The Bedford gazette. [volume] (Bedford, Pa.) 1805-current, 1854-08-04

spiritual objects is left to the voition ofthe cit-
zen. He can give or withhold. The law re-
cognlzes no sect or denomination, all are equal
and equally protected. How has it worked !?
We have as moral nation as any upon the
globe. We have as many professors OF religion
Tor our population. Our churches are more num-
erous and we'll furnished as in any other
country, and piety and religion nowhere has
more reverence and respect than in the United
States.
Mr.. Jefferson, whose name is inseparaby
united, and must SO continue through tune, with
free government--he who penned that great
declaratlop--was president OF the United States
the father OF the Democratic party, and the
great apostle OF repubcanism--he who spent a
long and eventtul life in the arduouS service of
bis country, when the weight OF years pressed
sorely upon his toterlng frame, IN the quiet
solitude OF his own Monticello, calmly review
ing his own history, he selected three great
achievements to carry his name 10 posterity, and
directed this inscription upon the granite obe-
lsk that should mark the spot where he lies -
''ThomaS jefferson, the author of the declara-
tion Of Independence, the author Of tie Statute
of Fingiaia, establishing religious freedom.
and the father of the University of Virginia" :"
CheerS.l
( He considered the establishment of religious
freedom, an achievement worthy to be classed
by the side of the declaration of independence.
He knew the enormitieS growing out OF union
of church and State. He knew that such a
junction was at war with personal liberty as
well as with true religion, and time has shown
that the State prospers best independent Of re-
lgion, and religion prospers best independent
OF the State. We must keep them separate,
contne each TO lis sphere, if our future is TO
continue bright and prosperous as our past.
There has recently been some commotion on
the political boards, growing out Of, il is said,
a new secret politico-reigious association.
"'Kaow Nothing" of its faith or its hopes
Cheering and laughter among the Democrats. J
1t is supposed that It's purpose is to suppIant
the Catholic religion and to ostraclse every
person who was not born upon American soil,
and every one whose father WAS not born here.
Now this is different policy from the one our
fathers pursued they invited here every foreign
er to our shores, and Patrick Henry was indig-
nant when it was proposed TO exclude such as
turned tories even and fled the country during
/ the revolution Ii is assumed by this associa-
ton that the Priests of the Catholic Church ex-
ercse political influence over their members
his may VI llidl lot 49,. w 'ot PlolcAs ~
know. I have no a11fnties with the Catholic
Church I was reared under the teachings of
the shorter catechism and the Westminster con-
ftssion of faith. There are not fifty Catholics
or one hundred naturazed or unnaturalized
foreigners in my congressional District and
hence my perfect exemption from any personal
or political considerations in forming Judgment
with reference to this new association.
/ Suppose il true that the priests NEEDLE in
politics, we all unite in condemning it, for we
/ think Church and State should be kept Separ-
ate but this organization proceeds 10 po-
/ litico-reIigIouS association, secret, holding its
meetings clandestinely, TO counteract the
priests. The end then is to Justify the means,
| but two wrongs will not make one right. The
/ 'EEuuw NothingS" do the very thing which
they complain Oft the priests for doing. | do
not perceive any difference between Catholic
Jesuitism and Protestant JpSritisn-both are
/ Intoletant. But IN this country | protest in the
name OF our ancestors, who We're all foreign
crS in the name of the Constitution, in the name
OF liberty itself, against secret political organl-
zatIon which fears to avow ITS principles, which
Shrinks from their discussion and which makes
its members, by secret pledges, spies in every
household. There Is no excuse in this country
fo- secret political societies. Every measure
in the Federal and State Legislatures UNDER
goes public scrutiny and d,.hatr. No citizen is
or ought to be afraid to avow his political Senti-
mentS, and the secrecy which marks the pro-
ceedingS of this order shows that they do or say
something's which they are afraid or ashamed
for the world TO know 1t is time that the eyes
fthe country should be turned towards them
and their scheme, discounenanced until they
cast off the veil. 1t is vioative of the genius
and spirit of our government, and will bear bit
ter fruits for our country if It is not suppanted
1t is said that their forces in eIecionS-poli-
tica electionS-where all go together, regard
tess OF principle and consistency, practice a
guerrilla war, fighting on the side promising the
pay. II this be true, what is their standard o.
morality! | call the attention ofmy Democra.
tic friends, however, to the fact that in all The
municipal elections that have observed where
} the "Know Nothings" have triumphed, it ha.
always been Wig elected, where the ofict
) was one ofany Importance or real value.
Let not Democrats, then, be deluded into the
: organization, or they will find themselves EN-
braced in the arms of Whggery, Native Amer
cansm, and Of all the other islns that infes
the land. CHEERS.
There can be but two great parties in thu
country. These temporary organizations may
! for brief while, attain the positions of baianc
Of poacer parties, but they soon lose it; and par
, ties, to be permanent, must be divided on prin
: ciple. The division here is between the stric
and latitudinous constructionists, between Stat,
rights and Federalism, and it is now too late il
: her history for me TO appeal TO Pennsylvania t.
know which side she takes She has been tru
TO strict strcton ancouSyny and State rirhto
/ and never will trail the old Democratic banne
L.. IL