Washington sentinel. [volume] (City of Washington [D.C.]) 1853-1856, 1855-04-14

know.
GREAT KNOW-NOTHlNG EXPLOIT
HELPLESS FEMALES AND THE
BRAVE COMMITTEE OF THE MAS
sACHUSETTS LEGISLATURE.
We do not remember to have read anything
more disgusting than the details we publish on
our first page of the visit of the Committee
of the Massachusetts, Legislature to private
Catholic seminary kept by unprotected ladies
at Roxbury. This whole proceeding, from the
beginning to the end, is the lowest, meanest,
unworthiest, and most unmanly that it has
ever fallen to our lot to record.
The Know-nothing Committee Of the Know
nothing Legislature of Massachusetts,, in def.
ance of the bill of rights and the constitution
of Massachusetts and that of the United States,
under the powers given to them to examine
and report upon the condition Of "the theolo-
gical seminaries, boarding schools, academies,
nunneries, and converts" had the shameless
audacity and Infamous hardihood to visit, enter,
and examine a private dwelling in which the
Sisters Of Charity at Roxbury kept school.
| This Committee not only went to this dwelling
themselves, but chartered omnibuses and took
along with them a number Of their curious
friends. The house was occupied by unpro-
| tected females. The number of their scholars
was twelve-young ladies ranging from twelve
to fifteen years of age.
Without any notice, suddenly and unceremo-
niously this vulgar herd of Legislative rufians
and Know nothing Hottentots invaded the
sanctuary where pious ladies were engaged in
teaching innocent girls, whose parents had en-
trusted them to their guardianship, and, under
a resolution passed by the grave Legislature of
the great State of Massachusetts, claimed the
power to scour the premises, visit the cham
bers search the cellars, examine the closets,
look under the beds, and inspect the trunks
and the clothes of the unprotected female in
mates This, indeed, was noble affair for
grave committee of the Massachusetts Legisla
ture. This was, indeed a gallant exploit for men
calling themselves gentlemen. 1t was fit that
a Know-nothing Legislature should appoint
such a committee, and natural that committee
thus appointed should discharge its high and
important duties in such manner
What brave and adventurous spirits these
sage Massachusetts, Legislators must be to storm
a school house full of helpless women and
young girls
But outrageous and unlawful as was this
most foul inquisitorial visit, the rude, vulgar,
and ungentlemanly conduct Of the committee
aggravated ityet more. We would not speak
thus, did we not feel authorized to do so by the
statements which we publish in another column.
1t seems, too, that the Massachusetts press, with
few exceptions, either denounce or ridicule the
proceeding.
Those who have risen TO authority in Massa
chusetts by means Of the distempered and de.
moralized condition of the public mind, seem
to be sednlously striving to tarnish the fair
fame of that once great Commonwealth, and
to bring her into contempt They seem to have
lost their reason, and to be given up TO all
kinds Of errors, heresies, and isms.
One of this committee signalized himself by
making improper and insulting demonstrations
towards one Of the ladies, for which, in n
sounder condition Of public opinion and in n
place not possessed by the demon of religious
intolerance and bigotry, he would, ere this,
have been shot, drummed out OF town, or
treated to a coat Of tar and feathers But that
antiForeign and anti.Catholic committee, ap.
pointed by the anti-Foreign and anti-Catholic
Legislature, no doubt thought that it was le-
gitimate to outrage decency and degrade man.
hood by insulting any lady who belonged to
either of the prescribed classes We hope, for
the credit Of Massachusetts, character that the
accounts Of this outrage have been exagger.
ated.
This party is destined to bring odium and
infamy on itself by its wild excuses. If few
more such enormities as this Roxbury outrage,
and as the disgraceful election riots that lately
occurred In Cincinnati are committed, respec-
table people everywhere win become Disguised
with the new, secret proscriptive and riotous
party. They will quit it as they would burn.
ing house or sinking ship.
But these things are the natural fruits Of the
dstempered condition Of the public mind.
" You cannot gather grapes from tborns, or
figs from thistles." Nor can we expect manli-
ness, dignity, decency, and order from party,
which, in Massachusetts and Ohio is composed
Of the most detestabe and pestilenta ele-
ments.
The Roxbury outrage is almost too serious a
thing to jest about, yet nothing perhaps can be
more influential in covering the brave Legisla-
tive Committee with contempt and confusion,
than the merciless ridicule with which they are
visited by many of the Massachusetts journals. |
The Boston Post treats il seriously 1t says:
"Tbe statements Of the Lady Superior, and |
her assistants Of the Roxbury shool, cannot |
fail to produce deep impression in the com.