The pilot and transcript. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1840-1841, 1841-01-20

II
take; and If my religion and its professors are
to be made the victims of my imagining that in
our republic, Catholics, like other citizens, had
liberty of political opinions, expression and &C
ton, | would far prefer being again in my for
mer position; for the Orangeism in ireland is
mercy compared to the insolence of those who
here insult us by their expressions of kindness
and condescension, whilst they threaten us with
determination unless we steop to be their slaves.
| l am aware, gentlemen, that they who are
| thus disposed in our regard, do not form the
! American people, but know that they are nu-
mrrous and active, and | should regret for the
sake of our republican institutions, that they had
the power to work their will They would in
deed begin with the Catholics, but others would
soon feel the effects of their success.
| take the liberty of sending you couple oil
papers, which will show you the occasion of nay
remarks.
[ have the honor to be, gentlemen,
With great respect,
Your ob't servant
tJOHN, Bishop of Charleston
1t will be seen that he charges that threaten
Catholics with extermination, and that he ex-
pressly says that he would prefer to be back
again in Ireland, to the condition in which he
represents that he and his religion would be
placed, if those whom he thus denounoes had
the political power of this country.
Gould he have made 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 Orangemen, 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 ts
enlist the Catholic Irish in the cause of the ad-
ministration? That you may judge of the tone
of the Catholic press, make short extract
from their paper, published in Boston:
ssDuff 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 eommuni-
ty, as deserving not merely all the penalties OF
OUTLAWRY, but as even fit candidates of the
FELLOWS CELL. and the GIBBET"
ssThe Catholics in this country, if until now
they have Tbeen1 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, Toithout Spl1TlIlg Dtth
inst Indignation, all fellowship and connection
Nth such parties Justify By its patron
age concentrations, the authors Of std'ideTs so
gross and urlfnerited, as Duff Green upon
Bishop England and our 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 erte,minate. That dis
tinction is SO important 10 right understanding
of the question in issue that repeat them
Webster says:
RESIST. v. t. 1. Literally, to stand against;
to withstand; hence, to act in opposition, or to
oppose. To strive against; to endeayor to coun-
teract, defeat or Illustrate. To battle, to disap-
point.
Having seen the definition of the word gre
sist, p turn to the same authority for the mean
ing of the werd esexterminate." Webster says
EXTERMINATE. v. t. 1. To destroy utter
ly; to drive away; to extirpate. 2. To eradi-
cate, to root out; to extirpate. s. To roet out
as plants; to e1tirpate
So much fsr Bishop England Now for his
Boston echo:
| "OUTLAWRY.o n. Putting man out oil
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 not been fairly stated by him or by tbs
committee. am charged with threatening you
with determination, and of wishing to deprive
you Of the right to exercise your religious OPP
mons and your rights Of conscience The reverst
Of these charges is the truth. wolld protec
your persons and secure your rights OF con
science. have made no attack upon your reli
gion. ] do not propose to controvert your reli
gious faith What object to is the conduct
Bishop England in endeavoring to prostitute thu
spiritual in6uegce Of the Church to political pun
poses-to blend the Church and State. You
should remember that very large proportion o
the people of the United States are Protestants
That our knowledge Of the Church of Rome il
derived from Protestant books; that re read ant
belieye books which it is not lawful under thu
rules of your Church, for you t. read.
The well informed Catholics MUST know tina
there is an abiding jealousy among Protestant
against the abuses of the Catholic Church in it
exercise of civil power. To resist, therefore
the attempt of Bishop England to exercise undue
influence over Catholic voters, is to protect yet
in your civil rights. 1t will not do for him t.
say that while he expresses the opinion that thu
present administration should be maintained il
power, he leaves the minds Of others free T.
choose for themselves. We know that his off
oial station gives him an influence with yery
large portion of Catholic voters, mere especially
when his opinions are strengthened by an appeal
to their consciepces, under the highest authority
known to the Church in this country. we be
ieve that, with many, such an appeal is eonclu-
sive, and regulates their political action. Il
/ will not do, therefore, to say that such men are
left free to choose. Their respect for him, then