The true Democrat., 1854-09-13

A.: tlhg secret political society as the constituent cy or our government in the place of the peo- P'e actng on known measures and principles, would be abhorrent in its every aspect. But to descend to particulars
 ], ne letter In it's general scope and point, as well as Tn special allegation of Jacts ?] contain Cd Tn sundry paragraphs numbered from one to seven, IS at the same time defence of KnoU Nottingham and an insiduous attack on the democratic party
 Tn accounting for the present condition of things Tn Pennsylvania, the writer assumes two grounds
 lst "The deep distrust and apprehension Tn the country growing out of the action of the Roman Catholic Church :n respect to some pub nc measures, which have for many years been considered the settled policy of the American people,"
 2d. corrupt combination between the Ro- man Catholic Church and the Democracy
 Now, in con6ning himself to these grounds the writer affects to account for the supposed ar ticle of the K'aoao Nothing faith, viz: hostility towards the Roman Catholic Church. But he totally fails to account for the second and per- haps chief article, viz: the deprivation of az adopted citizens as we'll Protestants as Catholics, of portion of their rights, franchises and liber- ties, by excluding them altogether from public offices and employments
 To sustain the first proposition let the corres- pondent speak for himself. He says
 l. 1 think there can be no doubt but that there exists deep distrust and apprehension in the country, growing out of the action of the Roman Catholic Church in respect to some public measures which have for many years, been considered the policy of the American people; such as their resistance to the common public school system-their attempts (and with large success, too,) to have each of their Bsh- ops an incorporation to hold the whole Church property in his diocese, and transmit to his successor their combined action ill local and gen. eral elections-their uniform attempts to place men of their Church, because they were of their Church, in public positions of influence And in all these respects they have acted as body, under invisible leadership, and not as in- dividual citizens"
 Here then, we have in nut-shellt, that pro- found and trmhtM argument which seems to satisfy our letter-wrter, that Protestants na- tive born American citizens should by encourag- ing Kno,o Nothing societies, at once hasten to destroy the spirit of American institutions, and even to trample the laws under their feet to prevent the Catholics at some day from injur- ing them? We should hasten it seems, to put the government in the hands of secret pollh- cal society, filled with bigotry, prejudice and party rage because Catholics have "resisted the Common school system," and because Catholic congregations have preferred, that the Bishops of each Diocese, rather than trustees, should be the custodians of their property. 1 hardly need remark that am sincerely Prot estant (so born and educated) in all my relg- lous sentiments, and that 1 consider our Con- mon school system most admirable institution. But heartily detest injustice and cant, wheth- CT political or religious; and notwithstanding the broad assertion of the Bulletin correspond ent, he could scarcely be ignorant of the fact that the Catholic church in Pennsy lvania has never taken the slightest step of resistance to the Common public schools In truth, 1t is my decided impression that the Catholic church as body, in this country, has never acted on the subject at all. l cannot speak with pre- cison (being uninformed) of.what has occurred in certain localities out of this State But 1t is certain that whatever has been done, has been proposed without any pretence of concealment, and transpired in the open day. And pray is not the school system like any other public measure, fair subject for discussion among American citizens? Do citizens, whether Cath 
 actment any principle of liberty, any dcclara- tion in the Bill of Rights, or any provision of the constitution when expressing their appro- baton disapprobation of the measure?- Would there be any true liberty in America, if all citizens were not permitted, without the right ofany to curb their speech to approve or disapprove of all public measures involving their own welfare as we'll as that of the general tO fhair bovt ind and conscience? If any desire a division of the school fund, for one will not consent to it. No doubt large majority of our people concur with me in this? But It by no means follows that we have the right to accuse all who may differ with us of dishon.st purposes, or that we have a right to impose our opinions, wishes or feelings on others, and to visit them with actual violence or mortal menance, if they decline accepting them. In point of fact does not an American citizen infict vital stab on American institutions, when by threats, per secution, and secret political combinations, he attempts to overawc others in the exercise of full enjoyment of freedom of speech on every subject of legitimate discussion. There is no grievance to redress and no end to attain which can justify such means. In this connection the most ridiculous part of the business is, that in point of numbers the Catholics, all told, are about as one to twenty five Protestants in the country; and whatever may have been their peculiar views and desires in reference to the school fund at any particular place, without the limits of our own State, they have been, for the most part, without hesitation, overruled and fatly refused. According to the old rule which allows a disappointed or losing party to complain, it strikes me the voice of com- plaint should be from another quarter.
 think, too, the author of the Bulletin letter is mistaken in supposing that there exists in this country any real apprehension or distrust of the Catholics. It is mere idle rant, and all who indulge in it intend to insult the intelli- gence of those to whom they speak. On what occasion or at what point has there existed cause for apprehension and distrust? In the absence of any tact by way of evidence, l may be referred, perhaps, to the present condition of things, politically, here or elsewhere. Clearly, such evidence is not sufficient even if we did not know that the first object of Know Noth- ingisms is to obtain political importance and power, rather than any sincere opposition to Catholicism But is plain that the same spir- ,+ of ottock and hot Jirootc itC al f