Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1855-05-30

three thousand New England clergymen who
sent the anti-Nebraska memorial to the Senate
last year not one was Catholic as ! have been
Informed and believe. Why then should we
Southern men join the Puritans of the North 10
proscribe from office the Catholics on account of
their religion! Let them and their religion be,
rs bud as they can be, or as their accusers say
they are, they cannot be worse than these SAME
puritanical accusors, who started this persecu-
tion against them say that ne are. They say
that we are going to perdition for the enormous
sin of holding slaTcs. The Pope with NIL his
followers cannot suppose even in their ]ndg-
ment be going 10 4 worse place Tor holding
what they consider the monstrous absurdlty OF
the immaculate conception" And for my
own part would about rs soon risk my chance
for Heaven with him, and his crowd too. as with
these self righteous hypocrites who deal out
fire and birthstone so literally upon our heads.
At any rate have no hesilancy in declaring
that should much rather risk my civil rights
with the American Catholics, whom they arc
attempting to drive from Office than with them.
But sir, | am opposed to this prescription upon
principle If it is once begun there IS no telling
where it will end. When faction once tastes
the blood of 6 victim it seldom ceases its rara-
ees amongst the fold so long rs single remain
inr one, be the number at first ever so great, is
left surviving. 1t was to guard against any
such consequences rs would certainly ensue in
this country if this effort at prescription of this
class of religionists should be successful that
wise provision to which have alluded was put
in the fundamental law of the Union And to
maintain it intact in letter and spirit with stead
fastness at this time hold to be most sulemn
public duty.
And now, as to the other idea-the proscrip-
ton of foreigners-and more particularly that
view of it which looks to the denial OF Citizen
ship TO all those who may hereafter seek home
in this country and choose to cast their lots and
destincs with u.s. This is n favorite idea with
many who have not thought of its effects, or
reflected much upon its consequences. The
abronation of the naturalization laws would not
stop immigration, nor would the extension of
the term of probation to the period of twenty
one years do it. This current of migration
from East to West, this Exodus of the excess
of population from the Old TO the New World,
which commenced with the settlement of this
continent by Europeans, would still go on
And what would be the effect, even under the
most modified form of the proposed measure
tnaC Is OF Ill cAlcuoIOu WI LIZ PSiiOu 'AN' ~ y
to twenty-one years, before citizenship should
be granted? At the end of the first twenty
one years from the commencement of the oper-
alton of the law, we should have several millions
of people in our midst-men Of our own race
-occupying the uncnyiabe position of being a
" degraded caste" in society, species of serfs
without the just franchise of a freeman or the
needful protection due to n sLare. This would
be at war with all my ideas of American Re.
pubIicanism as have been taught them and
eloried in them from youth up. If there be
danger now to our Institutions, (as some seem
to imagine, but which am far from feeling or
belieying,) from foreigners rs class, would
not the danger be greatly enhanced by the pro-
posed remedy! Now, it is true they are made
to bear their proper share of the burihens OF
the Government, but are also permitted, after
residence of five years. and taking an oath to
support the Constitution, TO enjoy their Just
participation in the privileges, honors and I'M
munilies, which it secures Would they be less
likely to be attached to the Government and
its principles under the operation OF the present
system than they would be under the proposed
one which would treat them as not much better
than outcasts and outlaws? All writers OF
note, from the earliest 10 the latest, who have
treated upon the elements and component parts,
or members of communities and States, have
pointed this out as source OF real danger