The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1852-09-25
correspondence.
WAsmssroN. Sept. II. 1859.

Moor Rsy sir Permit me the privilege OF eommunl-
.rs 10 you my views relation TO the position that the
c.hoc voters OF the democratic party should occupy
4 The approaching presidential election
NV excuse for uespassng upon your time and al'en'
ion i hs deep interest / feel in the subject as Ro
nan Catholic and as an humble believer in The political
dogmss maintained by the party OF which Mr. Jefferson
,ys. the founder address you because. Tor some
ussks past common rumor has given out IN TINS slen
~. and believe elsewhere The. you, IN cohJuheuoh
lb several other distinguished members oil Toe roman
catholic hierarchy entertain and express the opinion 'na'
he Catholics throughout the Union shoula fegasu inc
.poroaehinx presidential election as III opportunity 70
signify their dsapproballon OF 'na' po"on -
go of The State of New Hampshire commonly called
~ ,.yions.te. clause which excludes ihe Roman
rboc cilizeos of that Stale from an equal participation
- nv,v;lages and mmunites enjoyed by Their FRO
,.,.nt hrstbren: and lba as merted rebuke 10 Inc
S.,a Of New Hampshire, the Catholic volers should
m.oifest their disapprobation at the polls by Young
Gains, General Pierce regardless OF ordinary party ahi
lies and political Pred'eeuons. ,
consequence oil your exalted station in the church
.aornsd as il is By such distinguished ability your opn
;oa. without any active exerlion on your part, must
n..sssauly have great influence on Catholic sentiment,
na,;culary in respect to subject paraking OF rei
ans nature therefore write you, in order, II the ru
-, ia false. TO destroy liz effects by contradcting II
,noo authority; but. ii true, TO Indicate the reasons
.rh;cb have brought my mind 10 different conclusion
80 NONE that if am wrong you will do me the favor to
uoint out my error, and am ngh'' you WIZ ADOPT my
conclusion. ~ ;,,,o,;on ot 40
-,,n,;on in assuming TO enlighten one 30 eminently
onl;6ed by learning and talent, 10 investigate and de-
Ia for himself This feeling almost delers me from the
undertaking but the interesting nature OF the topic,
and the idea that perhaps the subject has not engaged
much OF your attention, combined with confidence re-
po,ed in your amabe character, have enabled me to com
pete my task, maugre the scrupes Of delicacy
In treating this subject take it for granted as mat
Ter Of course that the Catholic members OF the democratic
uary believe it's policy best calculated TO promote the in
srests Of the country and its doctrines best adapted
constitutional administration OF the government--n a
word that they would zeaousy advocate lis but
for the question under consideration.
The proposition seek establish is that no Catholic
member Of the democratic party should at The approach
ing presidential election. desert his political associations
and cast his vote against the nominee OF the National
Democratic Convention, merely because The people of
New Hampshire have refused abolish the regioustest
clause which deorns their constitution and renders
obnoxious 10 all enlightened minds.
Such course, in my humble judgment, would be I'M
Just to the national democratic party OF the Union, and
unjust to the democratic party OF New Hampshire, and 10
General Pierce himself
First II would be unjust 10 the national democratic party
Of the Union
Irrespective OF the liberal views as 10 all subjects which
have so emneny distinguished that party from It's ogani
zaon down TO the present time, Catholic feel thai
owe debt OF gratitude TO it which can never repay
feel that owe as much 10 its great founder, Mr. Jeer
son, as do to Washington. Civil liberty secured to me
BY the latter would have been empty name bat for the
religious liberty Of which the former was so distinguished
an advocate Through his influence, exered during srug
gle Of three years the Virginia legislature, the defend
srs OF established church were overthrown, and in
tolerance crushed
The Catholics oil this coaay owe much TO this exam
pie ssi by Virginia under the auspices of Jefferson The
democratic party oil this Uaon still adheres TO the princ
pies promulgated by Jefferson and its leaders the de-
cared enemies OF excusveness in any shape They have
always acted upon the idea beautifully expressed by
the Spectator that liberty should reach every ndivdua
OF people, they all share common natures il i
only spreads among particular branches there had bete
be none at ALL since such liberty only aggravaes the
misfortune Of those who deprived of il. by setting be
fore them subject of dsagreeable comparison" Oppose
ton to the alien and sedon law and throwing open the
portals OF this vast asylum OF nations TO the oppressed
foreigner by shortening the process OF Naturalization
nazed the democratic party al lie birth and from that day
this has batled against sectarian organizations in
whatever guse they have appeared This party OF whose
liberal principles General Pierce is the exponent, and o
whose standard the approaching election he is the bear
Of any small iagmenary body forming OF its com
ponsni parts. With the proprety might the whole
Catholic church be condemned for the sins OF single
member OF it, With the same reason whole family
should be accommodated for the heresy OF single in
dvidua To punish the entire party for the misfeasance
or nonfeasance OF nconsderabe minority not only
unusi, but yolAton OF the fundamental principle OF
publican government that the majon,y shalt rule =
Tor you render the action OF The majority nugaioy By
ting its head the consequences resulting from the
conduct OF the minority Besides. the which
would prevent Catholic from voting for General Pierce
applies with greater force TIE other candidate for the
presidency, since cannot be doubted that large por.
ton Of the wing party in New Hampshire voted against
repeal OF the test law. while majority OF the demo-
cratic party voted for it, The Catholic democrat who, in
Of the existence Of this law opposes the
democratic nominee, and votes for the wing candidate,
"Dat venam cotvis censura columbus"
Second. II would be unjust to the democratic party OF
New Hampshire and TO General Pierce himself, for the
Catholic democrat 10 vote against the nominee OF his party
for the alleged.
II is fact well known in New Hampshire, that the
democratic party OF that State and General Pierce have
always been in favor OF abolshing the religious test
clause that dshgures the State constitution The hes OF
the party papers in New Hampshire will substantiae
the fact (ss credibly informed) that every demo.
cratic paper in the State has always urged the people to
vote for convention to amend the constitution when
that question has been submitted TO them and that pre-.
vous to 1850 every wing paper opposed the calling Of
In fs44 every democratic paper advocated
the calling Of convention, for the express purpose Of
aboshing the religious and property tests and every
vhiy mana opposed IL AT that time The democratic tic