The pilot and transcript. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1840-1841, 1841-01-23

ton, would Tar prefer being asih IN my Tor
a mer position; for the Orangeism in ireland i
mercy compared to the insolence of those VIII
here insult us by their expressions of kindnes
; and condescenslon, whilst they threaten us wit
!. determination unless we stoop TO be their slaves
E am aware, gentlemen, that they who ar
thus disposed in regard, de not form tn
American people, but l know that they are nu
7 mrrous and active, and l should regret for tn
sake of our republican institutions, that they ha
the power to work their will. They would in
deed begin with the Catholics, but others woul'
soon feel the effects of their success.
l take the liberty of sending yeu couple o
papers, which win show you the occasion of m
! remarks.
have the honor to be, gentlemen,
With great respect,
Yeur ob't servant
JOHN, Bishop of Charleston.
1t will be seen that he charges that l threaten
Catholics with determination, and that he ex
pressly says that he would prefer to be bach
again in Ireland, TO the condition in which he
represents that he and ms religion would be
placed, if those whom he thus denounoes had
the Political power of this country.
Could he have made a stronger appeal to the
passions and prejudices of those upon whom this
letter was designed to operate, 1t was saying
to them that the Wings were more intolerant
than Orangcmen, and that their condition would
be worse In this country than it had been in
Ireland, if General Harrison should be elected.
Could words have been used more calculated to
enlist the Catholic Irish in the cause of the ad-
ministration? That you may judge of the tone
of the Catholic press, 1 make short extract
from their paper, published in Boston:
''Duf Green, a man than to whom is not at
tached a more unenviable notoriety, cannot be
found in the whole length and breath of the
land, Voluntarily steps forth the assailer Of and
not only ISLANDERS this universally esteemed and
venerable Prelate, but recklessly launches forth
his anathemas on the whole Catholic communi-
ty, deserving not merely all the penalties of
OUTLAWRY, but as even fit candidates of the
FELoN's CELL and the aIBBET"
'sThe Catholics in this country, il until now
they have fbeen1 in doubt as to which of the
parties Of the day they may find not only kin
bred sympathy, but community of feeling and
effort, for the attainment Of those great objects
of all human Legislation, equal liberty, equal
rights, and freedom Of mind, will now have no
room to hesitate. We think they will not look
tamely on and see their pastors villifed, their
faith insulted, their characters impeached, or
their persons threatened, aoithott spUl7ling ieth
inst Indignation, ell fellowship and conneriO1t
y
age communications, the authors Of ISLANDERS so
gross and ttnnlelited, as Duff Green upon
Bishop England end ola' Holy Religion"
These are indications taking with them their
own Interpretation. In former number, have
quoted Webster's definition, to show the distine-
ton between resist and ertern,ia,ate. That dis
tinction is so important to a right understanding
of the question in issue that l repeat them'
Webster says:
RESIST. V. t. /. Literally, to stand against;
to withstand; hence, to act in opposition, or to
oppose. To strive against; to endeaver to coun-
teIact, defeat or Illustrate. To battle, to disap-
point
Having seen the definition of the word Gre
sist,n turn to the same authority for the mean
ing of the word "exterminate" Webster says
EXTERNIINATE. v. t. 1. To destroy utter
"; to drive away; to extirpato. 2. TO eradi-
cate, to root out; to cxtirpate. g. To root out
as plants; to extirpate.
So much for Bishop England Now for his
Boston echo:
esOUTLAWRY." n. Putting a man out of
the protection of law, or the process by which a
man is deprived of that protection.
To the Catholics would say, that the ques-
ton in issue between Bishop England and my
self has net been fairly stated by him or bg the
committee l am charged with threatening you
with determination, and of wishing to deprive
you Of the right to exercise your religious OPT
Mons and your rights of conscience. The reverse
of these charges is the truth. would protect
your persons and secure your rights Of con
science. l have made no attack upon your reli
/ o;c I 4 aoA 70 =
gious faith What 1 object to is the conduct
Bishop England in endeavoring to prostitute the
spiritual influence of the Church to political pur
poses-to blend the Church and State. You
should remember that very large proportion OIL
the people of the United States are Protestants
That our knowledge of the Church of Rome i.
derived from Protestant books; that we read and
believe books which it is not lawful under the
rules Of your Church, for you to read.
The well informed Catholics must know thai
there is an abiding Jealousy among Protestant.
against the abuses of the Catholic Church in il
exercise of civil power. To resist, therefore
the attempt Of Bishop England to exercise undu,
influence over Catholic voters, is to protect yel
in your civil rights. 1t will not do for him t.
say that while he expresses the opinion that tn,
present administration should be maintained il
power, he leaves the minds of others free t,
choose for themselves. We know that his off
cial station gives him an influence with very
large portion of Catholic voters, msrc especially
when his opinions are strengthened by an appea
to their conseienees, under the highest authority
known to the Church in this country. We be
ieve that, with many, such an appeal is conclu-
sivc, and regulates their political action.
will not do, therefore, to say that such men arr
left free to choose. Their respect for him, then
veneration for the Church, their want of infor
nation and individual preferences, all conspirt
to make his will, thus made known, the law o
their actions.
The past history of the Church is full Of pre-
eedents illustrating the growth OF usurpation by