The pilot and transcript. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1840-1841, 1840-11-05

The City Committee having required the State
Central Committee to fulfil the obligations which
| the old Committee had contracted with me, a
subcommittee appointed to wait upon me,
and ascertain what those obligations were. To
this Committee l said, that my desire to
harmonic the action of the party; that intend
ed to do all in my power to promote 1t; that l
regretted to find jealousies, private views and
distrust existing; that for my own part 1 par
took of none, and would not become the instru-
ment Of either; that the paper would be free and
independent; that would be responsible to no
one for the manner in which might conduct it;
and that wished it to be distinctly understood
that my object was to advance the public inter
ests, regardless of the clques and under cur
rents by which we were surrounded; and that in
this view, preferred taking my own private
means to establish the paper, relying upon the
patronage which the public might voluntarily
give, and therefore released the Committee from
all obligation in relation to the press, except the
obligation to support, in good faith, free press,
devoted to the advancement of our common end
This interview had the effect of harmonizing the
Committees; and in consequence, they volunta-
recommending the paper to the patronage of the
party. This statement is due to myself, as well
to right understanding of the relation be-
tween the Committee and myself
now proceed to state the question at issue
between Us, and upon which they have denounced
me and my paper. At convention of Bishops
of the Catholic Church, held in this city, they
issued pastoral letter, from which the follow
ing is an extract:
Beloved Brethren, flee from this contamna-
ton; keep alooG froid these crimes-rchect that
YOU accountable. not only to society, but to
God, for the homes, fearless, and independent
exercise Of your franchise; that it is a trust
conhded to you, not for your private gain, but
for the public good, and that, il yielding TO any
undue influence, you either through favor or al
felton, or the motive OF dishonest gain, against
your own deliberate views of what will promote !
your country's good, yen have violated your
trust, and You have betrayed Your conscience, |
and you are renegade to your country
1t will be seen that while this extract asserts |
a truth from which no one will dissent, its force
depends entirely its application. 1t requires |
the members of the Catholic Church to vote I'M
der the high obligation of religious duty; and, |
believe, is the first attempt in this country to
exercise the power of the Church as a political
body. Extracts from the pastoral letter were
extensively circulated through the political
press. Accustomed for years to guard the cita-
del of public liberty with vigilance, and to ex-
anime we'll the bearing of every new proposition
i looked on in silence, until Bishop England,
the reputed author of the pastoral address, came
out openly the advocate Of the existing adj
ministraton. Under such circumstances could
not but consider his Columbus letter supple
ment to the pastoral address, and these, taken
together, open attempt to bring the whole
authority Of the Church into the field of politics;
: and speaking upon the subject, said
If ''from any cause, any religious sect should
l combine and throw their weight, In 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 if
it should so turn out that, under the inAu-
ence of Bishop England's letter, or any other
cause whatsoever,'th Catholics as 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 Dir. Van Buren,, but to resist Cath
Olicism."
To this Bishop England took great exceptions,
and declared that this proposition to resist Cath
olicism as political inlusnce, was a proposition
to ertsT7ilinate the Catholics, and great excite
ment was produced in this city. The Central
Committee appointed subcommittee to wait
upon me, and was told that they entertained
great apprehensions 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 to the party. To this
committee replied, that, IN the first place, |
could not admit any right in the Central Com
mittee, as such, to call in question the manner
in which conducted my paper, and protested
against the form Of proceedings which they had
adopted. told them that with the members of
the committee individually it would at all times
give me pleasure to confer; that they were not
more anxious than l to promote the success of
the ticket, and that member of the commit
tee or OF the party would make greater sacri-
hces OF money or Of feeling to promote it.
took the liberty of referring to the past to de-
monstrate this, and they admitted, in nv pre-
sence, that the whole contributions of the partv
IN the city of Baltimore had not been equal to
the sum which had been compelled to advance
from my own private means in support of the
paper
; But told them that IL ey had presented this
E question in new aspect. did not believe.
with the committee, that my structures On Bsh
op Engiand's conduct would e.danger the sue
cess oil the party. So far from it, believed that
1t was one OF the strongest arguments that could
De urged against the election of MIR. Van Buren,
Dut u the committee could satisfy me that Bish-
op Engiand's influence had already reached
point where it was dangerous to discuss his at
tempt to bring the Catholic Church, as a BODY.