The voice of freedom. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1839-1848, 1845-08-28
For the Voice Of Freedom.
WHITE OAK SPRINGS, WIS.
Ara 12dS {

AUG. /, l845.
FRIEND HoLcoMB;-When let. the
green hills and wales Of Vermont to wan
der for time through the wonder excl.
ting valley of the Mississippi i promis-
ed to send you an occasional glimpse Of
what | saw and heard. ASH have now
come to stop for time, may as well
send you No, |. We crossed the Noun
tains and found ourselves 10 the waters OF
one of the branches of the Ohio, about the
middle Of June. Here, for the first time
| entered the great Western valley; that
valley which for the last few years has
formed the theme, and often the theatre
of speeulations for all classes of men, and
from every quarter of the globe. The
American Statesman looks towards this
vast, and we'll nigh boundless valley as
the region from whence the laws of his
country must soon come, and whose i'm
press they must bear. The foreign
Statesman likewise strains his gaze thilh.
er and strives to number its acres; to count
its population and estimate its resources
and its influence upon his own nation and
the world. The philanthropist looks
here, as to place that ere long may af-
ford happy peaceful home to countless
millions of his fellow beings. The reli>
zionist regards it as the land that will one
day tell with mighty influence upon the
deslinies OF his own creed, and first of all =,
the Voice from the Vatican is heard and
responded to. There is hardly a city
west Of the Allegheny Mountains where
this is not in appearance. and, in many
places it is in reality, the prevailing re>
ligion.
Rapidly as the tide of emigration from
Eastern America and western Europe is
filling this vast region with busy popu>
aiion; still more rapidly are the emissa>
ries Of this creed filling every nook and
corner where favorable location can be
found. On The boat on which l deseend>
ed the Ohio were some five catholic priests
and some eight or ten nuns, or. as they
called them, sisters of charity fresh
from the old world. This is only one
instance among thousands, that might be
mentioned; and their works are TO be seen
in every city along the banks of the Ohio
and Mississippi. New Orleans is now
catholic city. Cincinnati has its crosses
towering above the surrounding spires
and domes. Louisville and St. Louis are
governed by catholic Influence.
But 1 am saying nothing new on this
subject, yet feel it to be of so much inns
portance to every christian ,philanthropist,
and lover Of republican institutions, that l
think it cannot be too often MENTIONED
No, lei the subject be distinctly uLder-
stood,and letti be known too, that catholics
feel, yea declare there is too much free.
dom here, when we think there is too Its
tie. would not by this be understood
to harbor any unkind feeling towards
far otherwise; but while I
would grant to them free and full tolera-
lion for their religious belief, I ask the
same for my own. Twill however leave
this subject for the present, and perhaps
refer to it again In future.
The country, after crossing the Alle-
ghany Mountains, is beautiful, but the
dwellings are so covered with soot from
the bluminOus coal Of the region, that