Cooper's Clarksburg register. [volume] (Clarksburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1851-1861, 1854-10-18

be disfranchised? Wash the Catholic
colony of Maryland the home and the asy- !
lum of the oppressed of all lands and
creeds? And IS this tho way to do hon
or to our ancestors, by DISTINGUISHING their
Did not Catholics aid us
in obtaining our independence and free
dom ?-and would you disfranchise the
descendants of Lafayette and the brave
Catholic Franks who accompanied him !
Without their aid we would in all proba-
bility at this day be subjects Of Great Bri-I
tain, instead of a nation of freemen. Is
this the way we intend showing our graf
tude at the expiration of three quarters
of a century =? Would you disfranchise
the descendants of Carroll, who still live
among you?-the man who pledged his
life and his fortune, amounting to millions,
and that there should be no mistake, af-
fixed the name Of his estate, "Carrollton,"
to his name. All this he might have
avoided, too, for he was not chosen dele
gate unit! after the passage of the dccla-
ration; but Catholic as lie was. he loved
freedom above price. And is this the way
he ohaIl be rewarded?, 1t is to be hoped
not, by all good, Just and grateful men.
Not while the names of Columbus, Cal.
vert, Carroll, Lafayette and the Pilgrims
is fresh in our memories, can the people
disfranchise aud prescribe men for bclieT-
ing and worshipping as those truly great
aud patriotic men did who loved civil and
religious liberty above all price? We
owe them a debt of gratitude which we
con only pay by generating their memo
ries ard sustalnlL S their actions. But tue
"Kno;x- n othings" say no; they say they
shall be discarded; they shall be hunted
down rs beasts of prey; they shall not par
take Of the blessings Of civil and religious
liberty which they risked their lives and
| fortunes to establish. Well might the
Virginia Legislature, which was Protrs-
tant in 1856, say that to denouuce citizens
as unworthy of public confidence unless
| he profess or reponnce this or that reli
gion, is depriying him injuriOuSly of those
privileges and advantages to which in
common With his fellow men he has lat-
urcl right, and tends to corrupt the pr!n-
ciples Of that very religion it is mean! to
encourage, by bribery "ilE E monopoly OF
worldly honorS and emouments; those
who will externally conform to il, anI
those who do net withstand such tempta-
| IIOn Is CIIIhIuAlS anu W SulkGl llc CIVIL L4A
glstrate TO inlrude his power into the field
of opinion, and 10 restrain the profession
or propagation Of principles on The SuppO-
silon Of their evil tendency, is taii4cy
! which a!ruc DESTROYS all rciis ious liberty.
! This is the language Of Protestant Nirgi
MIA, penncd by the same hand that prnncd
that immortal and sacred instrument
Il which declares that all men are
created fr"e and equal. and have inalicn-
ebe rights, among which is life, liberty,
and The pursuit CT happiness; and in his
| first inaugural address he says :--"Let Us,
then, fellow citizens, unite with one heart
and one mind; let us restore 10 social in
tercourse THAI harmony and affection,
| milhout which liberty and even life itself
are but dreAry things; and let US reflect,
that having bauished from our land that
religious intolerance under which mankind
SO long bled and suffered, we have yet
gained but little if We countcnancp po-
Iitical intolerance as deSpotic. as vic kcd
aud capable of as bloody prosecutions. -
Again he says" Enlightened by be-
ngn religion, protested in deed, and prAc-
Lised in various forms, yet all o! them i'll
culcating honesty, ruth, Temperance. yra-
tilude and the love Of MISUNDERSTANDING y
| ing and adUriNg an ever ruling Proy-
dence, which by all its dispcnsalUn1,
proves that it delights in the happiness OF
man here ana hi, greater happiness here.
a:lur-wilh all these blesSn IS, what more
is necessary to max" us happy and pros
porous people? Skill, one lhinI more,
fellow citi2ens--a wise End frugal govern
ment, which, restraining men from inju-
ring one another, shall leAfe them other
wise free to regulate their own pursuits Of
industry and Improvements, and shall not
tnke from the mouth Of labor the bread it
has earned. This is HE sum of good GOV
iernmcnt, and this is necessary to cIOse ,he
circle Of our politics." Again he says
equal and exact Justice to all men, of
whntryGr state or persuasion, religious dt
political." Again he says-"thc dilFu-
sion OF information, an arraiE nmunt Of all
abuses at the bar of public reason, the
freedom OF religion, freedom Of the press,
and freedom Of the person under the pro-
lection Of the hahcas corpus and trial by
jurieS imparlialIy selected. These princi
pies form the bright constellation which
has gone before US. AMI guided our steps
through Al age Of revolution and refor-
nation. Ths wisdom Of all our sages and
blood Of all our heroes have been devoted
to thuig attainment. They should be the
creed Of our political faith, the text of civ
ic instruction, the Iouchslone BY which to
try tho services Of those wo trus'; and
should We wander from them in moments
of error or alarm? Let us hasten to re
trace our steps, and regain the road which
alone leads 10 peace, liberty and safety"
Sublimc doctrines These were the prin
cipIes and this the language of the i'm
mortal Jefferson; almost the language of
inspiration; and you who have wandered
in error, in the language Of this great man
rctracc your steps, and regain the road
which alone leads to peace, liberty and