Weekly miners' express. (DuBuque, Iowa) 184?-1849, 1848-02-23
Iowa Cry, Feb. 10th, 1913.

To Patrick Quigley endothers, Committee, &c.
GENTLENEN:-I am in receipt Of a let
ter from you, under date OF Dubuque,
January 29th, advising me of your ap-
pointment as a committee on behalf Of the
Catholics Of your city, "to investigate
certain charges brought against the Ca
tholic Clergy in Mexico, by Dela@oa
Smith, in his speech at the Democratic
meeting Of the 9Th Of January, held at
Iowa City," and requesting to be inform
ed by me, Gas editor Of a Democratic
Organ Of this State, whether consider
said Delazon Smith democrat or not"
The prompt attention which the subject
of your letter should have received at my
hands, has been prevented by the urgen-
cy Of other duties.
Though your interrogatory is very
simple one, requiring only, as it would
seem, categorical yes or no in reply,
yet, experience hath taught, that when
political and religious matters become,
whether properly or improperly, invo'v-
ed together in a public correspondence,
unless the question be SO stated as clear
ly to cover the whole ground, Il simple
affirmation or negative may be so ,nisin-
terpreted, or so mlsapplied, as to give rise
to very erroneous and injuries impress
slons. You will therefore, l trust, par
don me if | deem it my duty to accompa-
ny the answer which you require with
my views in regard 10 the assumed poll
teal bearing Of the remarks made by
Delazon Smith concerning the Catholic
clergy in Mexico, on the occasion alluded
to; which remarks, am free to say,
were in the highest degree indecorous,
uncalled for, aud out Of place in q demo.
cratic meeting.
| might ask gentlemen, whether the
mere fact of my considering said Smith
democrat, or not a democrat, could az
feet, one way or the other. the character,
force Or effect Of those charges, or in the
least change, or augment, or mitigate, the
responsibility Of his remarks? If he be
considered a democrat, does it neccssuri.
ly follow that the Democratic party are
10 be held responsible for any charges
which he may have seen fit 10 make a.
gainst The clergy Of any christian demo-
|
The democratic party, as you are a
ware, is composed Of all religious demo.
limitations, the members Of each freely
enjoying their peculiar sectaran views;
and when any speaker in one of our po-
lliIcal assemblies SO far abuses the priv
ledge Of speech, and so far forgets that
respect which is alike due to the religious
views Of all, as to outrage the feelings Of
any particular class by indulging in re-
marks prejudicial to the honor of their
religion, it may very properly be set
down to the account Of his own individual
prejudice-his religious or irreHgious
bias, his indiscreiion, his ilIibera!ity, or
what you wil'-but cannot with any de-
gree ofpropriety, be imputed to the De
,mocracy for hostility to the denomination
thus assal!cd, unless the party officially
endorse his remarks by direct expvcs-
sion OF approval. He is individually and
alone responsible. The democratic creed
5interferes not, directly nor Indirectly
with religious creeds or beliefs, but, on
the contrary, as the records of the past
will fully show, holds liberty of con.
science as the most sacred boon of Fl &c.
dom. -"
Having promised thus much, will now
reply to your interrogatory as explicitly
as the nature ofthe case will permit. NV
acquaintance with Delazon Smith is very
slight, never having seen him but once o.
4 twice before the occasion alluded to.
am informed, that since he came to Iowa
something near two years ago--he has
uniformly acted with the democratic par
~ III the southern portion Of the State
where he is generally regarded as de.
mocral, protesting democratic principles
) and supporting democratic men and mea
sures. Whether he would be so regard
ed in your section of the State, gentle
men, is quite another question; for the re
is sufficient evidence IN his case, that O
pinions upon this subject may differ with
localities; and perhaps the fact may be
regarded as mere matter olspecuIa,iye
opinion eithersway. It is alledged by We
ry good authority, however, that his ca.
reer before coming to Iowa, was by nc
means remarkable for political consist.
ency or fidelity to the democratic party.
But you ask not my private opinion Of
the man, but whether, on behalf "of the
:. democratic party Of This State" | recog.
niZe him as "a democrat or not.n This
is question which lido not feel at liberty.
in that capacity, to answer hastily. As
editor ola democratic journal, therefore,
must reply, that do not conceive it to
be my province to pass upon the demo-
cracy Of any PIRATE citizen claiming 10
be a member ofour party When man
comes before the public, claiming the
confidence of the Democracy, and seeking
tho suffrages Of the people, il is time en-
ough, and would then, perhaps, become
my duty, to do So
Mr.. Smith has never yet been before
the people Of Iowa as 9 candidate for any
lnffice..r much less a ldonoo Y rs "a Stand q "a