The pilot and transcript. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1840-1841, 1840-11-09
DEMOCRACY - AMERICA-SE-
COND PART.
BY DE TocQUEvILLE.

by the controversy, in which we find ourselves
engaged, that quote them by way OF Illus
tration. Loving liberty for the sake of liberty,
and resisting oppression, in whatever shape it
may assume, it has been our lot to experience
the truth, which he asserts in the following:
esThe fact that he political laws of the Anne
ricans are such, that The majority rules the COM
munity with sovereign sway, materially increas-
es the power, which that authority naturally
exercices over the mind"
Again
ssThus, intellectual authority will be differ
emit but it will not be diminished, and far from
thinking that it would disappear, | Gugur that
1t may readily acquire too much prepOnde1
a1icc, and con2fne the action Of Private jttdg-
n1ent trithin Kd'TOtcer limits than are suited
either to the greatness OF to the happiness of
the human race. In the principle of equality,
/ very clearly discover tive tendencies: the one
leading the mind of every to untried
thoughts, the other inclined to prohibit him from
thinking at GU under the dominion of certain
laws, democracy toould ertingttiSh that liberty
efthe mind to Schich democratic social con-
ditiOR is fa10Td6Ie; SO that after having broken
all the bondage once imposed upon it by ranks
or by men, the human mind acoald be closely
.tettered to the general aciH Qthe greater
ber.n
We have said that these remarks of this en-
hghtened philosopher applicable to the matter
in issue between the Central Committee and
ourselves. Look at the case. This Committee
were composed of respectable individuals, :epre
sentlng party who were contending for free
dom of opinion, and freedom of political action.
They had induced the Editor, under assurances
of support, to establish this paper, with a dis
tinct understanding between them that it was to
L. Il
the vague apprehension that the party might be
injured by the expression of opinions, for which
they were not responsible, they deemed 1t expe-
dent to denounce the paper, which they were
pledged to support, although it is believed that
they individually concur in the opinions de-
nounced Could there be a stronger illustration
of De Tocqueville's proposition that ''the ma
jority may readily acquire too much preponder-
ance, ana confine the action of private judg-
ments within narrower limits than are suited
either TO the greatness the happiness Of the
human race"
But il these remarks were applicable 10 our
selves alone, we would quietly submit to the
injustice, which has been done US, as has been
our wont to do 1t will be remembered that the
offence, which provoked the censure of the
Committee, proposition to discuss here
after the question raised by Bishop England's
interference in the political questions of the
day. De Tocqueville is, we believe, Catho-
lie. He is a philosopher, and his work will
become the standard by which Europeans, most
favorable to public liberty, will fern their OPT
mons of our institutions. New hear what he
says upon the progrc IS Of the Catholic religion
In this country:
In his 9Th oh. he treats Of the manner in which
religion in the United States avails itself of de
mocratic tendencies, and says:
81 have laid it down in preceding chapt er,
that men cannot do without dogmatical bell eff;
and even that it is very much to be desired that
such belief should exist among them. now add,
that of all the kinds of dogmatical belief, the
most desirable appears TO me to be dogmatcal
belief in matters OF religion"
And again he says:
This, then, is the subject on which it is
most important for each Of us to entertain fixed
ideas, and, unhappy, it is also the subject on
which it is most difficult for each Of US, left to
himself, to settle his opinions by the sole force of
his reason. None but minds singularly free from
the ordinary anxieties Of life, minds at once pen
etrating, subtle, and trained by thinking, can,
even with the assistance Of much time and care,
ound the depths of these most necessary truths"
And again:
teStudies of this nature are far above the
average capacity of men; and even if the ma
Jor1ty of mankind were capable of such pursuits,
it is evident that leisure to cultivate them would
still be wanting. Fixed ideas of God and human
nature indispensable TO the daily practice of
mems lives; but the practice OF their lives pre-
vents them from acquiring such ideas"
10 aJe-to hat
respecting God and human nature are therefore
the ideas above all others, which it is most suit
able withdraw from the habitual action of pri
! vate judgment, and in which there is most to
gain and least to lose by recognising principle
of authority"
We beg the reader to bear in mind that De
Tocqueville is statesman and philosopher
Thatthe charge against Bishop England is, that
he is an emissary of the Holy Alliance, who de-
sres to overthrow our republican institutions, by
ENGRAVING upon them the Catholic religion. The
only argument which has been adduced to quiet
the apprehension of Protestants, is that it is ridi-
culous, because it is impossible. Now hear
what De Tocquevile says of this subject. What
he says is so very important that we quote him
at large, and all that we ask is that the friends
OF civil and religious liberty shall remember
who 1t is that writes thus; that he speaks truly
when he speaks of the power of the majority, and
that there is nothing in our constitution or laws
to prevent the establishment of the Catholic re-
ligion, and the inqaisition, by changing the con
stitution and laws of any State in which they
may obtain control of the legislation of the
State 1t is clear that the Catholic clergy of
TINS country entertain the same opinion as De
ieequeyilie, where he says in the chapter be-
fore US.
catholicism could at length withdraw it
self from the political animositiesto which II has
given rise, have hardly any doubt but that the