The pilot and transcript. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1840-1841, 1840-10-26
TO THE PEOPLE OF THE UNITED
STATES.

In another column will be found an address
to the Wings of Mar. land, by the Wing Cen
tTal Committee, d say wing, on the part Of that
Conn it n concl n ncein the present or pros
P ivee ira cou S of this pape land devolving
upon me the entire responsibility for what have
said in relation to Bishop England and the ma
turalization law. The only regret which feel,
on perusing this address, is, that such coDdi-
ton of partus ehould exist in the country, as
to call for publication, and, that the Commit.
tee should have done me the injustice in the ex-
citernent of tie moment, while they disavow my
present and prospective editorial course, in rela.
ton to these subjects, 10 have charged me with be-
ing opposed toreiigious federation, or with design
ing, in any way whatsoeverto abridge the civil or
religious rights OF any class OF protesting chris
tians, or of naturalized citizens. If the com.
rnittee had been content to declare, care moi
how emphatically, that the Wig party are not
in any way, or to any extent, responsible for
what has heretofore been published in the Pilot
on the subject of Catholicism and naturalized
voters. and will not be responsible for what |
NAV hereafter be pleased to do, they would
have done no more than had already done for
them. and | would have been much obliged to
them for their disavowal. Ihey would thereby
have relieved the party from all responsibility,
and would have done me an act Of justice, and
indeed an act of kindness, by demonstrating that
-4h;s is free press, and that one but the Edi-
Tor is responsible for its conduct But, regret
IN he convinced that 50 great IS the influence OF
Il
Catholic and foreign voters IN tn city, tiat the
Committee, in order TO obtain their parry sup
ror,. have teen compelled, reluctantly, hope,
4o misreprcsent, while they disavow my course
Nv saving that in this "country, every man is
.vsrr;tted to wor hp his Maker in such way "a
his conscience may approve" and that our "law'
and constitution were framed to secure TO al
the glorious privilege" and coupling this defla
r,.;on with form ii denunciation Of this press
the Committee charge, not by implication, bu
directly, that the course which they disavow
would deny to every man the privilege to wor
SHIN his maker in such way as his conscience
would approve, and that 1 would so change on
laws and constitution as to forbid the exercise u
this s'glorious privilege"
Now the truth is, that so Tar from any desire
whatever to place the least possible restraint Oh
the ccnsciences of the Catholics, or favoring any
change in our laws constitution, to RESTRICT II
the least possible degree, the freedom OF religious
worship. am its advocate in the widest pos
slhle extent. The Committee, therefore, hav'
done me great injustice, by lending the sanction
Of their names to The ISLANDER propagated by Bish
O., England, and the Catholic press, nisrcPreseni
inc. my views in relation to this matte Th'
charge made against Bishop England by others
AMI to which did no more than refer, is tina
he is the agent of the Austrian Government, an
other European desPots, who have conspire
against our Republican Neutrality-suspicious. Oh
;ect is to accomplish that which Bishop Enelan
and the Committee have charged upox me | di
not make the charge against Bishop England
stated the existence Of such charge, as a res
son why Bishop England should not bring til
weight and influence Of his official station in til
church, to bear on the politics Of the countr,
and stated, that, If tfrom any cause, any rel
gious sect should combine and throw the
weight, IN body, in behalf of any political ca
didate, 1t Is an argument why others, dideiir
With them IN oli ZION, should oppose the cand
date, whom they my thus combine 10 support
And il it should SO turn out that, under the i
Auence Of Bishop England's letter, or any 9th
cause whatsoever, the Catholics as body, shou
unite in half of Mr.. Van Buren,, it will
some the duy Of every Protestant to unite, n
only to resist MIR. Van Buren,, but to resist Cat
ol.cism." In his comment upon this, Bish
England sueses it, and s;y,, that it is
<<dsc' aratien that should the Catholics, as
body, vote for Mr. Van Buren,, they should
ExTERMINATED."A And the Catholic pane
published in Boston, speaking of the CONNIE