of the Miscellany the following statement,
which must efleclually silence those who
have had recourse 10 this mode Of election
eering against Mr.. Van Buren:
RETRACTION.
To the Editor of the u. S. Catholic Mis-
cellany:
Sir have within the last week received
letters from some Of the friends of Mr. Van
Buren, in Pennsylvania, calling upon me TO
explain to the Catholics of that place a
charge made against that gentleman in the
Miscellany of December l4lh, 1888
| have also received letters from the friends
of General Harrison in Ohio, calling upon
me to furnish something on the same sub
Ject, and to give my opinions respecting the
present political contest for the Presidency.
That have my opinions clearly and de-
Cidedly formed as TO what think best for
the country, will not deny: but | must be
excused from entering into any political dis.
QUESTION or giving any other expressions to
my sentiments or opinions, save what may
at the ballot box
My object is now to do an act of Justice
which | ought perhaps long to have done,
but which cannot at present in honor or in
conscience defer, and | do so without any
reference 10 the qualifications of either can
didate for the Presidency, and not seeking
TO promote the views OF either oil the two
great parties in this contest.
The article in the Miscellany, and which
is now going the rounds 81 the press, is the
following:
" 1t is now long time since Mr.. Van
Buren, at the commencement of his poitl-
cal career, sought to exclude Francis Coon.
er, the first Catholic selected by the citl-
zens of New York to their Legislature,
from his seat, because Mr.. Cooper refused
10 take oaths incompatible with his eonsci.
entious convictions; for New York then had
a test oath as qualification for Office, but
the Legislators OF that State ir the case Of
Cooper, left the present Vice President in a
very slender minority; and the offices in
that STATE, as well as the seats in her As
sembly, have since then been open 10 Cath
oIics.'
The above is paragraph from an article
treating of the injustice formerly done 10
the Catolics in some OF our States, which
article hnd, upon examination, was writ
ten by me; and if Mr., Van Buren, has not
been guilty OF the misconduct there describ
ed and denounced, have done him great
injustice.
need not inform you that when wrote
the article did believe him guilty, and up
on what considered excellent grounds.
My authority was the Rev. Michael
Hurley, Of Philadelphia, now dead, but for
mery. "a clergyman doing duty in New y ork. |
and believe at the time that MIR. Cooper
was elected, and after hard struggle, ad- |
nlter to his seat in the Legislature. Mr.. |
Hurley gave me the Information in the wear
1921. also conversed with Nh. Cooper
who is still living, and he confirmed TO me
Mr.. Hully's account. wrote the article
IN December, 1893.
Some time afterwards, | was conversing
Oh the subject with friend of mine, a sun |
porter OF General Jschson's administration.
MIR. Robert Barry, Of Baltimore, since dead. |
who expressed his establishment a, the
charge, and mentioned 10 him my author
lty. lie knew Mr.. Hurley intimately, and
met him, and remarked that NV
was good, if there is no mistake:
and further added the expression of his as.
that Mr.. Hurley never spoke
Of ii TO him. In Two or three davs after.
wards Mr.. Barry met Mr.. Van Buren,, and
asked for an explanation. He then stated
10 me, the result was his conviction that
here must be mistake, for that Mr.. Van
Buren was not at the time in public life, and
did not enter the Assembly of New YORK
until more than year after Mr. CooDer's |
admission, and that Mr.. Van Buren, had al
so assured him, and that he had never On.
posed any man for his religion, Catholic or
Protestant lie told me that he would see |
MIR. Hurley on the subject. However,
had an opportunity Of seeing him before
Mr., Barry had, and reminded him of what
he told me more than thirteen years proyi.
ously. Mr. Hurley told me that my state.
nent was Dpr(ecil,y corrac, -, ,'