The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1854-10-26

Majority of free Protestant sects in Virginia, 1885, f26
Thus natives e. are to persons of foreign birth
la the United States, as 90 70
The Protestant church ACCOMMODATIONS aie ~ '"e
Catholic
IL IT, the 1sI United :. States as 1851 to-
The number Of Protestant churches to the number
In the United States. as 81 to
The value Of Protestant church property In the
United States is the value of Catholic church pro-
pert, T. T, v,,,,,,. .. s sss
There ave four Protestant sects. each Of which is
larger than the Catholic in the United States and the
IF yhsh aa ns ssdns on. sect
sniali or, by majority of II, Al, s4S-
In Virginia, there are FIVE Protestant aects, each
larger than the number OF Catholics in the state ana
the aggregate of which exceeds the CathoAcs Dy
majority of .765, 426 votaIies
Mr. Wise contends that such majority OF
wealth and numbers of natives, and of Pro
testants, has nothing to fear from such mino-
rites of Catholics and naturalized citizens
To the leading Protestant churches he urges,
can be safely left the task of withstanding
the influence of Roman Catholicism, and to
the sentiment of nationality among our coun-
trymen, nowhere more powerful than in the
United States, the protection of the country
from foreign influence. Mr.. Wise refers to
the war of independence, and argues that if,
when we were as weak as three millions, we
relied largely on foreigners to aid us in secu-
ring our liberties, now that we are twenty two
millions strong, we cannot be in danger of
being deprived of our liberties by foreigners
He also urges the great diminution of the
Pope's temporal and ecclesiastical power,
and says he would as soon think of dread
ing the ghost of Guy Fawkes'' as the Pope.
Mr.. Wise, in the second place, contends
that this secret political organization is
against the spirit of our laws and the facts of
our history The Indians, he maintains, are
the only true aatiues of this country. As a
nation, we are but 70 years old. Our ances-
tors. abouttwo centuries only ago, were for
eigners, and the country was taken posses
sion of by authority either directly, or deriv-
atively, of Papal Power. Following this
discovery and possession, came the settle
ments made in this country by force of reli-
gious intolerance and persecution. The Anne
rican revolution introduced the new era of
the liberty of conscience. This liberty, Mr..
Wise contends, would be violated by the
Know Nothing organization.
Mr.. Wise cites the complaint in the decla.
ration of independence against George III,
for obstructing the laws for the naturalization
of foreigners, and refusing to pass others TO
encourage their emigration to this country
The speech of Hancock, the Puritan, Penn
the Quaker, Rutledge the Huguenot, Carroll
the Catholic, Lee the Cavalier, Jefferson
the Free Thinker, who, relying on the same
God, pledged at the same altar, their lives,
fortunes. and honor in support Of the princi-
Piles of the Declaration.
Mr.. Wise contends that the Know Moth
ing organization is in hostility to various
sections. which be ennmerstes, of the Viz
GINA Declaration of Rights of the 1ath of
june '76, and that it avowedly opposes the
10th section, which declares, that religion,
or the duty which We owe to our Creator. and
the manner of dischargiBg it, can be directed
only by reason and conviction, not by force
or violence; and therefore all men are equal.
identified to the free exercise of religion, ac-
cordiDg to the dictates of conscience and
that 4 il tho mutual duty of all to practice
christian ferhearanee, lore and charity TO-
rsrds each other.ss S..
Also. that Il contravenes the Act If Raj.
gioe Freedom, passed December Ia 17ss
and that 50 far Is It opposes cur natur.,;x. 4
tion Laws, i b not only against our rststuta
pOIiov hnf araiuaf AmarSn.,;..,. xx.,- II. f