Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1854-02-07

BT HiTCItEs " PRYOR.
SATURDAY auRNisG. FEBRUARY !,ie"i.

RELIGIOUS RIGHTS OF AMEklCANS AENuAD.
The eloquent and energetic appeal o M' WISE !" ou' "
pcssou OF Yesterday will awaken something aSe an aae
1uae interest respecting the religious p'Fncse' u '
can ci,zuns in foreign countries u '"e SUBJECT e
~ of an abstract ad speculative We s"ouu W u" w
ss 10 com,r,lsu III, Indifference wt which it regard
I'd, but when We consids! It's PRACTICAL and pressing hpof
lance both In respect The rights Of our c''sens ana 1e
If M, government, but express some surprise
-, N. enna,ent pnconcen Of the public mind In what
manner Tho subject affects the rights of American Citizens
The authority of the American government VIII appear
from brief exclamation of the causes which have oFSna
| ted the movement. In behalf OF religious liberty
i, b;s conn,rv no restraint is imposed the profession
Of religious belief Every DO bis creed never SO aos"a
and and his rites OF worship never 80 sroesqoe
and ridiculous finds not only toera'ion but Po'ec'oh
In tho eysrcs Of his religious faith. 10 consequence
of this absolute liberty OF conscience, creeuS a"u
doomos hive sprung up amongst rs with The RANK
r,nce If ,ronIcs vegetation. In the same field flour
b tho bcarn miami and the noNous weed The !oatsome
of normops melancholy deusion c. spirit
raining the stern morality Of The Protestant and Inc less Sc
we're and more seductive faith OF the Catholic coekst unoe'
the shadow of which guarantees 10 every form
and phase of religious belief equal immnnes anu pVeees
Nav 10 ,hs ber,v nj conscience the exclusive brihght OF
American c!li2ens The stranger from foreign iano no
MA tier what his creed who; his ioi' OF worship enjoys
tho same exemption from disturbance IN Ills ree'ous
profession Of this signal example IS no" oe'o'o
the country. Monsenor Bedlni, whose charac-
fer Is offensive &C the friends of freedom, and
prizes, whose religion s dIs,asleul 10 the prepnnde-
rating public sentiment of The country, trayerses
the length ard b.cadIh Of the land under The sale
guard of The ia An exercise Of ul,rnmontane aSthony
UNUSUAL In this republican country, ana somewhat lou
pompous parade OF The insignia oil his latin ana rans pro-
yokes the Indignation and ouses the p'eudces proes
ant communities He appeals 10 the government Tor pro-
lection against the violence Of the mob and the government
promptly tenders him every safeguard within lis power
Nay His Is made the special SUBJECT OF consul
Grafton by the Senate member OF which processes MS
faith, and demonstrations OF honor are EXTENDED 10
him BY men highest in authority The President OF The UNI
,ed states himself the descendant of New England Pu
tau receives the OF the Pope with marks OF
kindness aud esteem Such the kind and degree Of toera
ton which this country extends 10 The faith OF foreigners
Now what Of toleraoa does the religion OF Amer
ENJOY under foreign govefnmensi In return Tor hese
privileges und mnunes which extend others, what
degree of charity favor do VIC receive from hem1
In the Ca,hoic States Of Europe with the exception per
haps Of Franco and Sardinia the public profession OF the
Proestont religion is either prohibited or else subjected TO
the degrading and annoying restrictions and disao'
ties No reIu1ato of this intolerance Is made in
of those governments They subjected to the surve
ance police. They denied the exercise oil their
rites Of worship The consultations OF the sacrament they
can enjoy only by senh and in secret and even the poor
privilege OF christian burial is refused 10 Protestant
corpse In thousand ways they oppressed and annoyed
account Of their religion.
Now say this grievance only touches the liberty oil
the American Citizen but the credit of,hc county For five
deny the power of government guarantee religious liberty
its citizens beyond its rsdicton, must concede
its obligation employ all The OF negotiation 10
them, when soounng abroad the undstubed en-.
joyment OF the rights OF conscience. And lhs is oil that
the friends OF religious freedom demand OF government
They ask the government of the United States 10 Is
good Offices with foreign powers procure some relaxation
American citizens the simple exercise OF their rites OF wor-
ship As they do not seek the privilege with view 10 the
OF their peculiar faith, neither do they propose
10 accomplish their object by any demonstration OF violence
This protects the subjects OF other powers In the
enjoyment, OF The rights oil conscience and surely II may
solicit The privilege for it, citizens without in
CURING rcproach Of Disposition tho lmits
OF It's authority There Is nothing unreasonable in the de.
maud 1t caunot he that simple concession will en-
danger the stability Of the religious establishments OF for
eign Unless the bgoury Of Catholicism be
more intense and obdrale than s enemies
IL, the privilege will not be withheld ii government do
but sock II 10 the proper spirit and with adequate urgency
And the people desire the cooperation Of government In
The matter they its energies BY soma manifesto
ton OF public sentiment.