Semi-weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1853-18??, 1854-09-30
From the Richmond Enquirer.

We clip from tie Baltimore Sun part OF an article
written by correspondent of that paper which, io'
its argument and facts entite it to further
ton. 1t contains reflections and suggestions 10 the
Wings, which when perused by them, cannot IAN 70
recall to their minds their own course during the
last Presidential canvass; and, which must sho"
them the inconsistency of uniting with any or
ganization, whose object is to carry our the very
principles which they then denounced, and warfare
against which was with them cardinal virtue.
Democrats may find in it, also, reason enough
to keep them from leaving their own party to blaid
up party which cannot fail. IN the end TO De %
noyions 70 all the principles they have heretofore
ayowed We are aware that by aNowlng our tplil-
ions as boldly and frarlessly as we have cone, we
NAV tread upon the toes OF our friends We can
only say that great principles will not bend, and
must be npheld even against friendships to which
we would like to cling, and to part from With,
would be painful. We give our sentiments-they
have right to exercise theirs:
tBut do those wings, who act otherwise, ana VINO
now report and chronicle their satisfaction at
every success which has anywhere attended the
coalition of the Native American and anti-Catnoilc
party remember in what terms OF strong indignation
thew denounced General Pierce in the late Preslden-
tial canvass for his supposed effort to continue the
test to exclude Catholics from Office IN the State OF
New Hampshire? DO not they remember that
they even sought to make him responsible 1of the
opiaioa ef his State after the cearest demonstration
was afforded of his hostility to this species OF reS
ious prescription? Do they not recall the terms VI
appreciation with which they chroncled the vanous
appeals made by General Scott, in his own behaii'
to the German and Irish audiences which he al
dressed in his Western tour? DO they not recolect
that the Acknowledgement of the current falsehooa
of that day, candidy made by the Republic, the
political organ of the more active portion OF the
Wings in Washington, was accompanied 10y the
fullest statement of the improperly OF the recogh-
ton of any political differences among the varions
sects of Christians q? Has any thing occurred to al
ter their former views upon this subject! why are
they silent if they are OF the same mind! VIII not
A. opLc of
time or now, if supposed intolerance was then de-
nounced while real intolerance is passed over
in silence What says the editor of the Patriot to
the aspect of the question? Does he agree WIN
the editor of the Republic, once published IN ASH
ngton city, and as ably edited the Patriot itscfg
Will he not openly reprove this shifting OF his party
organs from side to the other, or from vlndlc-
tive assault against religious prescription, to Sill
ence that would seem to approve 1t ? The wing
convention in Philadelphia have been courageous
enough to disclaim such vacation, even to procure
present success. 1t has wisely looked to the tu-
ture Is the Wing party here, and its accredited
organ less bold, OF less discerning? IL is to be
hoped not.
There is no better time than the present to dis
criminate between true moral courage and true NOR
al cowardice. We are, in the city OF Baltimore,
about to enter upon the election, IN when, Tor the
first time open opposition to naturalized citizens,
and to those of the Catholic faith, will appear. Ot
the strength weakness of this opposition, we arc
wholly ignorant but neither its strength nor Its
weakness will prevent our frank discussion OF the
principles which such opposition embraces. These
are known to US only by the common declarations
of persons supposed to be cognizant OF them or as
they are revealed by their movements in elections
which have fallen recently under our eyes. With
out any purpose to do injustice, scarcely be
mistaken in their scope and object and cannot sup
pose that their advocates will hesitate to correct US
if we in error
The objects of the new organization under
stood to be:
l. An organization against the political power of
the Catholic church.
3 An organization to place the government of
the country in all its parts, high and low, chief
and subordinate in the hands of native born citi-
zens.
8. A repeal change of the naturalization
laws.
We suppose that it will be conceded by every
christian man. of whatever denomination, that the
introduction of religion into our political affairs is
an evil which requires extraordinary condition of
to justify. We all of us know some
thing of that religious hate, which has illustrated
the history of every people, since the dawn of the
christian era We know that it has not only ar
rayed Catholic and Protestant against each other,
but that Mcthodists, Episcopalians and Presbyte- |
rians have in their turn, ALSO conducted with each
other feuds which have left deep impression upon
modern history. 1t was the peculiar glory of our
form of government, that it designed, among |
other things, to from this intestine and |
destracting strife. Indeed, we had supposed that /
the explicit recognition of our equality of political
to serve God after his own manner in the Consttu- /
ton of the land, would have forever prevented any
the character existing among US.
For, although it cannot accomplish its mission by |
the inf1iction of any corporal pains penalties
legal disabilities upon those who adhere to any
faith, yet its motives open to remark as if |
such purpose was directly sought. We ask grave
" and solemnly of those who have entered into it,
whether they do not violate the spirit of the
stitution when they seek to affx religious test to
the qualifications of those who are, under its provi-
sions competent to hold official station entirely
if in the very face of the constitution ITSELF they
obtained the passage of law in which such ncapa-
city was formally recognized? A law, in this land
is, after all, but the expression of the public will,
ascertained and the only difference be-
tween such combination qcithoUt law, and one /
under the law, is that in the former it would
be remediless by the tribunals of public justice,
while in the latter it could receive official reproba
lion. The real evil is more mischievous to the
try in the former than in the latter.
But it has been commonly said that party may as
we'll exist to prevent Catholics and naturalized ct-
Gems from obtaining offices, to prevent wings or
democrats.
The is not analogous The 1.-TWO great parties of
the country differ upon questions of expedency,
with regard to the consttutionality ofcertan powers
which each claims to exercise in public legislation
Each organization seeks to exclude the members of
The other from power to prevent policy adverse
TO its own from gaining ground. But neither party
has ever organized to prevent individuals of the other
party from obtaining officers, when the policy under
which such exclusion took place could not be ex-
pressed in the form of law, without violation of
the constitution. The two great parties of the
try have not yet far degraded their organizations
as to descend to the persecution of individuals
classes.
We can make the improprety of such an organi-
cation more obvious to those who engaged in it.