The pilot and transcript. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1840-1841, 1841-01-25

Distress existing; that tor my own part psi
tsok of none, and would not become the instru-
ment OF either; that the paper would be free and
independent; that Iwosld be responsible te no
one for the manner in whick 1 might conduct 1t;
and that wished it to be distinctly understood
that nv object was to advance the public inter-
ests, regardless Of the eiigues and under cur
rents by which VIC wcre surrounded; and tha'in
this view, preferred taking my own private
means to establish the papar, relying up n the
patronage which ne Pal.ks zigAs Voluntarily
give. and therefore released The CeaRaitlss hsRa
all ohEx1siSa IN relstioA 10 ths press, except the
OshSssOa T. support, in gooa faith, a free press,
I devoted - TIA ssxSnoezgos Of our eosamoa end.
/ TAh interview had The ssSec< Of hssnonizlns sAe
/ Csnzsssses, and II oosss4ueace, they voluSss-
nv propossS And adopseS rssSluSons strongly
reoOumsOSiax the paper to the patronage Of the
psstv. This sssssznent IS aae 20 myself, as well
As. se right understanding OF shs reiatOa be
/ tween sa,s Committee and myself
1 now proceed to seste ths question at Issue
between US, and upsn which thsy have denounced
me s~6 ny papss. AT a souvsntisn OF BishePs
Of TIE CasAOliS Church, held in this Csty, they
iss4ed a pastoral lstsoz. from WhiCA the follev-
i ing "a an extract:
I ssRelevrS Brethren, fee from this osntznin2-
/ ton. keen sloof from these cr1nes-rerect that
\ you are accountable net enly - soclefy, but TO
! Sod Tor the honest, fearless, and independent
exercise wsur evvn franchise; that ii is trust
saniass to Yea. not for your private gain, but
fsr the zshlse good, and that, il yielding to any
an8ne inSasnce you either through favor OF at
EseGion, q the motive of dishonest gain, agaArs-
your swn deliberate views Of what viii promote
your countTy's good, you have violated ysur
| trust, and you have betrayed your eonseienees
and you are a renegade to your eosntrY:
II win h. .een that while this extract asserts
+rntb from which no one will dissent, its force
dspends entirely on its application. 1t requires
! ths members of the Catholic Church to vsse I'M
der the high obligation Of religious duty; and, /
believe, is the 6rst attempt in thiS country 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 sita-
del Of public liberty with visilaAss, aad 10 sz-
anime well the bearing Of every new proposition
Il locked On in silence, until Bishop England,
the rsputed author of the pastoral address, came
ont openly as the advocate of the existing ad-
min:zssation. Under such circumstances | could
not but consider his Columbus letter supple
ment to the pastoral address, and thsse, 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:--
II "from any cause, any religious sect should
combine and throw thsir weight, m bedy,
in behalf of any political easdidate, II is an
argument why others, differing with them in
opinion, should oppose the candidate, whom
they may thus combine to support. And if
it should 50 turn out that, uuder the iAsu-
enee Of Bishop Englands letter, or any sthsr
cause whatsoever, the Cathslics as body, should
unite in behalf Of 1Er. Van Barsn, il will be-
come the daty sf every Protestant to unite, net
only 70 resist Bfr Van buren,, bat t. resist Cath.
slisism.s
To this Bishep England took great exceptions,
and declared that this proposition to resist Cath
olicism as political influence, was prsPesitisn
to eztss1niaass the Catholics, and great excite
mont was produced in this city Ths csatral
Committee appointed subcommittee to wait
upon me, and was tsla shst thsy entertained
great apprsheasions that the Wing ticket wsasd
be defeated, not only In this saty, but thrsushest
the State, in consequence Of my remarks, and
the relation which bsrs to the party. TIE this
committee replied, that, in the first place, ]
eould not adrnit any right il the CsHssl Gem
mistes, a. suck, to call il question the Assnez
in whish conducted mT paper, asd Frstsstss
t against the fsrm Of proceedings which they had
E adopted told them that, with the members 81
the committee individually, it weuld at al tinaes
give me pleasure to confer; that they were net
E more anxisus than ts promote the success 81
the ticket, and that no member Of the ssrassit
S ! tes or Of the party would, maks greater sasri
: fees OF money or Of feelng to prsmste it.
u took the Hbsrty # referring to the past t. De
z monssrate this, and thsy admitted, IN nay pre-
{ sence. that the whsle constitutions Of the par
o in the city Of Baltimore had net been equal :
! the sum which had been compelled to advanO
e from my OWE private means in support IF th
d paper, s. -s
N But tsld thea that III ~ had prese.ted Hi
, question in new aspect. did net bslisve
with the committee, that my structures on Bish
,e op England's condsct would e;.danger the sue
st cess of the party So far from it. believed tina
D, it was one OF the strongest arguments that coul
t. be urged against the electisn of Mr.. Van Buren,
,e but If the COMMITTEES eeHld satisfy me mat Bisl
,r sp Englsndfs influence had already reached
b point where it was dangerous to discuss ais al
i tempt 10 bring the Catholic Church, as a BODY
o in support Of q candidate for the Presidency,
= would become my duty 70 resist is hAsusno
I'll with ali the means in my power. ! propose
= however, to disavow for the committee any n
e sponsibility for my editorial course, and DIRE,
: up at osse statement 10 that effect, which the
!. said was sufficient, isasmush IS pEsssrted u
4 ! question fairly to the publies pthA zee ~