The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1854-05-16


cumulated honorsn
No, sir, do not say SO. do not say that an aboli
ZIONIST from Boston, from any other place has the
right TO preach his doctrine the slaves of the south
say he has such right thus in effect to strike the
very existence Of society md by an act like that he
poses himself to the punishment which the local laws
have provided for so henous offence And the
Of this analogue al reasoning is in the that to
preach aboltonism to slave population is the mere
exercise Of right OF nvolable in principle
the right to worship God freely and peacefully That
nypocres might claim this exemption for the conse-
their acts not 10 be wondered at in this day
Of strange things. But that learned AM highly es-
teemed prelate speaking ercdtedrd to the American peo
pie shsud assume the same i'm muny Tor acts IKE thi
caused by the wanon Of i'll regulated or i'll
instructed conscience or justified by mere pretexts,
where there is conscience at al-for no human tn
buDal determine the honesty or dishonesty oil such
pretension with the worship of the Creator, equally
dictated BY and by revelationis TO me one Of
those truths only to be learned by actual observation
and which almost stranger than fiction. As shall
have occasion to advert fully to this preension
which practically denies all the rights of conscience in
consequence OF the abuses TO which their exercise may
lead, shall here pursue the subject no further.
But cannot pass over, without remark, the observa-
walton of Archbishop Hughes respecting the tendency
OF the proposed measure to stir sectarian anmos-
ties against Catholic felowcitizensn This
has connection with religious 1t seeks TO ele
vate oneto depress The resolution proposed
makes not the slightest aluson to any religious denom
nation suppose there is Senator intending
TO vote for it, who will be influenced by any such con
alteration. There Protestant well as Catholic
countries where the true principles Of religious freedom
denied and there are Catholic well Protestant
milton verywbere will be an nestimable benefit to all
citizens whom the accidents of life require to
lv worth while to discaim all intention to stir up
animostes to try to bring reproach upon the
Catholic religion. The whole course OF my life redeems
me from such charge. That man does not live who
ever utter disespectful word against that
great branch Of the Christian church, against its
priests its professors.
have lived large portion Of my life both at homo
and abroad surrounded by its members, and have al
ways done justice to the learning and pety and exem
.la ole AND IN I'm Int in
uence Of its principles upon the Aity of that church
Go not intend to be led from the path before me-that
ofdetepding great pIincipe-into other INQUIRIES un
less may be necessary to correct i'm
pressions respecting the tue ground occupy seek
to now neither sectarians nor schismacs in the per-
Torrance OF such duty.
But sir to return to the main subject now say
what did not beforethat in my opinion the course
Of the Tuscan goyernmentn relation to that unfortu-
nate family Of the Madia incompatible with its
true DUTY the spirit Of the gospel as it was with
the feelings and knowledge Of the age. am not going
history and that impartial tribunal will arraigh and
alike the actors the precedent furnishing
of the most fragrant violations Of the rights OF
science recorded in the long chapter OF religious intoe
rance. cannot, however but commend to the favora
BILE attention Of Archbishop Hughes the following just
and liberal remarks made in the British House OF Con-
mons by Mr. Fitzgerald
As Ro"ap Catholic member q this House, Said that
dagprobation q the most crqel
sss be been hut hs ~ ns
opinion upon the cause Of that punishment Now do
bisd aseura'e Judgment whether tho law
had been well applied or ,%isappsd but i am to under
de1vsing ssessb. means TO irop.s.ts his Gppis.s
:: S sssh ssy Of
II from s% 70 shups
they society proposition II he
Ta: "a
civil and religious liberty Of ali concerned As
ds1s %s
opinion had At all times been the mistake
These sentiments are honorable to the speaker and
cannot fail to meet the cordial appreciation OF the Anne
rican people, founded they those principles
of regious freedom which make part OF our very poll
teal existence.
But to pass from this signal display Of Tuscan ntole
rance directly to the consideration by Archbishop
Hughes of my in relation to the resolution before
the senate would remark that he has met the subject
niRe, by definition rather by metaphy steal con
siderations which he seems to think will remove the
difficulties with which false logic has environed it, For
ages-durng the whole progress Of society, ndeed-the
freedom of has formed one of the great topics
of interest and discussion and has equally engaged
attention of the philosophical inquirer and of the
tica while to the great mass OF mankind the
question presented is important than other to
which political systems have given RISE The worship Of
God-the relations between man and his Creator-const
tute noblest province of this freedom these
the highest duties is called upon to perform Many
pow erfu intellect has been brought to bear upon the
problem Of Ieconcing the greatest liberty OF conscience
with the ssutary restraints OF society," and
deny that pspable boundary, at all times clear and
stinct If not absolutely incompatible with the cond
ton of humanity, is discovery in the science Of pot
cal morals yet to be made. But Archbishop Hughes,
with courage which all may applaud, however his dis
crrton may be doubted or his success denied marches
up this question: and with a single stroke of his con
troversal sword cuts the than Gordian knot
which has 50 long baied the mental efforts Of all his
claims for human governments the right-how limited
be does not tell uso regulate the duties most closely
connecte with the religious opinion of their people
but while main tanning this thesis he unwilling
unprepared to maintain its necessary corollarythat OF
rower over the human conscience-by drawing dis
,o<.1 knxvy hat thA
erce Of its Dictates thus leaving 1t mere abstract sen
timcnt.
Senate o the United STATES Sy NJ sstssushed
M. ! S:srapa..n H. .ppsss:d : very f.Sss
r
they nay choose TO travel or s.ou The on which
every nation are SLOWED exercise their e thei'
%sy s and srsr re, r. all other
privilege !. hardly Necessary for m: 70 observe ta.,
vioabe very nature essence 20 say that any
any nation has sither power DE-
tent abssrdy onsosnes witSoat freede A. i not con-
for afy ns cs Of
TIE human which can rc.rs. and
shS.s Who with Genera c. plead slSau.asy for that
Thai l. uniysrsathst is in voiabis
thing Iris eternal liberty seton .ss.Iaias e
positive laws In some eonn;rss The range Is wider I.
septn the United States The liberty Of consenes which
10 and applaudeS in Connecticut will net be
tolerated ION certain South Carolina or 1. Ala
bama the liberty watch they there enjoy wsud
be allowed them under the federation Of the laws Of New
they passs
to e
shed and successful one, founded it Is upon the
nalenable rights os man and even II il were new" In
practice as 1t is not IT is old in principle and 1t
to do its work at of the world when other consd
eratons besides those Of antiquity enter into the deter
minaton Of grave questions affecting the welfare OF
mankind II is but yesterday, as IT that the ''new
policy OF sthrowing of governments destructive Of the
ends for which they instituted announced In
our declaration Of Independence but young as IL is,
already Commands the assent OF every LIBERAL mind
throughout the world and ere long will become OF
th. practical traths in all political systems The
Archbishop that this policy IL pressed here
tue g.ound that, as foreigners allowed the exer
else OF their religion In this country, there
fore in all other countries Americans have the
right 10 claim aud exercise similar privilege.
Mr. President, this Is too foundation for this
goat claim Of religious immunity II rests exam
pie but the everlasting decree OF the Creator We
do NJ IN 40 AZ