The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1852-08-04
The Religious Test In New Hampshire.


The Religious Test In New Hampshire.
We have been unwilling to add to the bitter
ness of the present contest by the introduction
of any thing like sectarian considerations. 1t is
certain that long before the close of the struggle
there will be warmth enough on both sides in
connexion with the ordinary political and per-
sonal considerations that are involved; and SO
far as our practice has been concerned, we have
desired to exclude the irritating issues that may
be evoked from religious differences, or from
the relationship subsisting between native and
adopted citizens. The Democratic press has
resolved, however, that both classes of ques-
tons shall be made subservient to factious pur-
poses; and both are now being worked with the
utmost pertinacity, and with the usual dsre
gard of historic verities.
The madness with which the gods are said
to afflict their victims as a preliminary to de-
struc,ion has full scope in the action taken by
Democratic journals upon this sectarlan ques
ton. 1t is one they cannot touch without in
juring themselves. 1t Is one in which the
whole record is against them, and which,
when well understood by the people, will con-
tribute largely to the defeat that awaits Gene
raj PIERCE.
That the Democratic State of New Hamp-
shire is the only State that now preserves in
its statute-book laws imposing political dis
abilities upon its citizens of the Catholic faith,
and that FRANKLIN PIERCE, theDemocratc no
minee for the Presidency, is and has long been
an influential leader of the dominant party in the
State, are facts that admit of no explanation or
denial. They carry their full meaning on their
face, and give the lie direct to the pretensions
set up by the Democracy as the advocates of
religious equality. They are facts that prove
that the majority Of State which is still
lauded as occupying the front rank in the De-
mocratic party, are hostile to a fundamental
principle of republican liber,y-lhat the only
State which recognised General PIERcE's fit
ness for the Presidency, and pressed his claims
upon the notice of the Baltimore Convention,
is the State which to this day brands with
stigma of inferiority the four millions Of our
people who hold the Catholic faith-that the
closest allies and most strenuous supporters of
General PIERCE are solely responsible for the
maintenance Of that stlgma-and that General
PIERCE has failed to exert his influence to Sc
cure the destruction Of this local fanaticism. And
yet with these facts upon the record, Demo
cratic editors have the hardihood to asset that
the Wings of New Hampshire merit all the
odium that belongs to the upholders of the test,
and that General PIERCE is specially entitled
TO Catholic votes in consideration of his devo
ton to the Catholic cause!
The constancy and apparent confidence with
which this reverted construction is thrust
upon the country, is sufficient reason for re-
turning to the subject, with the view of present.
ing it in all its details. The votes of the vari-
Gus sections of New Hampshire have already
been circulated as evidence of the truth Of the
Wing version of the matter; but we now avail
ourselves of more minute review than we
have seen elsewhere, prepared with all the ad
vantagcs of familiarity with the local politics.
1t is in the form of letter from Concord, New
Hampshire, and the following are the material
portions:
"Our present constitution Ii. e., the constitution
late Governor Pierce, father Of General F. Pierce,
was member Of the convention which framed
that instrument, and he seems to have favored the
anti federation test in the constitution, as he did
also the Alien and Sediion law of the elder Adams.
is proved by bis vote in State Legislature in
1899, approving Of that measure.
"Our constitution requires the Of the free.
men to be taken once in seven years upon the
proprcty of revision of the constitution and
yet, from 1892 down, VIC could never obtain vote
in any way favorable TO a revision until March, ,
1850, when secured meiority for convcn.
ton, the Wings having gone almost in body for
it, as well as the Freesoil men, aud n portion of
the Democratic party. The convention was held
in the latter part of 1850 and the first part Of 1851
the Democrats having majority of 294 delegates
of which il composed The Whigs, Freesoil
men, and portion Of the Democrats occurred sew.
erai liberal amendments in the convention to
the constituton-the operation Of which, if adopt
ed by the people, could not fail Of cramp
ing the power Of the dominant party; and the
leaders seeing this, put themselves to the task
OF drlg up their party friends TO the adop
ton OF some very strong party features TO be sub
mtted to the people, and in the end succeeded SO
far as to secure their incorporation into the st Of
amendments to be submitted 10 the people, and 80
obnoxious were these measures that they induced
many Wings to withhold their votes, 20 vote
adverse to the dongs of the convention. when they
were submitted to the people for their approval or
rcjectio and the Democrats very generally
voted against the liberal amendments, the whole
were rejected by the people by large majority,
when two thirds vote in their favor was ncces.