The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1853-02-19

4
| their noble mission in such good cause.
| Letter of the Most Rev. Archbishop Hughes
| the Masliai.
TO TIE EDITOR OF TIE FREEMAN's JOURNAL.
The heading of this communication suggests the
| matter which 1t proposes to discuss. No preface
introduction is necessary. The case of the Madiai
reported in newspapers, had already attracted the
temen, especially in England, previous to its having
been taken up in this country. 1t had been the oc-
casion Of meetings at Exeter Hall, in London. 1t
had been especially adopted by Sir Culng l1ardley
as promoters Of religious liberty in their own
try. Under such sanction in England it would be
strange if the movement did not produce some cor
responding action in this country; for latterly it
seems if the philanthropists of this land deem it
their highest honor to lie mtators Of the correspond
ing class in England. There is nothing done by the
aristocracy of England in the name OF benevolence
| and philanthrophy which does not Immediately pro-
woke the desire of imitation among the aristocracy
! here. And the only example that we have failed to
initiate is the cstabshmentof ragged schools which
have become SO popular in London and its vicinity.
| This we have not yet ventured on although Heaven
knows far as the title is concerned the materials
are not wanting. England as an accompaniment of
the emigration Of at least her Catholic subjects has
not allowed them to leave her shores unprovded with
all the requisites fitting them for admission into rag
ged schools.
With this exception, whatever becomes popular
among certain class of English nobility and gentry
is sure to be Initiated on this side of the ocean Ia
this way we can account for the convocaton of
Madiai sympathy meeting at Metropolitan Hall. The
call Of the meeting was signed by some OF our most
respectable citizens 1t was attended by very large
assembage of persons who would attend the meetings
Of Exeter Hall against Catholics with much SYM
pathy and pleasure. The proceedings of the meet
ing in strict accordance with its purpose which
was to shut off all free discussion, and to excite an
unkind, unchartable, and bitter Protestant feeling
against the Catholics of the United States and of the
world should perhaps observe in this place, to the
credit of the Protestant clergy of this city that if
they attended the meeting at ALL it was only in the
capacity of silent Orswhilst the resolutions
were brought forward and speeches delivered by
reverend brethren imported apparently for the occa-
sion, from the suburban and neighboring villages
around New York.
need not refer to the course which was given to
the whole discussion on that occasion / may re-
mark however, that it comprised a scurrilous De.
Jesuits, Of the Pope, of Catholic governments in
Europe, Of the Catholic citizens Of the United
States and of the Catholic religion and its members
Of all times and places. This was the purpose to
| quence and denunciation Whether the gentlemen
who signed the call for that meeting-Hon Luther
Bradish, Collector Hugh Maxwell, Hiram Ketchum,
Esq, and other gentlemen Of equal responsibility
intended to furnish occasion for denOuncng their
Catholic feowcitizens in this country is more than
l can take upon me to decide. From my previous
| knowledge OF some Of these gentlemen, and my re-
spect for all, should be unwilling to believe that
/ they would lean their honored names for purpose
so unworthy of their social position and so much at
variance with the civil institutions Of their country.
cannot, however, acquit them of responsibility,
in this-that having accepted or assumed the trust
Of calling public meeting, they delegated that
trust to other trustees, in whom the public could not
have the same confidence. Other meetings like that
/ at Metropolitan Hall have already been held in other
parts Of the country, and the probability is that
Messrs Bradsh, Maxwell and Ketchum, whether it
was their intention or not will have inaugurated
Protestant crusade against their Catholic felowciti
how'd r1occ thnp fbat
which resulted from the Awful Disclosures Of Maria
Monk"
The wisdom and expediency Of giving any en-
couracement to religious excitements in connection
with civil and social rights, appear to extremely
doubtful. The Catholics of this country have had
nothing to do with the trial and the Imprisonment Of
the Madia in Florence. What good effect, therefore,
will be produced by an attempt through the medium
of public meetings, to denounce them for an act
which they had no power either to accomplish or
prevent? Is it wise to encourage stries among the
various denominations Of which the people of the
United States are composed! Would it not be wiser
to recognise the rights OF each denomination and Of
each individual, fully and frankly, as they are re-
cognzed by the constitution of the country? Some
have the same right to be Catholics as others have
to be Professionals All have the right to profess
what religion they please. And since this IL the
condition of all the people OF the United States IS
it wise or just to denounce any portion OF them for
the offences, real or imaginary, committed by their
brethren of the same creed in foreign countries?
The time may come, and perhaps sooner than is ex-
pected by our wisest public men, when the United
States will have need of the support of all her c
Zens. Who tell whether the future of this coun
try may not reveal dangers either from foreign enc
mics or from internal divisions which will test the
loyalty and fidelity of every citizen of whatever
ligionl In such emergency the Catholics, in
spite of the denunciations to which they have been
lately exposed, will be found among the fastest
friends Of the Union and the brayest defenders Of
the soil They have ever been such-and during the
last few years, when statesmen not of their
ligion were ready to follow the lead of a foreign
demagogue, the Catholics have exhibited evidences
of set-control OF calm and wise loyalty to the mi
ted States, OF well poised self-posscssion which
have entitled them to the respect of their country.
II it be true then, that fro the earliest colo
nizaton Of these States, and through all the sirug
giles which they bad to undergo in peace or in war,
the Catholics have ever sustained untarni6hed re-
putation, have never furnished q coward on battle
field traitor in council; il they have discharged
honorably their civil duties in times of peace and
their obligations of patriotism in times Of war, why
should they now, under the auspices of the gentle
men who called the meeting at Metropolitan Hall
be given over to the coarse and vulgar denunciaons
Of the reverend orators who figured on that occa-
sionY
The charge alleged in the preamble Of the resou-
tons adopted at the meeting and on which the reso-
lutions themselves are founded is that for other
crime except that of possessing and reading their
Bible" the Madia, husband and wife, were tried, con-
victed, and incarcerated by the government of Tug
cany. II this charge be the truth, the whole truth
and nothing but the truth, am quite free and quite
willing to denOunce the proceedings OF the govern
ment of Tuscany as oppressive, unjust, and cruel.
Such an act would be disgrace to any government,
Catholic or Protestant. But J must beg leave to say
that do not believe the truth of the charge ] ne
gard it az falschood, and have no doubt that it
will turn out to be SO. If this should prove to be the
case, the proceedings at Metropolitan Hall will
feet but little credit on those who sanctioned and
took part in them. Observe, ] do not doubt the
truth of the statement that the Madai "pos-
sesssed and read their Bibe,' but / do donbt
and deny that for this, and for this alone,
they were tried and condemned to prison. I
must observe at the same time, that have no know
ledge 0 the circumstances OF the case, except what
has come under the notice Of every who has read
the newspapers Of the day concerning it, have
come 10 this conclusion ON grounds Of probability,
which 10 my mind are not less strong in their aggre
gate than positive and direct testimony.
Fjrst.--There Is no law In Tuscany against "pos-
] ecsenn and reading the Bhle.N kecnnd. Even IL