The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1855-09-05
For the Spirit of Democracy.
THE CATHOLIC QUESTION.

For the Spirit of Democracy.
THE CATHOLIC QUESTION.
Mr.. EDIToR:-When this discussion
was first talked OF, and proposed and in
sisted upon, by Mr.. Hollister, 1 supposed
he really intended to discuss it. l thought
that he imagined that he could produce
some evidence, and make some arguments,
in favor Of the position he occupies. La
boring under these Impressions, I have
been waiting until the gentleman should
get through his preliminary flourishes, and
enter upon the discussion of the subject in
earnest.
But that time, I fear, is never to come.
lie still goes on-dealing, as he evidently
thinks, powerful blows upon his antago-
nist-with his numerous questions, prin-
cipally from the Debate between Campbell
and Purcell, which, if I understand the
subject we are discussing, have not the
slightest relevancy whatever.
l shall not notice the gentleman's boast
ing, or his evident Judgment and taste in
reference to poetry. His readings and
recollections in that line, are almost as
extensive and appropos, as were those of
the individual who said that he had been
prevented becoming "a thief, by rcmem-
bering that passage Of Scripture which
says
THE dog will bite the thief at night"
But he complains that "have not de-
MED a single authority" The word au-
thority, when used in discussion, means,
1 believe, proof; something that has
tendency at least to support the position
of the producer. Such, in my opinion, I
have never had the opportunity to contra
dict or deny And I now say that the
gentleman has not, and cannot, produce
single particle of evidence, going to show
that Catholics in this country believe or
teach that they owe any allegiance to the
Pope of Rome, in any temporal matter
whatever. If they do, why has not the
gentleman cut the matter short, and pro-
duced the proof of it at once? Simply
because he cannot The authority which
he is bound to produce, or ta1, is, that
Catholics in this country bekieue that they
owe temporal allegiance to the Pope.
He must prove that if the Pope saw fit to
undertake to absolve the Catholic citizens
of this country from their allegiance to
this Government, that such is their belief
that they must and would obey him; that
such is the relation that exists between
them and the Pontiff at Rome, and that
they so believe and teach. Has he done
so? If that church claims Infallibility,
and has ever taught such doctrines, and
they are no longer believed or taught, it
is an argument against the Infallibility,
and that is question which we are not
now discussing. The gentleman most
resolutely shuts his eyes against the facts
in the case. He knows that Catholics do
not believe anything of the kind. He
knows that their doctrines and teachings
are just the reverse of what he is attempt
ing to prove them to be; because I must
give him the credit of being, at least, a
man of ordinary information, and thing
so notorious cannot have escaped his OBJ
servation. But then he thinks, that with
his Supremacy and Infallibility, and his
peculiar logic, that he can proue the thing
to be so; and it is of no consequence
whether it be so or not. HIS purposes
will be accomplished if he can add to the
strength of his party; for l cannot per-
suade myself that all this re-printing of
Mr.. Campbell's Debate with Purcell (that
is, Campbell's part of it,) is for any other
purpose than that of getting before the
people of this county, the unexplained
and uncontradicted authorities-if such
they may be called-used by Mr.. Camp
bell during that Debate.
l will now once more, and for the last
time, try to bring the gentleman to the
question. If it is still deferred, or eva
ded, as it has heretofore been done, |
shall feel myself released from any obliga-
ton to take any further notice of the gen.
tleman's effusions.
In order, therefore, to bring him to the
point, possible, l shall proceed to prove,
as nearly as negative can be proven,
that the Catholics of this country do not
believe or teach that they owe any alle-
glance to the Pope in civil or temporal
matters.
The following is an extract from an
Official Letter, addressed to the Pope by
the American Prelates assembled in Coun-
Gil in the city of Baltimore, in May, 1s43:
"They spread doubtful rumors against
us among the people; with untiring effort
they circulate among the ignorant and un,
: informed, books, which calumniate ou'
most holy religion; they leave no means
untried to infect with their errors theil
Catholic servants; and although our fore