Herald of the times. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1849-1856, 1852-10-07

only by positive but by negative cOnsid-
erations moi only by what he has done,
but by what he has failed 10 do. Sins
Of omission are in TACT the temptations
that most easily beset the practised
politician. Political causes are always
moro or less complex in their operation,
and uncertain in their effects: and, to
the public man who acts solely in refer
ence to personal consequences, It 10 far
cnsier and safer to evadc than to meet
responsibility. The moral courage TO
do right under all circumstances 10 the
frs, quality Of the genuine statesman.
He who hides, or shifts, or paIters, or
hesitates, when public duty calls, has
no business in public life. He shows
infallibly that he is governed by selfish
ness, and not by principIe-by regard
TO his own rather than TO the public
advantage. He 10 untrue, unfa ithful
untrustworthy.
FRANxLix FIERCE has not done much
Of a positive character that merits either
the appreciation or disapproba,ion Of his
country. All candid men agree in this.
He has failed however to do at least
one thing, for which he deserves the re-
probation Of every American who re-
spects the principles upon which our
government il founded. Nc greater po-
li,ical anomaly exists in this country
than the sixth article Of the New Hamp-
shire Bill OF Rights which precludes
Roman Catholics from all civil Office
a universal, unmitigated, and peremp-
tory disqualification. 1t is direct vic.
lation Of that liberty ofconscienee which,
through not in SO many words guaran-
tied by tho Constitution Of the United
States, lies at the foundation OF all
rational freedom. There can be no real
liberty OF conscience where the law
visits one religion with penalties or
dis abilities from which another 10
exempt To cay tha, such a proscrip-
ton a. that in the New Hampshire
Constitution 10 an anomaly IN this coun-
Try, is not sufficient il 10 an anomaly
m all countries that make the least
pretence to liberal government. Eng
land has known nothing Of the kind for
twenty years. France has not known
1t in any shape for twenty years and
even under her present tyrannical rule
all religions are equal before the law.
In Prussia ITSELF Protestants and Ro-
man Catholics participate like in the
public counsels and public Offices. This
unjust and odious cival distinction
between Protestants and Catholics, 10
reserved tor State which claims TO be
one oi the most Democratic Of this great
American model Republic.
FkASxLlN PirRcs would not when he
had the opportunity, unbar the path Of
Roman Catholic frecmen to Office -
with what face ca3 no now ask them to
aid in advancing him to Office I Is he,
who has 90 feeble a sense OF the most
sacred Of personal rights, fitted to be
the Executive custodian and protector
Of the American Constitution 7 10 bo
who has voluntarily suffered his native
State to remain distinguished by so dark
a reproach from every other part Of the
world where Freedom has any foothod
whatever, worthy to take into his tenn
porary keeping the splendid fame Of
this great na,ion'7 Is the representative
Of Democracy hatkeeps in being such
odious prescriptions and exclusions to
be selected as a proper representative,
before the world, Of American repub-
licanism Supposing that he. himself
were a Roman Catholic and had played
u similar part in a Roman Catholic
state Of the Union, If there be such a
one, would not every highsouled right
minded Protestant Indignantly oppose
his elevation to such post as that OF
the Presidency Of the nation.--N. Y
Cour. d. Eng.