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

is full of precedents illustrating the growth of
occupations by your clergy, IN Catholic coun-
tries these usurpations have originated in tn
most potent arm of this foreign influence, and
YOU RS Catholics, are no less interested than we
are in noting and resisting the approaches OF
this dangerous power. Already has Bishop Eng
land raised the question in this country, and as
sailed Mr.. Adams as the president; and MIR. Clay
as the Secretary of State OF the United st tss,
charging them ''with having interfered in the
conflict between the Jurisdiction" of the Pope
AMI the local civil authority. BY degrees tn.
local jurisdiction has become subordinate to the
foreign dominion. The Inquisition has been the
concerns of the Church, in a way in which he
neither could or ought" Indeed, lie has gone so
far as to obtain ard publish the opinions Of two
eminent Catholic lawyers, to prove that their in
reference with the ecclesiastical * jurisdiction"
Of the Pope in this country was unconstitutional.
Do you not see that the exercise OF this " jt1tS-
diction" may become oppressive TO you as Catho-
lies, and that you and your clergy are deeply
interested in asserting and maintaining your
civil rights, free from any undue influence what
soever? The Insuisition has contested the au-
thority of judges, mobiles, kings, emperors, and
even of the Pope himself. It has set at defiance
the power of the people, and its victims have
been protesting Catholics, even the most eri-
nently plous; for pure religion, even in the Ca
tholic faith, hath invited persecution and pro-
vsked condemnation, l repeat, that speak
not of the Catholic faith. l speak OF the abuses
that have been practised in the name OF the Ca
tholic religion and in connection with the fact
that there is nothing in the Constitution Vt the
General Government, which can prevent the
establishment of the Catholic religion by en-
grating it upon the constitution of any individu
al State, and that it is in the power of
designing men, wherever they control the le-
gislation of single state to establish the Inqui-
sition as part of its civil polity You the Catho-
lies Of the United States, are deeply interest
ed as we, the Proestants, in preventing this; and
to discuss now far the purpose of Bishop Eng
land, in uniting Church and State, foreshadows
this event, is 4 measure which you should be the
last to condemn. 1t will not do for him to say
that the prejudices, which exists in the minds of
Professionals are unfounded 1t viii not do for
him, in his character of Inquisitor General, to
prescribe all investigation, and to denounce all
who may question the integrity of his purpose.
We, the Protestant people of the United States,
have opened our iaors, and permitted him to
come among w. He is suspected of harbouring
deep designs against ourpeace and your liberties.
1t will not do FOR him, stranger, whom we have
made welcome, to denounceus, when wa propose
to enquire into the truth of these suspicious That
he is suspected, ne admits. Instead of arSu-
ments to prove his innocence, he gives US inso-
lent denunciatisn, and thereby confirms our APP
prehensions Of his guilt; and it is striking fea-
turc of this controversy, that, it was in SPAN,
SO it is here; to resist the authority of the In
Iuisitor General Immediately brings up the idea
Of the &C cell" and the &c gi66et" The power, by
which he now acts, is denunciation. As yet he
cannot go beyond this, but he has organised
| corps throughout the United States, more eff
cient in proportion to its number than any other
political body in the country, and that influence
has been brought to bear with all its energy, for
the purpose of crushing this press. 1t is intend
ed chat shall be victimized and held up as
warning, admonishing all other editors of the
danger of daring at any time to question any
act of his, whatsoever 1t is now no longer de-
MED that an association has been formed in Eu-
rope under the especial auspices OF the Emperor
of Austria, and under the guidance of Prince
Metternich, for the spread Of the Catholic reli-
gion in this country and it has been directly
charged that the object of this association is the
overthrow OF our free institutions. When we
see the combinations which have been formed in
Europe, and the bearing which they have upon
public liberty-when we look back upon the
history of the Roman Church, and more espe
cially on the history of the inqusition, and con-
slider the prosecutions of the Moors and of the
wealthy Jews of Spain, we are admonished of
the necessity of constant vigilance. confess
that new views have been presented to my mind
The danger is startling, and the people of the
South especially have great cause for alarm.
The Inquisition is an organised political body.
1t acts with deliberate purpose. Its approaches
are slow but constant. Backed by the power of
the Holy Alliance, it is not surprising that they
should entertain a purpose of obtaining politi-
cal control in this country. With large sur
plus population, whose condition would be great
ly improved thereby, they can pour in upon us
tide of emigration, which, taking possession Of
the northwestern States, will become appropri-
ate instruments in the hands of designing men
for converting our government into despotism
This, once established, the Roman Catholic re-
ligion will be established with it, and all the
horrors of the Inquisition must follow in its train
Bishop England is already the Legate of his
Holiness, the Pope, clothed with full power to
build up national church in Hayti In his
letter in reply to MIR. Forsyth, he asserts the
power of the Pope sIegislate" on the subject Of
slavery and the slave trade, and insists upon the
obligation of such "lcgislation upon Catholic
communities. The Pope has already required