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

regretted to hnd jealousies, private views and
distrust existing; that for my own part par.
took of none, and would not become the instru-
ment of either; that the paper would be free and
Independent; that l would be responsible to nc
one for the manner in which might conduct it
and that wished it to be distinctly understood
that my object was TO advance the public inter
ests, regardless of the cliques and under cur
! rents by which we were surrounded; and thai in
this view, preferred taking my own private
means to establish the paper, relying up the
patronage which the public might voluntarily
| give, and therefore released the Committee from
all obligation in relation to the press, except the
obligation to support, in good faith, free press
| devoted TO the advancement of our common end
! This interview had the effect of harmonizing the
| Committees; and in consequence, they volunta-
rtly proposed and adopted resolutions strongly
recommending the paper to the patronage of the
party. This statement is due to myself, as well
as. to right understanding of the relation be-
tween the Committee and myself
| now proceed to state the question at Issue
between us, and upon which they have denounced
me and my paper. At a convention of Bishops
of the Catholic Church, held in this city, they
issued pastoral letter, from which the follow
ing is an extract:
F'Beloved Brethren, flee from this contamina-
! ton; keep aloof from these crimes-Teilect that
| you accountable, not only to society, but to
| God, for the honest, fearless, and independent
exercise eff your franchise; that it is trust
confided TO you, not for your private gain, but
for the public good, and that, if yielding to any
I Al L
lection, or the motive OF dishonest gam, agaars-
your own deliberate views of what viii promote
your country's good, yeu have violated ysur
trust, and you have betrayed your conscience,
and you are a renegade to your country"
1t viii be seen that while this extract asserts
a truth from which no one will dissent, its force
depends entirely on its aPpliseicn 1t requires
the members of the Catholic Church to veto I'M
der the high obligation of religious duty; and,
believe, is the first attempt in this country to
exercise the power Of the Church as a political
body. Extracts from the pastoral letter were
extensively circulated through the political
press. Accustomed for years to guard the eta
del of public liberty with vigilance, and TO ex-
anime well the bearing of every new proposition
Il looked on in silence, until Bishop England, |
the reputed author of the pastoral address, came
out openly as the advocate of the existing ad- |
ministration. Under such circumstances could
not but consider his Columbus letter a supple
ment to the pastoral address, and these, taken |
together, as an open attempt to bring the whsle |
authority of the Church into the field of politics;
ana speaking upon the subject, l said
If "from any cause, any religious sect should
%ba1r Ill
in behalf of any political candidate, it is an
argument why others, differing with them in |
opinion, should oppose the candidate, whom |
they may thus sombiHe to support. And if
it should so turn out that, under the iHRu-
ence of Bishop England's letter, or any ether
cause whatsoever, the Catholics as body, SHOULD
unite ia behalf of BTr Van Buren,, it will be- |
come the duty sf every Protestant to unite, net
only TO resist Mr.. Van Buren,, but to resist Gath
elieism."
To this BisheP England took great exceptions,
and declared that this proposition to resist Cath
olicism as political influence, was proposition
to erte7mlinGte the Catholics, and great excite
ment was produced in this city. The Central
Committee appointed subcommittee to wait
great apprehensions that the Whig ticket wsuh
be defeated not only in this city, but throughout
the State, in consequence Of my remarks, and
the relation which bsrs to the party. TIE this
committee l replied, that, in the first place,
could not admit any right in the GenEal Gem
mIttee, as such, to call in question the manner
in which conducted my paper, and protested
Fl,af &C bod
adopted / told them that, with the members sf
the committee individually, it would at all times
give me pleasure to confer that they were net
more anxious than / to promote the success of
the ticket, and that no member 81 the commit
tee of the party would make greater saer-
fees of money of feeling to prsmste it.
took the liberty of referring to the past to de-
monstrate this, and they admitted, in my pre-
sence, that the whole contributions Of the party
in the city of Baltimore had not been equal to
the sum which had been compelled to advance
from my own private means in support Of the
paper.
But l tsld them that tt ey had presented ths
question in new aspect. l did net believe,
with the committee, that my structures Bish-
op England's conduct would e;.danger the sue
cess of the party. So far from it, believed that
1t was one of the strongest arguments that could
be urged against the election of Mr.. Van Buren,;
but if the committee could satisfy me that Bish-
ep England's influence had already reached a
point where it was dangerous to discuss his at
tempt to bring the Catholic Church, as body,
in support of candidate for the Presidency, it
would become my duty TO resist its influence
with all the means in my power proposed,
however, 10 disavow for the committee any re-
sponsibility for my editorial course, and drew
up at once statement to that effect, which they
said was sufficient, inasmucll presented the
question fairly to the public.
In the mean time, Bishop England continued
To Eliminate his aEathemas against me- His or.