The pilot and transcript. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1840-1841, 1840-11-25

eminent Cetholtc lawyers, 10 prove tiAt t"esa ~
terfeTenee with the ecclesiastical jirisdietion
of the Pope in this country war Unconstitutional
Do you not zee that the exercise OF this "ts7rs-
6Sstio1" may become oppressive 10 yoa 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
soever9 The Inquisition has contested the au-
thority Of judges, mobiles, kings, emPero-s, and
even of the Pope himself. 1t has set at defiance
the power of the people, and IT'S vicsinas have
beon protesting Catholics, even the most eInS-
nently nious; for pure religion, even in the Ca
tholc with, hath invited persecution and pro-
veked condemnation. repeat, that l speak
not Of the Catholic faith. speak of the oosSses
that have been praetised in the name of the Ca
tholic religion, and in connection with the fact
that there is nothing IN the Constitution Of the
General Government, which can prevent the
establishment Of the Catholic religion by en-
grating It upon the constitution Of any ldividu-
al State, and that it is in the power OF
designing meA, wherever they control the ie-
gislAtion OF single state to establish the lnqui-
1
lies of the United States, as deeply interest
ed we, the Protestants, in preventing this; and
TO discuss how far the purpose Of Bishop Eng
| land, in uniting Church and State, foreshadows
this event, is a measure which you should be the
last TO condemn It Will not do for him to say
that the prejudices which exists in the minds Of
Protestants are unlOnnded. 1t wall not do foE
hun, in his character of Insuisitor General, to
prescribe all investigation, and to denouDoe all
who may question the integrity of his purpose.
! We, the Protestant people of the United States,
have opened our doors, and permitted him TO
| come among US. Hc is suspected of harbouring
deep designs against peace and your liberties.
1t will not do for him, a stranger, whom We have
made welcome to deneuneeus, when we propose
so enquire into the truth Of these suspicious. That
he is suspected, he admits Instead Of arEu-
merits 10 prove his Innocence, he gives us iasc-
| lent denunciatisn, ana thereby confirms our ap-
prehensions Of his guilt; and it is striking fea
ture of this controversy, that it was in SPAN,
50 ii is here; TO resist the authority Of the In
quisitor General immediately brings up the idea
of the 8: cell" and the " gibbet.D The power, by
which he now acts, is densnciation. As yet he
cannot go beyond this, but he has an organised
corps throughout the United States, more eff
cient in proportion 10 its number than any other
political body n the country, and that inffaenc
has been brought to bear with all its energy, for
the purpose Of crushing this press. 1t is intend
ed that l shall be vietimized and held w as
warning, adnonishing 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 a. ISOLATION 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-
| glen i'll this country and it has been directly
charged that the object of this association is the
overthrow of our free institutions. When we
Sc 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, admonished Of
| the necessity of constant vigilance. | confess
| that new views have been presented to nv 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 slew bat constant Backed by the power Of
the Holy Alliance, it is not surprising that they
should entertain purpose CT obtaining politi-
afrnI in
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. viii 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 Mr.. Forsyth, he asserts the
powerof the Popcto ''legistGte" on the subject of
slavery and the slave trade, and insists upon the
obligation of such "legislation7' upon Catholic |
communities. The Pope has already required i
the Jesuits 10 dispose of their slaves, and has.
upon one occasion at least, attempted to exercise
a evil jurisdiction in relation to private pro
perry in the United States.
Who docs not see in these things the clements
of power, which may hereafter desolat. our
land with the flames of civil war, for the pur-
pose OF overturning free institutions. And
it is for sounding the alarm in the sight of these
dangers--it is for proposing to discuss the truth
of these propositions, that | have been de-
nounced and prescribed by committee consti-
tutcd of Protestants, politically opposed to Bishop
England. 1t is true that the names of many Of
the Committee were attached to the address
without their knowledge or appreciation, and
that, notwithstanding the address censures my
conduct, it is believed the deliberate Judgment