Daily American organ. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1856, 1854-12-13
NUMBER rs.
AMERICAN ORGAN.
Garrett Davis ON Native Americanisn.

Garrett Davis ON Native Americanisin.
[coSrNuED,
But, Mr. President, ! will pass on TO another
view Of this subject--one particularly delicate to
touch upon-of deep interest TO all our people and
probably connected with greater and more fatal
consequences in the remote future than any one,
| or even all which have presented
| have heard ii said by member of this body
gentleman Of great experience and extensive in
| formation, that eight ninths of the foreign immj-
| grants are Roman Catholics. We all know that
| they greatly predominant, and suppose that to
take three-fou of them to be Of that persua-
sion, would be quite within the limits Of the truth.
When speak of Roman Catholics, mean as well
those raised in that faith those who profess It.
The latest tables OF the numbers of Christians in
the United States, by denominations, which have
come to my knowledge state the total to be ASA
972, and that of these 1921 800 are Roman Cath.
oics, being more than one-fourth Of the aggregate
all OF all denominations being told do not know,
and have no means to form an opinion to be relied
upon, what portion Of the Romanists are native;
and what foreigners by birth; but / would copjcc
turc the latter class TO be much the stronger ilr
numbers. Over the subject of the religion Of tho
Catholics, or OF any other persuasion as rule Of
moral conduct in private life, matter of faith
| and a means Of mans salvation, ], as a member Of
the convention, have no cognizance, nor do Ipre.
| sumo to attempt to exercise any whatever.
4 But so tar as that or any other sect of religion
lists in the principles of its religious doctrines, or
in their practice, in the present or to be in the fu
ture, does actively or supinely--so far the gen.
cral opinion of the people OF this country, and all
/ other circumstances may render prudent and prac
ticable, or to any other extent whatever, claim for
the particular sect temporal power, or attempt to
exercise it, or 10 mix itself up with the politics of
the country to get possession of the government
| authority and control it, directly or indirectly,
with view to the acquisition of power and rulc
| generally, or to promote any particular church
views, to that extent and within that scope I, as
member of this convention, have a proper and
legitimate jurisdiction over 1t. II would be within
| the power and duty of this convention by proper
! provisions, to exclude rs far as practicable such
pernicious matters from our political system--so
much SO as to keep out of il any other mischievous
and dangerous principle or power
Suppose, in word, that the Pope OF Rome was
asserting himself to be the vicegerent Of God, and
infallible; that all power on earth, spiritual and
temporal, was given to him by divine appointment
that all countries and governments belonged to
him, and were either subject to his will and com
mand, or In state Of criminal rebellion; that all
authority in Church or State which did not profess
to be under him, and TO act In strict conformity to
| his commands was unlawful and wicked; that all
religious opinions different from the dogmas Of tho
| Roman Church, were heretical and those who pro-
fessed them heretics with whom no faith was to be
it was the highest duty Of Roman Catholics to God,
to extirpate this heresy and these heretics by
sword, fire, and iaggot; and by the same means
to bring the political authorities to submit to the
Pope in all things, and every human being to pro-
ess, and conform TO the Romish faith and to these
ends they intend to devote their time their labors,
| all their energies and powers and even expend
their lives, which would be glorious and happy
martyrdom. Would not the convention have the
right to withhold from foreigners coming to our
country, whom the preceding picture would truly
characterize, any power and agency in our govern
mentg There have been such Romanists, Who
aided by despotic monarchs and their armed myr-
midons, have, to a great extent given effect 10
such monstrous doctrines and purposes, and DESC
lated large portions Of the earth with fire and
sword And what has been, however, terrible,
may be again!
Many years since, heard traditionally, as a say.
| ing of French philosopher, man says God made
him after his own image the truth is, man makes
God after his image" This savors of impiety, but
nevertheless imbodies good deal Of truth Man
Is very apt to assign some OF his own properties to
his God TO give to his attributes character and
hue, conforming to his own particular moral nature
and conformation. have known Roman Catho-
lies resident Of Maryland, of Louisiana and of our
State excellent people-so far as could judge tho
heart Of man, as good as any Whatever. have
had the happiness TO make the acquaintance Of
| several BtuhcmtI, ucubtIb VI tHls DouN, Wuo,
am informed, are Of that faith and here have
larger share Of my esteem and confidence My
! belief is j know no better men anywhere-nono
more ct 10 assume the responsibilities OF selfgov.
ernment or TO discharge the duties Of good cit.
zens both public and private. These men, and all
Catholics, born and educated In this country OF
light and liberty, are, and were by me, Intended to
remain far from the operation Of any principle
which have submitted to the convention; because
our country and It's institutions were much their
birth-right rs mine, and they, m well qualified 10
take charge Of both as myself, any others. But
not no the foreigner
The Romanism Of Europe, and Of ts followers
there, who come here, is a very different religion
in the formation Of character and in practical life,
from that TO which native Catholics arc born, and
in which they arc trained, so far as understand
the matter. The Romansm of Europe, from my
reading is in its constitution and principles, its
essence, spirit policy, and administration, past and
present, throughout its whole duration, great,
alambitious, algraspng religious-poltico institu.
ton, claiming the whole earths sceptrc, spiritual
and temporal, and wagng perpetual war in differ
ent FORMS according TO difference of circumstances,
to break all others 1t is hierarchy and the Pope
hierarch, a spiritual and temporal despot Such
IL my understanding Of the religion which the
Catholic immigrant brings with him TO our land,
cherishes here as his life's blood, and endeayors
pcrseveringly to propagate among our people and
TO this religion, 20 lar as u ~ pohuca ana its on-
ject temporal power, ayow utter hostility. will
attempt now to establish, by creditable proofs, all
the points which have stated as being parts oft
but men who have seeded from il inform us that
all books and documents which purport TO reveal
its hidden principles and It's true interior nature
and spirit are sought to be discredited by its fol
lowers aud defenders pronouncng them to be
false. SO says Giustianiani, formerly Roman
priest now minister In the Lutheran church, and
many others.
The title and assumptions Of the Pope are thus
set out by one OF them Martin " in his dispatches
to his minister at Constantinople:
"Tbe Most Holy and Most Happy, who N the
Arbiter OF Heaven and the Lord Of the Earth, the
Successor OF 81. Peter, the Anointed Of the Lord,
the Master Of the Universe, the Father Of Kings,
the Light Of the World &c.
Most Of the Popes have not set forth their style
so pompously, but all have claimed to be the Lord
of the earth, the vicegercnt Of God to whom all
power Is given, to be holy and infalblc, and to
.nn Ia