The miners' express. (Dubuque, Iowa) 1849-1854, 1853-12-28
Rererend Brethren Of the Clergy and Dearl,
Be.oced Children Of the La,ty, Health ana
Reucdlcfian in Christ L.

Hererend Brethren Of the Clergy and Dearly
Be.Oced Children of the Lalty, Health and
| Bencdtetion in Christ our Lord.
| IL has been communicated to us, that ccrtai n
persons, claiming to be ministers of RELIGION.
have thought It proper to preach in the public
| streets, in such manner as to excite against us
the haired of our fellow citizens who are no,
Catholics. The object Of this communication
is to request you 10 avoid all such proceedings.
and I" leave the parties who approve of them to
the entire and perfect enjoyment of their choice.
The Catholic community of New York have
merited well of their fellow Citizens nv their
uniform moderation and respect for the laws of
their country and the authorities of its govern
ment. fear that this system of street preach
ing is intended as a snare,l and I hope'that no
Catholic will allow himself to be caught there
by. Let every man who chooses to preach in
the public streets, preach often and as long
as he will. But as for you, dear brethren, shun
the space in which his voice can be heard. lest.
owing to human infrmlty, reasonable and
just indignation might tempt any one of you to
exhibit symptoms of impotence or resentment
which would be signal to your enemies, in
consequence OF which the laws and rules of
peace and good order might be violated.
do not wish you to understand, dearly be-
loved brethren, that you should degrade your.
selves one iota below the highest level of Amer.
lean citizenship. 1t there be, as it has been
insinuated. aconspiracy against the civil and re.
ligious rights which are secured to you BY our
Constitution and laws, defeat the purpose Of
that conspiracy by your peaceful and entirely
legal department in all the relations of life
But, on the other hand, if such a conspiracy
should arise, unrebuked by the public authori.
ties, to point really menacing with destruction
any portion Of your property, whether your pri.
vate dwellings, your churches, you. hospitals,
orphan asylums, or other Catholic institutions.
then, in case of any attack, let every man be
prepared, in Gods name, to stand by the laws
of the country and the authorities of the CITY. |
in defence of such rights and property. II is
hardly to be supposed that such a contingency.
under our free and equal laws, can possibly
arise. Nevertheless, SYMPTOMS of so baneful |
purpose are not by any means wanting. The |
consequences, in so populous and wealthy CITY
as rev York, of a collision between parties, |
having for its basis or stimulant the spite of re-.
lgious hatred, whether in the attack or in the
defence, would be inconceivably disastrous =
You, dearly beloved brethren, will be care: ul to
avoid even the appearance Of offence in regard
70 measures that might lead to such result
But. if in spite of your forbearance, it should
come, then it will be lawful for you to srve
worthy Of the rights of citizenship
With which you are invested, by noble defence
# your own property, The same is declared
acred BY the laws of the country.
John, Archbishop of New York.
New York, Dec. l5, 1853