Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1847-05-22
TO THE EDITORS.

GENTLEMEN The suboned from the leading article
Of the Union of the lh instant has excited the lively
Indignation in the breast of every Catholic with whom have
conversed since its appearance The Union exultngy
avows itself to be the special organ mouthpicce OF the
Cab ct and can therefore do injustice by assuming the
vile suggestion contained in the extract least semcc
Tear no contradiction from any quarter when assert that
the Catholics have furnished much larger proportion of the
rank and fs of the army-reguars and vounteers-han
any other class of reigonsts in the country. It is true
that very few, any Of the officers have been taken from
that church Whether by accident design very few indeed
Of their applications have found favor with the President
hrs Secretary of War Let that be il may is certain
that hereafter rbad tongue" charge them with being
unwilling to defend their country against all foreign Powers
be they Catholic Protestant But the matter in hand
% is well known that in Mexico the property Of the church
- not subject to axaton and therefore, whatever is con
buted from this quarter, is done gatutousy Very well
And is crime for those who have been protected by the
state to contribute portion Of their to the defence Of
the State Or for those who have derived their possessions
gyatltous" from the State, to render beck portion in
ne Of It's dire necessity Strange indeed IL such doctrine
finds sanction and support from the people ofhe United States
Is patriotism, deemed meiorous here, be denounced
crime Mexico Are the poor priests TO be prosecuted
and hung for extending said and comfort to
emmy Or they to be robbed of their private pro-
their hearts that love Of kindred and country which is Justly
cherished and lauded in all other lands The Union says
Thi part Of the system advancing funds for the prose
cupn of the wal which has been indicated, in other NODES
of giving TO the religious character. 1t is denounced
war OF infdes AMI herecs against the holy church and
against Christianity" And pray what could
you take to justify such denuncaton Tell me not thai
h,re is nothing history institutions hostile to the
Roman Church" No thanks to this Administration if Their
n Let all the honor and all the glory of this exemption
be awarded the that framed our conu
ton With your mouth Mr.. Union" you have plainly
'irdcated" that this exemption shall longer exist II
yoJ help it, But how know you that " it is zeal for
tie Of unrghteousness-no the welfare Of souls
which inspires and animaes the Catholics of Mexico 2"
How know you that the Hierarchy of Mexico chords over
the people and weighs down the OF the community
the slough of ignorance and slavery ~ The writings
WApDY THOMPSON and of Madame CALDEnos Ca Protestant
Lady though wife Of the Spanish MINISTRY bear ample test
NOM to the beous character of your assertions at least
far they apply to the higher orders of the Priesthood wh
alone constitute the hierarchy governing power OF th
church But pass Cannot Mexico be prevailed upor
TO adopt a tolerant system !" To be she can
Fire. and sword, and plumber, and Representation and
concaon, and torture, and starvation, work wonders
in the scheme Of 'spreuang" Such instruments of
ptrsn and sending souls to Heaven omnpoen in th
hands of HESRr VIII and EDwAnD vi. and ELIzABETH,
glorious memory And why may they not be equally
cessfu in the hands of lustrous President Only
little impediment might be found in the way in Mexico
The work must for the part, be carried by Ins
Catholics and the descendants of Irish Catholics They hav
been for three hundred years accustomed those poen
Anglo-Saron arguments But, poor fellows, their part
always to bear bat in,ief them. In agains
NE Holy Churches the Union sncerinely denomnste
fhey might possibly be found the other side But why
pous and unbgoted President and Cabinet and Organ
solcous for religious federation" in Mexico Are there
Protestants there who have complained Of oppression
ntoleance-any Inquson there in which Herelics have
been ncarcerated and touredany scourgng and burning
for conscience sake have heard of have always
understood that in religious opinion the people Of Mexico
call Of one mind the Holy Book recommends to all Chris
ans In such country there be need Of what the
Union calls "tolealion Surely that unfortunate people
have dssensons enough amongst hem without the addition
of the greatest that cursed the wodTegous
dscord
AT the Of the war, Messrs Editors, dazzling
representations displayed in of newspapers of
the multitude Of gold and silver crucxes and images sacred
and other furniture of the cahedras and churches
Mexico doubt stimulate the punderng and fighting
propenses of the vagabond portion Of population. But
that the effect Of such publications
the apprehensons of Catholics chat the war, oen
sb declared lot purposes OF puDc usuce was 10 De carried
for the purpose of piagng and crushing the Catholic
church in Mexico. Volunteering and ensing, of
proceeded slow pace. The tactics of the powers that
suddenly changed and adopted to quiet the
fears OF those who principally relied to fill the ranks
Of the army Procamaons breathing peace and good will to
the Mexican church, oensby for the Mexcan but really for
the Catholic soldiers and solemn potesaons Of protection to
the religion and clergy he country scnA ready cut and
dried Gen. Taylor for publication and Catholic chapans,
humby asked for from the Jesuts at Georgetown, ap
pointed for the army The plan succeeded, and the ranks Of
the army filed up. Now however, the real objects Of
the being thought be attained nearly to be
considered certain, the cloven foot hastily withdrawn, is
again peepng from under the presidential robe How far may
be thought safe expose its hideous form yet to be
Let the Union be assured that it will be closely watched
The MOTTO attributed the gallant Decatur, Our country,
right or tcrong" have viewed since the age of
reflection, Of doubtful morality. If war; originally de-
caed for public and national Objects is to be converted by
the Government into Of the Catholic church,
used instrument of Propdgandsm, shall hereafter
be free every shade Of doubt to its immoral import
A CATHOLIC OF WASHINGTON.
MAY IS, ls47.
THE EXTRACT FROM =" THE UNION"
h..,