New-York tribune., 1841-12-11
The school Fund. No. Nv.

To The Edi,sr Of the Tribune:
SIN: When | stated in my last No. the right of
the Catholics 10 share in the benefits OF this
fund. and some of their objections to the ?. S.
Society and its administration, thought ii neces-
sarv to require that should be met by the friends
of the Society oHy on this fair ground This
ground Of right however, their champion, Ham
ilton, thinks it proper prudent to decline He
informs II. that Cato has been specializing widely
of the rue question, which is not, he siuies, one
of right, but Of conscience. Now since asserted
the rights of the Catholics on grounds OF con-
science. 10 dieprove the existence OF the right
would be the best way to prove the conscience err
,oneous; und candid and intelligent opponent
would not seek to change II certain tor an equive-
cable issue | am disposed, notwithstanding, TO
aueur well OF Hamilton, from he irank"e5' oil
manner which be shows, and the selemnlty OF ieei-
ing which he processes IN approaching 'h's SUP olec
Also have engaged 10 consider any rational OBJ
iec,ions 10 the clam of the Catholics which may
be drawn f ON oiner principles than that oi night
For these reasons AID TO bring the pubic ana
Hamilton to better understanding. than he
chooses to award. OF the true question and The
pertinencv of Cato's' specuatons, mean 10
show the comparative value OF his own As un-
dcrstand him. these are substantially thus:
ls,. he question between the Catholics and the
F. s. Society has been decided against the former
on grounds Of cXpediency.
I'd The Catholics having then taken the higher
ground of conscience the question at present Is
about right or a wrong con>cicnce-lt wrong II
j. to be rcas 1ned into conviction OF error II right
the ctnius of the Catholics must be allowed
"a But to Try this question: we (the Society }
must be shown the nature OF the objections To de-
eide if they be really conscientious obJteiioHS
and also the specific demands oi The Catholics 10
sec that they do not conflict with the Got course
righ) consciences Of others.
The latter requirement. is perfectly iar ana II
the concession OF the Catholics demand oe sci
upon tina, condition, will engage 10 remove \" ]"
have not been done already ali reasonable aPPre-
hension on that score. The Catholics. having con.
sciences themselves can respect the consciencSS o
others.
After thus proposing the conscieniiousaess o.
the Catholic objections TO the 2 5. Society ana
svs,cIn as the only tree issue 10 be decided, " IL
must" proceeds Hamilton, strangely but signi-
6cantlv - it must be kept in mind that we are NOT
considering whether the Public Society and ;ts
administration are absolutely P,rtect; tSkether
there are znv CONSCIENTIOUS OBJECTIONS against
this Societv," a. WHAT Had YOU not just
stated these conscientious objections az being
the very question to be considered But csndor
or confdxnce in my cause disdans the advantages
OF Hauiltons contradictions revert TO ms pro-
positions 10 order.
Isl, BY whom was the question decided against
the Catholics on the ground Of expediency says
Hamilton, by the City Councils, BY the Lee
sisla,ure BY raen of all parles, &c. and OF no par
res, sad Others. All this migat be 'aieiy ad'
mi,,ed and sufficiently answered in either OF two
ways, Tha, the Catholics have never put ther
CLAIMS, nor cousen,ed that their cause should De
uied on tha, ground; and again, that the anlted
decision of all these could not eNnnguish me f'sa''
or heal the conscieuces of the Catholics. bH' inc
tact itself i: not SO.
Before the Common Council the question was
one OF iaw-expedency could not then be the F'sn, !;
ground of decision. As to the Legislature, need