New-York daily tribune., 1844-11-02
Raur,on and PoI,tics-The Catholics ana
NJ EreIfp1huvscn,

Religion and PoI,tics-The cathoii0s "A
MIR. FreliDghuyscn.
S.., sroreussrRs. Befkz Co. Pa. Oct SSh' loaa.
To The Eatts- ej 7af Tribune
THIS IS nv first letter intended TOR the puohc'
write not TO obtain notoriety; lfeel myself ABOVE
such desire: my only aim is to serve my coun-
try by the honest and free expression OF my SEN
timents. 1t has been elected by underhand at
tempts at elsctioncering for Polk and Dallas MADE
in the Boston Pilot of Oct. 18th, and the New
York Freeman's Journal OF the 26th OF the same
month The former OF these papers holds the ioi-
lowing language:
1:omsnf TO ycP no Pse condemn r %e efS hs4e
nohns say BIN Mhle 'ye have n9ns I p ps; SAY ~
Of the American Bcari OF Foreign Missions the friend md
patron OF the Kinks end CoIs we have much 70 say! W
AZ the backne and bitterness of that school OF scarnns e
which he belongs and amongst whom ne l. 'esaioea Us se
The Philadelphia correspondent of the latter
says:
The appeal of the American Citizen in the New @ YORK
much effect The Catholic votes mere conceive that .ne
pecna postoa-a position in which Their interests differ
from those of the of their fellow citizens, against
whom there combined and organized effort put IN action
to deprive iheul of their political nights In order 70 project
this dearest OF potcni prvieges-the protection o. sne a
conscences and the night Of educating her offspring IN their
pcrary interests and support those who dscaim religious IN
tole1dnse.'
1t may be that other numbers of these papers
contain similar paragraphs; | receive them only
now and then from friend. Certain it is, how
ever, that there is sufficient transgressiSn and
| feel ashamed to own it-unmerited vItupera-
ton in these to deserve notice and rebuke espe-
cially when at least the Journal, and for sught
know to the contrary, the Pilot too, have but
short time since warned Catholics and Adopted
Citizens in general against the willy appeals oil
politicians and instructed them to treat all such
appeals with proper contempt.
Before | proceed farther, Mr.. Editor, will
tell you who and what | am: | am an American
citizen, native born: through conviction | am
convert TO The Catholic faith, and hope and
intend ever to remain Catholic. BY profession
l am medical student. | am no party man no
politician; | had intended 10 vote for Mr.. Muh
lenberg, Democrat; he being 10 more, voted
for Mr.. Skunk, of the same side. At the ensuing
| Presidential election / sh,ll vote for Clay and
Frenghuysen; and the Wing party can only
have my support so long as it aims at the welfare
OF the country, as it at present undoubtedly does
in all its measures, while those of the opposite
| pdIly L EOuCSliy C-iiCEC W US pCIlllClOUs'
| will now make few remarks on the pas.
sages quoted. The factis that both the papers in
question are Catholic: Notwithstanding, it is prn-
cipaly as Catholic that find fault with their
sly aud insidious, and, think, dangerous Ian.
guage. What can be more insidious than the
Pilots attack on Mr.. Freling ghuysen, and its open
expression Of aversion to him on certain grounds,
which should never be named in political discus
sionsl In another part of this same Pilot is
an article headed, among other things, with
{" Inquity OF the Wings Intolerance of the Pro-
testant Ministry a; the Polls, Church and State,
Prcsbyterianism versus Democracy" Has not
all this certain political end in view? Does the
Pilot not practice what itself condemns Here
| would ask: Has the Pilot forgotten that il pub
lished, not long ago, MIR. Frelinghuysen's letter
TO Mr. Il. E. MeiZgar, containing the most Just
and tolerant sentiments? That the Journal equals
The Pilot in slyness appears from its saying that
the Catholics Of Philadel pha will sacrifice mere
party feeling and mere temporary interests, and
support those wlo dIsclaim reGgic Gus intolerance ?"
What can be more dangerous than to say, that
the same Catholics "have been thrust by the
events Of the last six months into peculiar posi-.
tion-a position in which th,r interests are differ
ent from those ofthercst Of their fellow citizens 2"
And yet this same Journal lately said, and truly
and Justly, "that Catholics have no interests
different from those of the rest of the American
people"
i fear, Mr.. Editor, that not a few Catholics
have suffered, or are going TO suffer their religion
TO interfere with their politics | fear that not
few who were formerly Wings have been de-
coyed from their party by the representations, or
rathes misrepresentation Of certain insincere sell
FISH demagogues and Editors Of the Democratic
party, who have falsely told them that this party
alone is friendly TO equal rights and religious tol-
Grafton. while the Wings are bigoted and intoler.
ant. For these men !, as Catholic, entertain
neither respect nor gratitude, Notwithstanding
their liberal expressions Of sympathy and condo
lence with the suffering Catholics. They have
done US more harm than good they have singled
us out and placed us against our will in contra.
distinction with the res, of the American people,
and have infused suspicion and distrust into some
of us VINO have been fools enough to listen to and
believe them.
Could 1 reach with my voice every Catholic
in the land, would say to each: vote as you
think proper let neither recent events nor future
prospects influence you in :he exercise of this
glorious privilege; let your sole aim be the honor
and glory and prosperity Of your country; you
need no more protection than the rest of your fe-
| lOW CllLtuSJ 1ou HSIN iio PSOiui ihFOIs1 tAptC-
none from either party as regards religious liber
ty confde fully and unreservedly in the honor
and integrity of the good men of both and if
but this is the supposition of case barely possi-
be-and if the homes. discharge of your duty at
the ballot box should subject you TO oppression,
still do not regard it, you can enjoy and practice
your religion even under oppression and persecu.
ton; above ali things do not connect your re-
lgion with politics. do not attribute to an entire
party the principles of a comparatively small
number, who in the course of events have be-
come part of it; suspect no party, mstrust
none; this would be your safest course even amid
the most unfayorabe circumstances; will add,
aim rot at political preerment, at least not in tic
noisy manner of politician.
These, Mr. Editor, are my sentiments, honest
ly entertained; for their expression 1 had no
mercenary motives, no instigation from sny
source wha.evere except the dangerous efforts made
at eIectoneering in the Boston Pilot and New
yc-k Fre.man's Journal With much resnect