The true Democrat., 1855-11-06

nor hostile to orepublcanism. He has had oppor- tunities, denied to many, sufficient to convince a gentleman of his comprehensive mind and studious habits, that ignorance alone of the history of nations and people may excuse a man for doubting that liberty is Catholic vir- tue Who does not know that the Catholic re- public of Venice endured fourteen hundred years, and of these nearly mine hundred were years of democratic liberty and domestic hap piness. The republics of Switzerland were distinguished into aris.ocratc cantons and de- mocratic. The aristocratc were Protestant, and the democratic Catholic And nearer home, Catholic South America instituted many new republics on the broad basis of popular liberty What about the judicial system? The trial by lJwy and legislataUe representation They were all the work of Catholic hands in old Catholic times.
 But to enter the land of the free and the home of the brave. What denomination of christians was it, let me ask in all seriousness and candor, that gave the first bright example of religious toleration? This is an interesting inquiry. Every man who hates falsehood and loves truth feels its importance and may repeat with impatience the all important question: What was the first christian society that efec- tually disarmed persecution of legal power and conceded to all without shadow of restriction, freedom of conscience in this country? I an- swer the question: It was the Roman Catholics in communion with the Pope. The Catholic State of Maryland had the honor, through it's hrst legislature, of enacting the first law of lber ty and of perfect freedom of conscience; and letit be told by every republican and patriotic son of Arkansas from the Missouri line to Red river, that the statute that gave civil and reli- glous liberty to all without distinction of creed or country was passed in 1649, and drawn up by the hand of a member of the learned and aI- tustraous order of the Jesuits. The history, says Baacroft of the settlers of Maryland, the on- ly one of the early British colonies that was founded by body of Catholics, is the history of benevolence gratitude, and toleratiOn. "The Roman Catholics who were oppressed by the laws of England were sure to find a peaceful asylum in the quiet harbors of the Chesapeake, and there too, Protestants were sheltered against Protestant intolerance.'
 From Maryland, Roman Catholic (Char- les Carroll of Carrollton) is found walking into the Hall of Independence and pledging his life, his honor, and million and half of dollars in defence of his country. Another Carroll, who became the first Archbishop of Baltimore was selected by General Washington and in company with Franklin and Chase, sent on a special and confidential mission to Canada. It is not necessary to remind the grateful Ameri- can. whose doctrine is opposed to persecution, of the services rendered in the struggle against British oppression, by Rochambeau, Kosc- usko, Dekalb, Plury, Lynch, Fitzimons and John Barry, an Irish Catholic from the town of Wexford, whom the chief comman- ders appointed the first commodore of the American navy, and the confdence reposed was never tarnshed.
 When the revolutionary cause was in great danger for the want of funds to supprot the army and the proud and naughty "invincipes" of Europe, within sight of the American camps, Gen. Washington was compelled in 178O to appeal to individuals for pecunary aid which was promptly answered by the members of the society of the friendly sons of St. Patrick in Philadelphia with the following subscriptions:
 Robert Morris, f10,OOO; Blair NcClenehen, flOOOO; William Bingham, f2O,OOO; J. NJ. Nesbit & Co.,, s5,OOO; Richard Peters, f5,OOO; Samuel Meredith, f5,OOO; James Mease, f5,- 600; Thomas Barclay, f5,OOO; Hugh Shell, f5- 900; J ohn Dunlop, f5, 1000; John Nixon, f5,OOO; George Campbell, f2 900; J ohn Mease, G4O0O; Burner, Murray X Co.,, f6OOO; John Patton, 92, 900; Ben. Fuller 92,OOO; George Meade 6 Co.,, f2,OOO; Il. Hill, 95,OOO; Kean and NicEo- las, f4,OOO; James Caldwell f2,O0O; Sam. Caldwell, fl,OOo; John Shee fl,00O; Sharp Delany, q 900; Tench Francis, f50Oo"
 How could it have entered the mind of any sane man, to suppose that Catholics and for eigners who voluntarily subscribed, and paid the above sum of one hundred and seventeen thou sand pounds in Pennsy yIvania currency, toward purchasing food and rayment for brave army, were hostile to republicanism, and dangerous to civil and religious liberty; and yet such and more is the language used by Capt. Pike and his associates, last June, in that very city of brotherly love- where Catholics and foreigners were on the day that tried mems souls found faithful to the calls of patriotism.
 PETRICULA.
 Little Rock, Oct. 25, 1855.