The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1853-08-20
From the Boston Post, Aug ls
President Pierce and Religious Freedom In
Maryland.

The Boston Transcript had tue following article
a HisroElcAL MITAxk AT HxApquARrEas.-Presden,
.. To be thus surrounded by population less dis
patriotism is peculiarly gratifying; and among the pleas
memories suggested by the occasion, who b
hs1oa foraton was FIRST freely given 70 tho breeze
" Under lbe banner Of the an9u.iitied religious iolra
OF thirty Of the churches of Boston the present time
edy preached their sentiments in relation doctrine
q The Trinity The compliment paid by the Prssden,
and not The Cholcs should be for carly
religious toleraon' aKftr
Here President Pierce accused OF making "a hsori.
cal mistake " and il is alleged TO consist n this that be
Island " and further alleged 10 be the Baptists ard
not the Catholics. who should be commended for their
early religious toera,ion." tss.
The following extract from Bancroft will be quite sui.
hcient 10 Stow that in paying the compliment 10 Mary.
land OF being the first TO establish religious federation, he
had good authority: 3a.5H.s
I" But far more memorable was the character OF tho
Maryland institutions Every other oountry in the world
bad pefseca ing laws win NOT. such the oath OF
the governor Of Msryand- will nor by myself or any
other directly Indirectly, modest any person protesting
10 believe in Jesus Christ, for respec religon
under The mild institutions and monfcence Of Baltimore,
the dreary wilderness bloomed the swarmngli life
aud activity OF prosperous settlements the Roman Caho-
hes who were oppressed by the laws Of England,
once 10 ind peaceful asylum in the quiet habors
Chesapeake and there, Protes,sn,s sheltered
against Protestant inoleI
Such were the beautiful auspices under which the
province q started into being rs prosperity and
Pefity united and for year., internal
peace aud hatmony were undistnrbed Is history 10
history O, benevoence, gratitude and liberation"
Here il is stated that while in .'every other country in
The world there prosecuting laws" Maryland was
free from them II should be borne in mind that this
state oil gratitude and federation under the dates Of
1886 10 1889 When the historian comes to I7o4 10 IT'S
he w be obliged 10 write that The Protesiants having
CURED the power, the Maryland Legislature dsgracsd it.
self by passing laws Ito prevent the growth OF Popery
within the province and TO compel officials TO take the
oath OF abIlfaiioD"
To sustain Bancroft, there is much authority He cites
Chalmers and Mcmahon. We have before tract
piaed n 1885. II was written against Lord Baltimore,
aud of The purpose OF wing, among other things The
'nlasss p',e,,,sd e Maryland "sE.nst the laws and
. Lord Baltimore. though in England, appointed all on
Gers, to the degree " that dominion aud u
ranny were his main aim y and remarks, "hut 10
color H. and the better to get friends. first r,cep
taeie OF anss and priests and esu'e in some exiraofd
nary and Jealous manner II is fnr.her charged thai be
one OF the Fundamentally" OF poy, that no P.pisls
shall be tolerated 10 remain in Virginia"
NOW 10 prove this the OATH taken by the governor,l
quoicd from by Bancroft, 10 given in full The portion
of - relating TO religious matters worth reading We
present IL in full
!" And do further will not by my -elfc nor any
any person wbaoey.r in The as prov " 40.
believe m Jesus Christ, and in psrucnlaf no Roman
fee thereof within the said prsv,ce 20 !,
they be not uniaithfn to bis said ofdhp, mole csn
uuder
nor will make any difference persons IN confsns
iccc, rewards. or favours proceeding fom tho auhor
which his lofdship hath conferred
here, Tor OF Ia respect their said religion respectively
but merely as sh, find them faithful weLdsservns
Of his said iordship, and the best my
endowed with moral ssrtues and abilities flung for
Offices rewards, or svors wherein prime cad
si,sl he from time .i,.cctey tie advancement
bis sad iordsbips service here. bes uo,,y
good OF the province without pauiaty To aGy or sag
other sinister end whatsoever And any oher otcer or
persons whatsoever shall during ms of nv being b..
SID lordships lieutenant here, without nav conssn or
peisssing 10 beleeye In Jesus Christ merely for
spec oil his. or her religion, tho free thereof
UPON notice CT complaint thereof ms de hun will
Ply my y ,wer and Huthofy relieve any ne
Tested troubled whereof he may IN We r,ybt done him
Tor nnY damage which he sha suirr in hsi kind andt
me utmost oil my power vii cause all ever, spo
on OF persons as shsi modest trouble any lsoi
or persons 10 Thar manner 10 be punished
Nor ~ this all. The oath OF councillor OF State
tanned The following clause: $1,000 saa
And do further swear 1 win not by myself or any
noi Prtson directly or indirectly trouble uoesl ot dt
c"unsbahce any person persons the provinces
processing 70 believe in Jesus Christ aud In 40
hopnn Candle Tor, or IN respect hrs religion,
nor ~ ms or her Tree exercise bere,t wltbin the ssn
province 80 as they be d, ms said rdsbf
of noes OF consp're against the civil esta
isbed under him"
once more For sucb federation Of 'all sorts ~ ~.
nxons,' this liberal lawgiver was summoned brfrs a
tu'tan commissioners. We have before Us pviIlon y
signed py Edward Lloyd and sevent, ven persons OF
Anne Arundel county, "house keepers and irssmen,
GATED January g. 1854 They state they were inveit
se"e ~ Maryland "~h The promise OF o. yins lbt
npeiV OF our consciences in matters OF rel loo hal
LORD ,unors required oath Of allegiance. 1mch thy
regarded az s"gtievance" Why they eontidefsd lb'
oa'n 70 bel grievance Is very clearly nicael - 'n'