The pilot and transcript. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1840-1841, 1840-09-11

I I
tie influence in producing the present distress in
our States, as ! had in producing that which
afllicts Europe; and that it has as little power
TO alleviate that distress, it has constitutional
right 10 interfere with its causes"
Now, what are we to think of Bishop Eng
land? In the Pastoral Letter, the Catholics
throughout the country are urged 10 exercise
their elective franchise under the high obligations
which they owe to their God, and are told that
if they exercise it from any improper motive,
9iou II! paluasaId uooq oArV lootqns 9p pInoo
10 'froddu uWolos aIom uooq oNGq ot9ql pInoO
--'s59uol5stoo I!oql 10 Irlenoq % II!N Z! lrp
| imposing form to the Catholics? This view of
the subject has received the sanction of their
| sembcd- Bishops-the highest authority known
to the Church in this country II has received
The sanction of the friends well the oppo-
nents Of the Administration. Bishop England
is, perhaps of all others, that one of the Catho-
! lie clergy who exercises most influence the
! coaScieHccs of Catholics. In this case, the So
Icmn injunction to approach the polls with
full sense of their religious obligations, has the
sanction not only of Bishop England, but Of the
other assembled Bishops No one knew better
than Bishep England what would be the weight
Of ms authority; therefore, when he volunteered
as the advocate of the Administration when he
stepped forward, in violation of the principle of
the Pastoral Letter, and denounced the Wing
party, by declaring that they had raised false
clamor in attributing to the Administration any
influence whatsoever in producing the present
state of the country.
What renders this proceeding on the part Of
Bishop England more exceptionablo is, that in
July, 1881, in paragraph in the Catholic Mis-
cellany, he denounced Mr., Van Buren, for having
used his influence in the Legislature of New
York, to prevent Francis Cooper from taking his
seat, because he was Catholic That para
graph, written by him, manifested unlind feel
ing towards Mr.. Van Buren,. He travelled
out of his way thus to assail him. This para
graph was transferred to the Pilot, and led to a
Correspondence between a Mr. Patrick Sharpe
and Bishop England, in which the charge against
Mr.. Van Buren, Is retracted Bishop England's
letter in reply to the request to do an act of
duty IN retracting the unmerilcd charge, cor
cludes as follows:
''AIeanwhile I must. however unpleasant it may
be TO me to appear before the public in the pres
tHl pt4iticdl agitation, leave you at HbeIIys
should you deem 1t necessary, to publish this,
because when l have, though unintcntionally,
occasioned an injury, it would not be either con-
scientiOus honorable to permit my private
feelings TO be an obstacle t9 its being repaired
| remain, sir, with sincere regard,
Your obedient and humble serv't,
John, Bishop of Charleston.
Mr.. PATRICK SHARP, Schuylllill, Philadelphia
The fact that the friends of the Administration
have started this penny paper, and have made
this appeal TO the Irish Catholics, argues that
they believe they can make political capital out
of it 1t argues, in the first place, that they sup
pose the Irish Catholics of this city and else
where, are too ignorant to comprehend the real
question at issue; that they cannot discriminate
between fair, candid, although severe critique
upon Bishop England's course, and an attack on
the Catholic religion. 1t argues that the Catho-
lies, 10 whom we have given the credit of hav-
ing been the first TO establish religious liberation
in the United States, are so much under Bishop
| England's influence, that they will not tolerate
| the freedom of political discussion; that while
/ Bishop England is permitted 10 come before the
| public and recommend all persons TO unite in
| support of the Administration, under the highest
sanctions Of religious duty, we are MOTTO be per-
mitted to question the propriety of his course;
that we, the conductors of free press, dare not
contradict his assertions, or relute his arguments
under the penalty of summary vengeance.
> Now, we put it to the Irish Catholics them
selves, as TO whether we have not manifested
more respect for them, when we come forward
and call upon them to unite with us in censuring
Bishop England's conduct, so much in deroga-
ton Of his character as clergyman, and in
violation Of the precepts Of the Pastoral Letter.
than those who have seized upon this occasion.
and have presumed upon theirignerance, to misre-
present our remarks, and to establish newspa-
per, the objectof which is to nfame their passions
and provoke them to acts of violence. and bv
brute force, to suppress Tie freedom of the press
Is this toleration' If we dare not question the
propricty of Bishop England's political conduct
| If summary vengeance is to be wreaked upop
US for doing so, when the Catholics are in so
small minority in this country, what would be
orr condition if they were a majority, and had
it in their power to control the laws of the conn
try? If such is the principle upon which they
act now, upon what principle viii they act, if
they should acquire political control? We say
that 1t is Islander upon the Catholics TO suppose
that they have sanctioned Bishop England's con-
duct, and that they will make common cause
with him in supporting Mr.. Van Buren,. We
say that high as is their respect for him as a min
lister Of their religion, they will be among the first
to resist this attempt to control the free exer
else of their elective franchise. We saw that. in
resisting Bishop England's attempt to interfere
with elections, and to bring his religious in.
lucnce to bear in favor of Mr.. Van Buren,. we
are rendering a service to the Catholic cause.
and we believe that the intelligent Catholics
win see the necessity of exerting their influence
to demonstrate that the Catholics, as a BODY. are
as sensitive of their political rights and as little