The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1852-09-08

| STATUTE Vi MAINE, entltleu, An ACt
for the suppression of Drinking Houses
and Tipping Shops" still more eff
cient, and better calculated to secure
the objects of its enactment.
We, therefore, pray your Honorable
Body to pass law, as nearly identical
with that of Maine as our circumstan-
ccs will permit, that intemperance,
with its accompanying crimes, ,miseries
and expenses, may be banishcd from
the State. September, 1852.
The Now Hampshire Religious Test
WIN. f. Robinson, Esq, of New
York, the well known Irish speaker
and writer, has recently been to New
Hampshire, for the purpose of exam
lining all the records in regard to the
provision in the Constitution of that
State, which excludes Catholics from
office, and the action of the Convcn-
tions of 1871 and 1850. lie under
takes to show from the official docu-
ments tlat old Governor benjamin
Pierce, father of the Democratic nom
inee for the Presidency, voted con-
stantly in the first convention against
religious liberty, and in favor of the
clause DISTINGUISHING Catholics, while
Frank Pierce never made a speech or
otherwise excrted himself, in favor of
Catholic emancipation at the last con-
vention. The speech is very long,
and goes most thoroughly into the sub
ject. 1t must have an effect during
the campaign.
Mr.. Robinson laid down the follow
ing positions, and so earnest was he in
challenging an investigation that he
announced that he would deposit, in
the hands of Simeon Draper, one hun
dred dollars, to be forfeited and given
up to any one who would prove that
in any one Of these propositions he mis-.
stated the facts-the decision to be
left to Robert Emmet.
1. Franklin Pierce did not speak at
all in favor of Catholic Emancipation
during the whole time the Catholic
test was before the Convention.
2. lie had nothing to do with
bringing forward " the subject.
The resolution abolishing the test was
drawn up by Mr.. Parker, of Nashua,
a Wing, and was " brought forward -
by Mr.. Parker Nov. IL, when it was
discussed in Convention.
5. When religious liberty needed q
champion, Gen. Pierce was found
wanting. Though after Catholic e.
Emancipation had been carried in Con
vention he found time, while making
a speech on the property qualification,
to excuse and apologize for the test
bigotry by saying it was dead letter
and a blank, which was simply stating
that Catholics would perjurc them
selves to get into Office, by swearing
to support the Constitution which ex-
pressly shut them out from office.
6. That so far from all his ante
cedents " being right, his father, Ben
jamin Pierce, voted to put the anti
Catholic clause into the Constitution,
and voted for the alien and sedition
laws of old John Adams!
7. That so far from Catholic eman-
cipation failing only for want of a two
thirds vote, it had not one fifth of the
votes cast throughout the State at the
same election for Governor, and did
not come near simple majority of the
small vote cast on this question.
8. That in place of there being any
high confidence in New Hampshire O
Catholic emancipation being carried
the general opinion is, that unless We
draw liuc around New Hampshire
saying, that while the plague spot il
upon her, and the ship is unpurifed
no man, captain or crew, shall land
and thus, by the defeat of Gen
Pierce, bring his bigotted party Il
. their senses, the Catholics in that Stat,
, stand no chance of being emancipateC
for half century.
8. And in a word, in fine, that til,
father, Benjamin Pierce, was a re,
hot enemy Of the Catholics, and
t supporter of the alien and seditior
} acts, and that Franklin Pierce, tn,
: young chicken, learned to crow s.
glibly from the old one that he raise,
not voice in favor of abolisbing hi
fathers bigotry during the whole tim
the subject was under discussion in I
Convention Of which he was leading
member and President.
Towards the close of his speech Mr.
Robinson refers to what he terms an
other New Hampshire Loco Foco il
suit to Irishmen. He says" Ii
c the Spring election of 1888, til
Pierce party of Concord were afrai
1 that they might lose the the town Q
= Concord in the election of some m,
Q nicipal officers. So they ruled ths
+ the forcign'born inhabitants should b
allowed to vote for town officers, whctl
Q or they were naturalized or not. A,