The daily national Whig. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1847-1849, 1847-12-03
To The Editors Of the Louisville Journal.
WAsHiNaroN, Nov. ls, 1874

. .
GENTLEMEN: A writer in the " Louisville Demo-
cra whose letter is dated from here on the 5h inst
uses the following language:
There is no religion in Mexico. The Catholic
faith is only seen in form; II has existence. The
lnaian mysteries are still mixed up with the ceremo-
II the writer of the foregoing farago (Which, for
absurdty as well as for its want of common sense is
unequaed BY any thing of the kind that has fallen
under my notice for long tnel ia n Catholic he
must be either fool or knave; for, il only one Of
the most ordinary intelligence, he ought to know
better than to write such nonsense as this little ex-
tract contains But sir, the writer is no Catholic,
and consequently knows nothing either of The Ca
tholic religion in Mexico or elsewhere So far from
ms declaration being true, that there is no religion
In Mexico" the rejecting and honorable writer's with
our army who have witnessed the fervor, piety and
morality Of its people and priesthood, give very diff
ferent account. That there are many bad priests
there as well as bad people, win not deny; b.,
then, we have them here too of oil sorts and of I'll
creeds; but u would be as unfair for foreigner to
stigmatise the whole religious community In this
country as being without religion, as to make the
same charge against the people of Mexico for similar
reasons will therefore, tell this writer that there
Is religion In Mexico and that too Of the purest and
pest Kind He says: The Catholic faith Is only seen
in form" % This is the first time that have ever
heard any one say that faith could be seem Faith
is in the act of the minda belief In things not SEEN
and sometimes as for instance the doctrine Of the
incarnation, Trinity hnd Eucharist not Comprehend
ed but still believed because God has revealed them;
and as TO seeing faith in FORM opine that woud
be still greater difficulty than 10 see without any
But he goes on and says that Indian mysteries are
still mixed up with the ceremonies Of the Catholic
church" How does he know Is he sufficiently
well informed on what are the distinctions between
Indian mysteries and Catholic ceremonies, TO be
quahed to give an opinion on the subjects and IL So
has he been present at the celebration Of these cere
monies m Mexico2 But, sirs will not tire your
patience by giving this silly statement any further
consideration; MY experience Of the views Of the
best informed persons Of the various Protestant de-
nominations on Catholic matters satisfies me that
they know very little indeed of them and in ninety
nine cases out of every hundred blunder upon them
II this Is SO here, where our language is alike and
our intercourse with each other almost an hourly
occurrence, what must be thought of one who writes
Of people whose language he does not know, per
maps, and among whom he never has been The
truth Is, sirs the Administration has in It's employ
the veriest tribe Of venal scrlbblers which can be
found anywhere, whose business II seems Is TO mis-
represent the social, political moral and religious
condition OF the citizens Of Mexico for the purpose
Of setting up plea TO rob them Of everything they
people of the United States believe that thew are
such Ignorant religious cut-throats, as our penny
a-inerr represent them, that the sympathies which
weaker nation, In war with stronger, usually re-
celves from the peace-loving portion Of mankind
would be paraized and plumber prosecuted under he
POLK LIE Of the llth May, 1886 continued till they
eii victims TO our rapacty for their territory have
sun me fullest confidence In the wisdom and hones-
" Oh Inc wing party, and hope they will not finch
one iota from the position taken on the war by Mr.
LAY would be far better for the party to Be de-
ieated thousand times than succeed by sustaining
ialsehood-ay, Presidential lie. cannot con.
ceiye now the wings can to carry on even
upon Mr.. Clays platform Of contingency occurring
oy meSico refusing TO negotiate peace while we
occupy her SOL. the war was ,lNconstitutionally
begun and no act Of Congress subsequent 10 thai
can make II legal war; for nothing can be legal. or
q law or national In the American acceptatlon Of
the term, that not based upon and In strict con-
formiy with the Constitution. When Won dennrt
rom This rule you abrogate that instrument and
adopt the doctrine of expediency, on the mere will
OF majority, without any primary principle 10 10
vern you mo last Congress did this and regret H.
ARIEL.