The daily national Whig. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1847-1849, 1848-01-06

We copy the following pungent articles
from the New York Freeman's Journal Of
Saturday last. The first is editorial, the Sc
cond is from its Washington correspondent.
We entirely concur in the sentiments eX-
pressed in these articles, and hope they will
not fail to have their proper effect among our
Catholic fellow-citizens throughout the coun-
try. 1t is not necessary to remark that the
Freeman's Journal Is the most talented, and
has the largest circulation Of the Catholic
press in the United States. 1t also bears
the imprimatur Of Bishop Hughes:
Passing Events.
Ii is to be presumed that the high dignitarcs 70
whom the interests of the Republic are Entrusted, are
keeping up terrible thinking" upon the affairs OF
the nation, but what will result from II no man can
TIL, The question Of iirs Importance Is ol course
lh Mexican Question" but that Is for the present
beyond legislative interference Some RESOLUTIONS
having very important bearing upon the conditions
of the final settlement have been introduced, but we
fear the event TO which they apply is far distant
Our present condition, in regard TO that unhappy
country cannot be better described, than We heard II
sometime since, by fable-(whether IEsop's or
not we know not) An eagle was once towering
over our earth in watch Tor It's prey, wheh espyln5
a rabbit, as it thought on the ground, it bounced
upon it, and bore it up into mid,air. 1t soon disco
vcrcd however, that what Il had taken or q rabbit
was in reality Il cat, which began TO exhibit symp-
TOMS of discomfort at its sudden abduction, ny
scratching The legs oil the eagle Mrs Cat, sad the
eagle. tell YOU what will do, will let You go II
you will let me go. Agreed, said the cat, put you
must place me where you found me. Whether inc
eagle did go or not history does not say but II 10 10
be presumed that after considerable number OF
scratches and loss of feathers she found this the ea'
sest way ofsettling "the difficulty"
We are induced 10 think that as regards duration,
al least Mr.. Folks war will occupy place IN histo-
~. only second to the seige of Troy.
WAsHsdros, Dec. 20, l5l7,
Sin In noticing the current of matters and
things in this Babel Of politics and religion In my
letter of last week. mentioned one or Two things,
that appeared 10 me remarkable for the times, as
the circumstances that gave rise 10 lhemi VIZ the
invitation TO the Rev, Jas b, Donelan 10 become
candidate for Chaplain TO the House OF Representa-
tves md the intention Of the Clerk of that House
TO appoint two Irish adopted citizens to situations
in his office. also said as part OF the history OF
this affair, that one was Protestant and the other
a Catholic. certainly did not intend by this to
convey the impression, that either Of those gentle
man had been considered by the Clerk eligible to
those places on account of his religious profession
but merely that such was the fact in the case Nor
is it to be supposed that either would apply for or
receive Office on such conditions. II they should,
then agree with you that they ought TO be disap-
pointed But sir, there is another view Of this case
that comes home to the feelings and rights OF every
Faith, which feel myself bound TO notice, when
ever the proper occasion for doing so may Offer and
that is whenever these feelings and these rights are
trampled upon, because Of their being Catholics.
Nor do believe in that system of passive obedience
to abuses of this kind that too often characterizes
many of our Catholic papers The Catholic press Is,
and Of right ought to be, as much the guardians OF
those privileges guaranteed 10 us by the Constitution
of the United States, as they are of our Holy Rei-
gion which we profess; nor do consider II depar
lure from that well-baanced state Of neutrality be-
tween parties political which they occupy, and from
which 1t would be wrong for them to depart, TO no
iice from time 10 time, cases that come In conflict
with our rights. In Ireland, in Switzerland in
France aye and in the United States, though under
various forms and DISCUSSES, the same fell spirit Of
bigory and intolerance towards Is hourly in ac-
tive operation; and allhoughn majority OF inslan
ces il Ia impossible for those who see and feel Its
effects bearing heavily upon them TO give irrefrng
BILE evidence OF them il s nevertheless necessary TO
call public attention to them 1t is not alone In the
Army and Navy of our country that this system of
obtains 10 fearful extent against us,
but also in other departments of the government
and were permitted TO name The instances known
by the effects, rather than by the facts and the ma
chinery at work for producing them, 1t would sur
prise even the most incredlilous, As Catholics we
certainly ought not TO ask for favors from govern
meDt but as Catholics neither ought we be exclu-
ded from then, and when such is found to be the
nct, then 1t is matter Of little consequence to uR
whether we live under the banner of Republic or
that Of Despotisin That sneh things have existed
in other times, have had the most positive assur-
ance from persons acquainted with the circunstan-
ces and 10 such an extent was the system of pro-
scrpon carried on in the city where il in force
that even respectable Episcopaan of my acquain-
lance, the father of Bishop OF that Church in the
United States, obtained situation In the Custom
House only when he threatened to ncquaint Gen
Jackson with the matter. If things ofthis kind are
permitted to pass without censure, then we may as
well prepare for the union of Church and State, which
is not far OIL rs all Its forms exist, but its name,