The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1852-03-16
Interesting Hsns Correspondence,
Washington.

drch Bishop Hughes Catholic Ctopt,, IN the History
Of n, United States
Mr. BENNETT
Eight months have elapsed since Arch Bishop
Hughes was arrsgned for tho blunders he had COM
mittcd in his Liverpool dinner speech, aud other
addresses in reference 10 tho history OF our religious
liberty, and he pleads At length 10 the Indictment
Were to say "3"opfcS j0rrfiapf ;rgSc;fuy riIiru-
las ms" should certainly be taken 10 task by the
Baltimore Sna and certain other papers. Tor which
have no desire will, therefor. readily admit that
in both length and breadth. the Archbishcp's pro-
dnction Is no mouse, and viii only say, that really
think the errors cont aimed in his chapter ought
not to go forth 70 the public on grave subject,
under the sanction OF So high name, wthout cor
rection. And | doubt not YOU will agree with me-
that there can be NJ vehicle proper to carry forth
their correction n that which first conveyed them To
the public.
The veg first sentence contains glaring error in
point OF met He says that religious equality il
guaranteed 10 all the people of th, land by the
stitution OF the United States. II is not So IL
might as well be said that freedom of speech and of
the press and the right of the people, peaeeable TO
assemble and to petition the government for = re-
dress OF grievances. are guaranteed by the consti-
tuition The fact is, VII these we're considered by tho
people OF the several States n inherent rights and
as such, they cherished them. and they valued them
so highly that they were unwilling to yield them up
n ~
tcriere with il in any degree. And, although it was
understood by all that, necessary consequence,
the powers not delegated to the United States by the
constitution, prohibited by it to the States were
reserved to the States respectively, to the people;
yet, so jealous were they of those rights, that they
not satisfied till an expression of restrictions
and reservations was engratted into tho constitu-
ton in the form of amendments. Consequently,
the general government cannot interfere with
the reserved rights of the States-and all are
reserved TINT are not expressly grantcd-iree-
dom of conscience, of speech, and Of the press,
and the right peaceably TO assemble, aud to
petition the government, in particular. These
blessings belong to, and in the keeping Of, the
people Of the several States. They have declared
them to be natural rights, and that they are free to
be enjoyed by all within their respective jurisdc-
tions and they can interfere, and change and m0di
fy, and annul them if they please and the general
government has no power to prevent It.
The whole of his first paragraph is erroneous. He
says that the trainers Of the constitution proposed to
secure religious equality by the constitutional mega
ton of all power to legslate on so sacred subject
This is mistake; the trainers of the constitution
had nothing in the world to do with that negation.
The question was not even discussed ny them. Two
years, believe, after their work was done, 1t was
proposed to the States by Congress, rs an amend
ment-several of the State conventions for the rati
fcaton of the constitution having expressed de-
sire to that effect. All that the trainers of the
stitntion did respecting religion was to declare,
simply, that religious test should be required as
qualification to any Office under the government of
the United States. In this respect all religions are
on equality -Judnism Paganism, Christianity, Mo-
homedanism, Deism, &c, &c. Was an act like
this-so noble, SO just-evcr done by Roman Catho-
lics--or by any single sect of Protestants! No,
never! For this immortal act--this just homage
paid to the everlasting principle Of rght-the world
is indebted, most probably. to the variety of reli
gious sects that were in existence here ut the time
of the revolution, and especially to the efforts of
those individuals who were designated as ficcthink
Multiplicity Of religious sccts is the life OF
liberty. Yes. every time new sect is added to the
number. liberty exults, and tyranny weeps.
The Archbishop says, the rights Of conscience are
g safer here under constitutional provision forbid
ding any such statute Of liberation be ever enact
ed. In other countries liberation was granted by
the civil authorit y--here the great men who framed
the constitution saw, with keen and delicate pcrcep-
tion. that the right to tolerate implied the equal
right to refuse liberation" Really from this. one
is almost persuaded that The Archbishop had an idea
that this simple restrictions II the Congress Of the
United States imposed restrictions on the several
States: and that they. in consequence ut that Con-
gressional restrictions have right To refuse tolcra-
,ion and are eSen--a- we'll ~ CongrsS-aso pre-
cmded from making any cnactments on the subject
Of religion. II such is not his idea, then all his
easonilg ~ the subject goes for nothing: because,
lie whole country nearly. being composed Of the
cscr; states. there rc,nain> nothing TO claim the
cli.sioEs protection OF The general government. bnt
he three territories aud the di-tric ot Columbia
and il such i hi- opinion, then nothing can he more
rorcou~. Bat, notwithstanding al this. the Arch
bishor seems 10 admit the power Of the States to
act on the subject Of religion independently Of the
United States government. for he complains Of the
unequal nws OF New Hampshire. and alludes to the
religions requirement Of the old constitution OF
North Carolina. which was. that no person III ouli
hold an Office IN the state who did not believe IN
the Truth Of the Protestant irigiou--aud which was
violated by Judge CASTOR. The Judge il has been
said, got around the difficulty uor he pous
and conscientious Catholic) by saving that when
he declared that he believed in the truth Of the
Protcsian, acknowledging all the while d decided
Catholic. and took the oath II office TO support the
constiAition-hc had reference to such things a..
there i one cod. and future state of rewards and
luni>huicnts. and -uce other things are held III
common by protcstants and Catholics. These were
the truths Of the Protestant religion fter this the
North Carolinians changed their constitution. aud.
when according to the ahnye construction there
necessity for 80 doing left out the nocraut feature.
The Archbishop, ~ your reporter misquotcs thu
constitution 1T the end Of hat same first paragraph,
II is MOI nf much consequence in the argument. but
the constitution. Ike Scripture. should always h.
quoted correctly He has it,. Congress shall
NAH, no law on the snljcct II religion, Or wohi-
biting tn free exercise thereof. The constitution
leads thns;--" Congress shall make no Law respect
ing 40 establishment Of religion, prohibiting the
tlre exercise thereof.
lie only security say Judy" Story. "was III
esirraing the power. Eut this alone would have
been an imperfect security. II il had not been fol
lowed NJ by declaration Of the right Of the free
exercise Of religion. and prohibition Gas We have
seeh) OF all religious tests Thus the whole power
the subject Of religion is eft exclusively 10 the
State governments. 10 be acted upon according 10
their Own sense Of justice and the state constitu-
ticns: and the Catholic and the Protestant, the Cal
Whist. aud the Armnian, the lew and the lnfie
may sit down at the common table % ia. national
councils. without any iuquiston into their faith ~
mode OF Worship
ny your permission. s,. ! viii CONTINUE my STRIFE
TIRES in small doses like this rs may find il con
Ncnient. Yours. very respectfully.
InStAU II. Pork