The pilot and transcript. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1840-1841, 1841-01-21

distrust e1lstingj 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 would be responsible to no
one for the manner in which might conduct it
and that l 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, l preferred taking my own private
means to establish the paper, relying up n 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-
rly proposed and adopted resolutions strongly
recommending the paper to the patronage Of the
party. This statement is due to myself, as well
Ito right understanding of the relation be-
tween the Committee and myself
1 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:
SeBeloved Brethren, flee from this contamina-
ton; keep aloof from these crimes-rehect that
you are accountable, not only to society, but to
God, for the honest, fearless, and independent
exercise Of your own franchise; that it is a trust
confided to you, not for your private gain, but
for the public good, and that, if yielding to any
undue influence, you either through favor or af-
lection, or the motive OF dishonest gam, agalIs-
your own deliberate views of what will promote
your country's good, you have violated your
trust, and you have betrayed your conscience,
and you are 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 application. 1t requires
the members of the Catholic Church to vote I'M
der the high obligation of religious duty; and,
believe, is the first attempt in this csunhy to
exercise the power of the Church as 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 eN-
anime well the bearing of every new proposition
i 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 whole
authority of the Church into the field of politics;
and speaking upon the subject, said:-
If ''from any cause, any religious sect should
combine and throw their weight, in a body,
in behalf of any political candidate, it is
argument why others, differing with them in
opinion, should oppose the candidate, whom
they may thus combine to support And if
it should so turn out that, under the inAu-
ence Of Bishop England's letter, or any other
cause whatsoever, the Catholics as body, should
unite ia behalf of 1Gr. Van Buren,, it will BE-
come the duty of every Protestant to unite, net
only to resist Mr.. Van Buren,, Int to resist Cath
olicismn
To this Bishop England took great exceptions,
and declared that this proposition to resist Cath
olicism as political influence, was proposition
to erternirtate the Catholics, and great excite
ment was produced in this city. The Central
Committee appointed subcommittee to wait
upon me, and was told that they entertained
great apprehensions that the Wing ticket would
be defeated not only in this eIty, but Throughout
the State, in consequence Of my remarks, and
the relation which bore to the party. TIE this
committee replied, that, in the first place,
III .t,t ha Tontz-sl
mlttee, as such, to call in question the manner
in which conducted my paper, and protested
against the form of proceedings which they had
adopted. told them that, with the members eli
the committee individually, it would at all times
give me pleasure to confer; that they were net
more anxisus than / to promote the success of
the ticket, and that no member of the commit
tee or of the party would make greater saeri-
fees of money or of feeling to prsmste it. 1
took the liberty Of referring to the past ts de-
monstrate this, and they admitted, m 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 told them that they had presented this
question in new aspect. | did not believe,
with the committee, that my structures en- 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 COMMITTEES could satisfy me that Bish-
op England's influence had already reached a
point where it was dangerous to discuss his at
tempt to bring the Catholic Church, as a 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, to disayow for the committee any re-
sponsibility for my editorial course, and drew
up at once statement to that effect, which they
said was sufficient, inasmuch as presented the
IL II