Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1841-1853, 1852-08-26
A clincher

independent religious Journal unconnected with politics
The editor an able honest man, who spurns the mean
attempt of the Wing party to mislead and deceive the
Catholic population Of this country. The Catholic
press thirteen in number have stamped the story of
Gen. Peree's hostility that Church with the indeble
brand of falsehood They satisfied with the position
| of Gen. Pierce. Why then, should Wing Protestants
nterferef Why have the Wings dragged this religious
question into the arena of pocsi Read the article 1t
will give the 81
IFeom the Boston Piot-Caholie.l
GEN. PIERCE AND THE CATHOLICS.
We hoped, last week, that we had heard the last OF
the cries which interested partsans had raised against
the Democratic candidate consequence OF the refusal
of his native State amend the local constitution 10
such way admit Catholics to State Offices in New
Hampshire. We supposed that we had said enough,
and more than enough, to convince oar two hundred
thousand readers that if New Hampshire have con-
sttntion which excludes Roman Catholics from certain
Offices Gen. Pierce is not at all responsible Tor that
Of things. Our articles this subject, summed
up, present the following result Gen Pierce from the
beginning Of his public man. has exerted all
his Influence in favor Of amending the constitution
expunge the obnoxious clauses which require that
Offices shall be held only by Protestans He, and
the late Judge Woodbury., succeeded in procuring
State Convention three years ago, for the purpose Of
revising this constitution He the presiding officer,
and ALL nearly ALL the members returned by the Peo
pie for the convention Democrats When the arti-
ces concerning Catholics came up for consideration,
Judge Woodbury. made a mastery speech in favor OF
amending them, which published ia the Pilot and
Gen Pierce also delivered a powerful argument on the
side, he leaving the Chair for this very purpose
This speech published in paper long since.
At that time he expected the nomination than
we did, The vote for amending the constitution in this
respect, was unanimous, we believe SO 1t Is clear that
leaders and Of the Democratic party
in New Hampshire uHanmously in taror Of sfrik-
ing from the Constuton the clauses respecting Catho-
lies, and they strongly recommended the people to ap
prove, by their votes at the primary elections, the
amendments made by their delegates. So far, neither
The leaders of the Democratic party, nor Gen. Pierce,
deserve any the contrary, they merit praise,
and if the convention voted unanimously in favor Of the
| Catholics, the praise is due to Woodbury. and Pierce,
who labored zeaously to bring about that result.
| When the subject before the people, at their
town meetings. oil the arsndmens proposed by the con.
vention were lost. General Pierce, however, made
another effort in favor Of the Catholics, and mainly
through his influence, the whole subject reconsider
ed by the people, and they voted again upon certain
amendments OF the Constitution presented Tor their APP
probation by the delegates The amendments in which
| we are particularly interested once more lost In
this second trial Gen. Pierce of whose nomination
then dreamed faithfully served the interests Ct the
Catholics of New Hampshire. 1t not his fault if
| the amendment was rejected by the people.
We have diligently inquired into this matter and we
satisfied that this curious result due to the follow
| ing causes;
There were several amendments to the Constitution
proposed by the convention for popular consideration
Some of them pleasing to the people, and among
these, we may safely mention the proposed amendment
earthly why these should be rejected. Yet re-
ected they were. The amendments were not, we be-
eye, acted upon separately but they were ALL or near
y all disposed of in lump. Some OF them were not
acceptable hs people, and the others shared the lot OF
| these. All were lost.
Persons familiar with the conduct Of town meetings
that citizens who have business OF their own
to transact frequently il not ordinarily content them.
selves with going the polls simply for the purpose Of
voting Cor officers. They do not always remain through
the day take part in debates or in ballongs which
4 ha otesfo hay 10
happened in the considering. The votes
the questions OF amending the constitution taken,
in many towns, in the afternoon when the meetings were
| more thinly attended. So we have been informed.
Religious prejudice, unquestionaby, had much to do
with the result minated in recent article on
this subject We suppose that Catholics must wait
patiently for years, they have waited IN New
York Massachusetts, Carolina and in other States and
these laws will surely be repealed In most States,
penal laws enacted against Catholics Our grand
fathers almost remember the time when priests were
hung in New York. Our fathers remember the time
when Catholics not admitted to the rights Of full
citizenship in Maryland, and in some other States We
remember the time when it was so In Carolina and
elsewhere. Now, these things are changed and Cath
oes enjoy equal rights with their Protestant ellow-ct'
zens. And whence this changer Why, emgra-
ton brought it about Catholics settled In those STATES
they became numerous the people saw that they were
good class Of citizens any in the land they saw
that Catholics freely poured forth blood and treasure in
the defence of the country they grew ashamed, there
fore, of these silly laws which oisted upon the
1
blotted them from the statute book. The same result
will be witnessed in New Hampshire in a few years
more.
One reason why New Hampshire has delayed follow.
ing the example Of the other States is this She has
not like thcm had opportunities Of knowing who and
what Catholics We suppose that the Protestants
of New Hampshire not, after all more bigoted than
are evangecas other States for these had such and
laws, and repealed them as Catholics became nu-
merous and better known. There few Catholics in
New Hampshire. We have heard Of persons who
travelled twenty miles to Irishman and an Irish.
mans baby, whether they were like other men and
babies This, however, thirty years ago, when
Catholics but handful. There are but three or
four priests in New Hampshire while there about
fifty in Massachusetts. Under these circumstances,
Catholics may well be charitable and wait until New
Hampshire knows them better. This must happen
soon.
These considerations show that this law has been a
dead letter in New Hampshire. Catholics could not
hold certain Offices but then, there were no Catholics in
the State, none at any rate who could aspire to be
Governor or Senator Had the issue been tried-had
Catholic been elected Governor by the people, at any
time, persuaded that be would not be unseaed
by the Legislature consequence OF these constitution
al provisions. Little nothing, probably would have
been said about it, Any attempt the way OF enforcing
the would probably have resulted in its repeal This
is the operation OF obnoxious laws which have be-
come dead letter In Maryland, Tor example, there is
at this moment, we believe, law forbddng Catholics
We doubt not that similar laws may be found in the
salute books other States They cannot be enforced
of Woodbury. and Pierce. in their speeches,
strongly insisted upon the fact that the New Hampshire
law is a dead letter. -
neither more nor less We would trust its interests
to either party. 1t is wrong. however, in our Wing
friends charge this New Hampshire law upon the
Democratic party in that State. The Democrats might
well lay at the door Of the Wings the injustice OF
Massachusetts in refusing pay for the destroyed Ursu
line Convent. Nav, with greater reason. For Massa-