The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1854-06-23
Archbishop Hughes and Gen. Cass.

WASHINGTON, June 49, 1854.
TO THE EDITOR OF THE NEW YORK HERALD.
SiR-Bishop Hughes having given to the ques-
tion ofreligious tolerance, mooted by General Cass
in the Senate the form, if not the consistency OF
controversy, would respectfully ask your indul-
gence in few remarks.
Bishop Hughes represents General Cass as hav-
ing pondered year on his (the Prelate's) first let
ter, and himsef as having been taken unawares by
the General The Prelates last letter, therefore, is
given to the public in the nature of an impromptu
reply to carefully prepared attack on him on the
part Of the Senator. Allow me, through your widely
circulated journal, to dispel that illusion.
You and the public know the domestic Affections
with which General Cass has been visited during
the past year. Not only did he lose the cherished
partner OF his life early in the spring Of 1853, but
favorite grandchild and his son-in-law, Captain
Garfield since the opening of the present Congress-
Notwithstanding these melancholy bereavements,
General Cass on the 23d of February last gave no
tce in the Senate of his intention ''to ask the In
terpostion of this government with foreign powers
where such interpretation is required in order to Sc
cure TO American cit zens abroad the enjoyment Of
religious worship while living, and place of
semlture and the rights of Christian burial when
dead."-(Vide Congressional Gbbe of February "a,
ls543 1t is hardly to be supposed that SO
Valldnt captain OF tne C4urcn militant IS
Bishop Hughes, always with his harness on,
and ready for battle, overlooked that notice; nei-
ther is it likely thas taking his stand upon his deg
ma, he should not, as from strong fortress, have
waited for the nnsuspecting General, who, in the
simplicity Of his heart and the consciousness of ehe
rectitude of his Intentions kept the open field of
reason and philosophy. The idea of SURPRISE there
foIe after so solemn warning, in such an attitude,
Is altogether pteposterous.
Bishop Hughes f1s.her complains that General
Cass misquoted the caption of his letter. General
Cass quoted from the ". Y. Times of February ls,
1885, where the Prelate's letter to the Freeasan S
Journal is introduced as f0llows:-
RELIGIOUS FREEDOM.
LETTER yHOM ARCHBLHOP HUGHES
11E NADlAl AND TIE PROCEEDINGS STATES
The Prelate's letter commences thus" The
heading of this communication suggests the matter
which it proposes to discuss The case Of the Ma
dial, as reported in the newspapers" &c.
In what respect, then, has General Cass mis-
quoted? Bishop Hughes letter in reply to General
Cass last speech on religions tolerance in the SEN
ate, could have been written in reply to. anv philo
sophcal discussion of religious liberty GO we'll as to
the Senator's. 1t does not join issue with General
Cass reasoning in single point, but hurs the ar
t!ery of the church, in various disguisos against the
jmmovable columns of human reason. If General
Cass spee,h, in the opinion of the Prelate, is a
mountain Of words" surely the Prelates reply,
viewed from the standpoint Of philosophy, is mere
molehill of IDEAS" PaILo VERITAs.