Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1852-09-08
Gen. Scott's Religion.

Now, for the first time under our present system
of government so far as we are aware, has the re-
ligous opinions and predictions of a candidate
for office been openly introduced into the canvass,
and urged as an argument for or against him.
This course of proceeding is, to say the least of it,
exceedingly inconsistent in those who practise 1t.
All of us profess to approve of thief religious lib
erty enjoyed in every State of the Union except
New Hampshire; but to what end have religious
tests and disabilities been erased from the Statute
books if each citizen sets himself up for an inquis
tor whenever candidates are presented by political
parties for the sufages of the people? Ifquestions
of this kind are to be brought to bear upon cleo
tons, far better hunt up the old laws relating to
the subject and re-enact them in all their force.
We are induced to make these remarks from
having learned that the absurd objection to Gen.
Scorr, founded on his supposed connexion with
the Roman Catholic Church, is still urged against
him in some parts of this county. The fact that
he is a Protestant by birth, by education and by
connection has been published repeatedly; but if
he were not, the man who would object to him on
account his religious sentiments, had beter,as the
Richmond Republican advises, forthwith emigrate
to New Hampshire, where the law still prohibits
Catholics from holding office, Notwithstanding
Gen. PIERCE is there at the head of affairs.
The story that Gen. Scorr compelled his sol
diers in Mexico to bow or kneel to the Ghost" is
utterly untrue. If any thing Of the kind was done
it was by order of Col. CHiLDs, when Gen. ScoTT,
with the body of the army, was seventy miles dis
tant
The game that our opponents are playing in ref
erence to this matter may be seen from the follow
ing. which we find in a Pennsylvania paper:
The Washington Union charges that Scott in
lS4l committed wantern insult to the Catholic
Church." And adds:
Seen. Scott, over his own signature, in pub
lished letter bearing date OF October, lo4 insult
ed the whole Catholic Church by referring to the
election of the pope BY the college OF Cardinals as
an interested bargain, by which the most 'su-
perannuated' OF their NUMBER Is Paceu Ill 'iie pa
pal chair!W
This is intended for catholic readers. For anti
catholic readers another tune is sung. We quote
the following from a speech of Watson Z. Haynes
of n. Y, made at Pittsburg TN the evening OF
Thursday, August ~:
Seen. Scott is Southern born man, and if re-
port speaks truly, decidedly favorable to Popery,
which Gf SOY is to the mind of the great majority
of Americans, decidedly Objectionable; while Gen.
Pierce's New Hampshire friends, as fully shown
by their votes against abolishing the Catho-
lie provision in their State Constitution, are deter
mined supporters of Professionalism and opponents of
Popery,"
Thus mans religion is brought by Locofocos
into the political canvass as an argument for or a
gainst his election, and Scott is represented in one
quarter as opposed to PoPery, and in another as
favorable to Popery just as the political interests
of his INSCRIPTIONS opponents require!