The Middlebury people's press. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1841-1843, 1841-12-21
From the Boston Motion.
BISHOP HUGHES e. THE CATHOLIC

BlSHOP HUGHES e. THE CATH LICS.
We believe that lstterly in New York for The
first time since The settlement of this country b.
tie Ang loSaxon race has political election been
placed upon theological ground. For the first
time since popul,r elections have been known in
this country, has All appeal been made TO voters
In behalf "f sectarian feelings and opinions. II
Is the irst, and We trust il viii be the last. The
credi OF this attempt is due TO a Catholic priest
Bish"p Hughes, oi New York; aud ii he be slls-
! tanned IN It 10y the Catholic popu alton generally
of which we have no great apprehension, l;en
men of all other religions, Jewish, Christian, Pa
gan and hlahomlan, Will be compelled 10 make a
common cause againsr the Catholics. and teach
them at The polls, HAT their wisest and safest
course is 10 be con ent with liberty Of conscience
10 themselves, and TO abstain from all att mpts TO
invade it in others. We have better Ii pes ni our
Catholic citizens than Bishop Hughes would
lead US to entertain Of them. But time will tell.
Most Of our readers probably know that the
State OF New York has Schonl Fund, wnl' is
used for he support Of Common schools through
out the Site. These schools, like our own, are
under the management of Committees, who
adopt general plan Of education. and prescribe
certain books for all the schons but as liberty of
conscience is fundamental principe in the GOV
ern.nent of New Yo X, and fully secured by its
Constitution, 10 sectarlan Looks ere allow ed in
the schools. Among Them however, is rle Bible;
and though Jews might object Ia the New Tesla
ment and tn. Chinese and :lindoos 70 the whole
book, yet no oh ecton has been made, executing
by CA;hoic priests. For some time past they
have complained OF the admin strat;on Of the
schools, saviag that some of The books contained
assau Is upon the Ca hoiic religion though We
are no. aware Of any ground for his com ,laint.
exc pting perhaps, some historical notices If the
Spanish lnqus:ti n and the Massacre Of 81.
Bartholomew. Blu they particularly object 10 the
Vusate translation of the Bible, which they say
favors ProIeslanlism. Win these objections, they
have applied for division of the schooI fund,
asking hat such porti"n Of It as would belong
TO them in the ratio Of population, be paid to them
for the esta bshmenI of schools undrr Catholic
teachers. They INSIST that if they are obliged 10
send Their chldIen to Prot -stani schools, or TO
nav for the support of such sch nos, their berry
of conscience under our laws is a nuIlily. We
believe that Governor Seward is the only politi-
cian in New YORK; of ally no,e, who has defended
this extraordinary claim and he, in his message
TO The legislature in lS40 in the resistablr spirit
of Gemaaogue, complained Of this hardship upon
the Catholics. and suggested division of the
school fund in their favor. He is the first Amer
;can fpncuonary, at least the first Governor IF a
State, who ever re commended TO an American
LEGISLATURE such union of Church and State /;
and if we may judgr from varinus popular i'di-
cations. the people Of New York will give him
the honors OF being last. so far as they are con-
cerned.
Any candid and Intelligent observer who un-
derstands the facts, will perceive that this COM
plaint of Bishop Hughes and other Catholic
priests is utterly groundess; for even it the books