The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1844-06-24


that the School laws faithfully executed and the
religious predictions ofthe parents he respected" They
ask that the regulations Of the Controller. Of the Public
that the resolutions OF the body adopted in January
s4a be adhered to- They desire that the Public Schools
be preserved from all secarian influence and that educa
ton be conducted in way that may enable all citizens
equally to share in its benefits without any violence be
ing offered to their religious convictions"
These were the only measures adopted by the
Catholic community or by their Official representa-
tive, IN reference to the use OF the Bibles and show
that they limited their request TO the liberty OF u.s.
using their own version, and did not In any way
interfere with the use of the Protestant version by
such as choose TO adopt IT, In this age and country,
and especially1n the city 10 which William Penn
gave the name and impress OF br0therly love, we
presume 1t is unnecessary 10 put forward any plea
In support OF our constitutional and legal right TO
have our religious predictions respected. Free
dom of conscience is fundamental article OF the
cial compact which we are bound to maintain, and
we cannot consent to see 1t violated IN ourselves or
our felow-ciiizens. We appeal to all whether we
do not scrupulOusly respect in all various relations
Of life. In this regard at least, we feel no reproach
OF conscience. We iearlessly challenge any one to
show any act OF the Catholic community IN viola
zion of these sacred rights, and we can Individually
make like appeal as to all our social transactions
We have cherished and loved our fellsw.citi zens
as broth rs bound together by social ues which tor
US, were strengthened and hallowed by a religion
which breaches submlsslonto constituted authority
and love for all mankind.
We have heard 1t affirmed that because Catho-
lies minority, they must submit to the regua-
lions which the majority may please TO adopt we
are willing that the principle should be applied to
all things wherein pubic interest and order are
concerned, saving always those principles and
rights which the Constitution holds TO be lnvlolabe
j We the minority and for us, therefore, does
the Constitution exist. The majority need not ITS
protection, Tor they have the power 10 take care OF
l their own interests. Unless for the shield which
the Constitution gives to those who are the smaller,
and therefore, the weaker party, this government
would be Despotism, for the governing power
would be uncontrolled. To-day one class may be
lashed by the tyrant OF numbers, and tomorrow
another class may feel the scourge. No man. no
sect, no party would ever be safe. Peace and or
der would be destroyed, and soon the wreck of the
Il Republic woald add another to the many melan-
choy instances of the danger which always attends
the comforting OF inbounded power ;.
| Under no circumstance IS Conscience at the dis
posal Of majority. 1t is the feeling Of duty which
springs from the law Of nature engraved on The
heart, from the revealed law of God, and cannot
mediately derived from Him. We plead then our
natural and indeeasible right, recognized by the
Constitution and laws, and we are happy to add by
the Board of Control itself, in the regulations
adopted IN the year 1888 long before the agitation
OF this question. We beg leave to submit them to
our fellow citizens.
tce exists in of the Schools OF introducing religious
exercises and books OF religious character which have
lessons prepared the scholars and Chewing
the Of such exercises books may hive tendency
to produce an influence in the Schools OF sectaran cha
racter.
1t is resolved That this Board conservators Of the
rights OF Parents or Guardians OF children committed to
the of Teachers employed according to law Tor the
purpose Of public education are bound to those
rights unmpaired.
syvania which has provided for the establishment Of
Public Schools has also wisely guaranteed the right Of
and ar the parents Of children have both by
and nature che guardianship Of them during their mnori
y So they alone responsible for the effect OF such
guardianship and their right to impress the minds Of
their children with such views OF religious nature as
they may think important ought not to be inter
with esneCiaiiV BODY authority
: by virtue Of the laws of the Commonwealth.
Resolved That as all sects contribute in the
any religious sectsrian forms part of the dsci
pline Of the SCHOOL, must have tendency to impair the
rights of and that whilst this Board is convinced
Of the utter mpossby of adopting system Of religious
instruction that should meet The appreciation Of ali relg
snlt to the pupils from combining the instruction in
Schools to the ordinary branches OF elementary educa
ton inasmuch as ample facilities for religious improve
ment are presented for the choice guardians
Sabbath Schools and other establishments for that pur
which are organized and supported by various re
gous communities
Resolved That TIE ground of universal benevo lence
which all sects parties may meet; and it
be this ground alone that Public schools be
ducon of religious forms in them this Board viii invade
the rights OF none but on the contrary by SO doing. 1t
will maintain the rights Of all-and, therefore,
Resolved That this Board cannot but consider the in.
or use Of religious exercises books or les
ed by the Board contrary to law and the Of any
such religious exercises books lessons, is hereby d
: | rected to be discontinued"
With regard to the connection of the question
concerning the use of the Bible, with the organ
cation among us of new political party, it is not
tor us to question the correctness OF the conclu
| sions at which the Grand Jury have arrived. For
|, ourselves, we repeat, that sought only liberty
of education as connected with liberty of con
i sclence-the blrthrlght OF freemen. We sought
i by respectful addresses to the legal authorities
We as ed that our children, in approaching the
, fountains OF public education should be permitted
! to drink Of its waters without any admxure. We
wished to leave them as their most precious inherit
anee the faith which we received from our fathers
, or embraced from deep conviction of its truth !;
aud in committing them to the public teachers
claimed what God commands, what the law guar
antees, that our parental rights to guard their re
g'eus sentiments should not De infringed. II this
, has given rise TO a political party, we deeply
! regret that any party should exist IN the country
hostile to liberty OF conscience. But we dlsclaim
the intention OF throwing this stigma on any party
We yield TO of our fellow-cizens in attach
ment to republican institutions: we owe no ale
glance whatever to foreign prince, potentate the
, obedience which as children of the church we
der to the chief Bishop, regards not the things that
apertain TO this world.
As Catholics, are free in our political sentl-
meDts, unnfuenced by our religious tenets or by
our spiritual guides. We belong to different poll
teal parties, according to our judgment and choice,
| and we have political opinions and predictions
over which we acknowledge no control, other than
the constitutional and legal restrictions We do
not object to the formation OF any new party, which
respects the Constitution and laws and pursues It's
objects without infringing rights already guaran
teed, and public faith and the dictates of natural
Justice and humanity But if any party takes its
rise in opposition to the peaceable effort of citizens
to protect and preserve the rights OF conscience, in
the growing youth of our country 1t IS OF Ill omen
to our peace and prosperity. We frost that the
Grand Jury has been mistaken in tracing it's origin;
but we pretend not to decide the question, for our
desire is not to attack others, but to defend our
selves. .
The Grand Jury states that "the meetings of this
party were rudely attacked and fired upon, by
band Of lawiess, irresponsible men," This state
meat, made on " exparte evidence" is strongly de-
MED by many who assert that they were eye-wlt-
nesses of the transaction, and who would willingly
have given evidence before the Grand Jury, had
they been summoned for that purpose. For
selves we wait the public trials, in which we hope
to see the testimonies weighed, the facts placed be-
yond question, The guilty punished, and the inno-
cent discharged