Raftsman's journal. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1854-1948, 1855-06-20
THE REvoLUTIoN AMI CATEoLICIgM.

THE REVOLUTION AND CATHOLICISM.
The enemies Of .Americanism, plant them
selves what they term the fact, that our IA
theirs fought for Religious Liberty, and free
liberation TO all creeds, be they what they
may They hold that Americanisn is uncon-
stitutionaI and proscrlptive, because it refuses
TO confer offices upon Roman Catholics. They
are constantly harping upon Religious tests
ssLiberty of conscience" ETC., etc. Now We
propose to show, not only that this is Prot
estant country, but that oRpositfo" TO Catholic
ism ,cGs Of The chief causes achich led TO the
.ameTicaa RsColation. And if we show this, be-
yond all possibility of contradiction, we think
the duty of Protestant Americans, to preserve
their institutions intact, and to protect their
liberties from the aggressions of the same enc
mics against which their Revolutionary sires
fought, ought at once to be conceded. by the
bitterest enemies of the present American
movement.
Ia the reign of GEORGE Ill, the British Par
Lament passed an Act, extending the domin-
ion of Canada, and establishing the Roman Cath-
olic Religion. In the proceedings of the Amer
lean Congress held in Philadelphia, September
9TH, IVA, sspublished by William and Thomas
Bradford at the London Coffee House, we find
this repeatedly alluded to as one of most seri-
Gus grievances, and one of the primary causes
OF complaint by the colonists. In the Resolu-
tions of the Delegates from the 'sseveral towns
and districts in the county of Suffolk, in the
Province of the Massachusetts Bay" (page 35)
We find the following: .qof
40 That tho late Act of Parliament, establish
fishing the Roman Catholic Religion and the
French laws in that extensive country called Que
bee. is G11geroHs in extensive degree to the
Protestant Religion and to the cii rights and tib-
ertiss Of ali Anierica; and thefore and Pro-
testant christians, indispensably Obliged to
take all proper measures for our security
Further OF, We find, (on page 59,) that the
Congress, among their celebrations and Re
solves" alluded to the same subject, in Ian
guage following
.'And another statute was then made ''for making
more effeetual provision for the government of
Quebec &C. = all of which is impolitic unjust, and
cruel, and most dangerous of American rights. y
AS we read further, we find in the Address of
Congress to the Colonies, the same grievance
enumerated ameng others, and the probabili-
ty expressed that the Roman Catholics will
Act with hostility against these free Protestant
Colonies. whenever 4 wicked ministry should
choose so to direct theul.1-lSee page So;
In the celebrated address to the People OF
Great Britain, p We find the following paragraph,
and certainly nothing can be stronger
| aAnd by another Act the dominion of Canada is
to be so extended, modelled and governed, as that
| by being disunited from detached from our in
| terests, by civil as we'll religious preiudiees,
| that by their numbers daily swelling with Catho-
| lie emigrants from Europe. and by their devotion
70 an Administration friendly to their religion
| they might become formidable to u.s. and on Occ9-
SION be TT iststruHtstS in tie hads of poCer re-
| 4tscs HE ancient free Protestaat COtofttes to the
same state of Slaverg NTH 1temsetUeS.n ''Nor
| can we suppress astonishment that British
Parliament should consent to establish in tn at
| country Religion that has 6stHgef y0ur isle IN
blood, and dispersed IMPIErY, mGorRY, PERsEcU-
| TIOv. MURDER AND REBELLIoS THROUGHOUT EVERY
| PART OF THE WORLD! page So
Here we have the opinion of the Revolution
airy Fathers--the members of the first Congress
on Catholicism. Were they proscriptive ?
Were they in favor of Religious test?' Do
the Americans ofthe present day go any further7
Now we think we have demonstrated, beyond
all contradiction, that our Country and Gov
ernment are Protestant, and that one of the
chief causes which led to the American Revo-
luton was hostility to the Roman Catholic
Church. And here, for the present, we per-
nit the matter to TsSt beRHin and Ysdd adopt his owr
course. If Romansm was to be feared then
in what respect has it changed, to render it al
object of indifference now ? If that church
was at enmity with Liberty then, when did il
become converted into a friend?