Weekly Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1853-1861, 1855-05-03

denied the privilege of vOting-all excluded
from olfice-then total exclusion is the prop
er remedy. If those who seek our shores for
home are incapable of fitting themselves
to enjoy the privilege of voting and of hold
ING Office, then it is the manifest that they
are not fit to form part of American society.
The dangers to be apprehended from immi-
grafton, are not to the ballOt-boX, nor to OIL
cial purity, but to the peace and order of So
ciety. How the foreigner IS to he made more
law-loving and law abiding, by exclusion from
the privileges alluded to, has not been shown,
and is beyond my comprehension. If there
be necessity for the Know Nothing prnci-
Pile, in relation to foreigners, then cure the
evil-"lay the axe to the root of the tree''-
exclude foreigners altogether. But the large
body of this new Order disclaim this doctrine.
The say, let foreigners come; we will receive
them, protect them, and give them homes;
but they must allow Americans to rule the
country ;" and they constitute a class belOlO
American citizens. Let them indulge no
dreams of earning distinction and place by
long life of energy and virtue The doors
which lead to the Temple of Fame are closed
against them. When our soil is invaded
by foe, or our flag insulted, let not the ar
dent foreigner, who has made this hitherto
/ free country his home, buckle on his armOr
and hurry to the conflict with ambitions
flame kindling his patriotism, unless his ambi-
ton extends no further than 10 die; for, he
may perform daring deeds-he may carry on
his person marks of his valor- he may have
| lost his health, and return to his home halt
and lame, and yet american liberty will not
suffer q small office TO reward his dauntless
| ol,,la 4
quire it, but do not suffer them to migrate
hither, and then, by your policy, drive them
to hate our Government Amend the natu-
ralization laws, if you please - extend the
term of probation-require such time as will
enable them to understand and apprseiate
our institutions, but never take from them a
time when they will be american citizens
Do not divide your population into classes,
and thereby produce, as YOU inevitably
will, cause of constant irritation and excite
mcnt. Let not the foreigner come home to
remain a foreigner, but when he makes Amer
ca the home Of his choice, let there be time
when he shall be admitted to the rights of
citizenship. Do keep his feelings aliena-
ated from the spirit and temper of you insti-
buttons, by declaring to him that no time or
service shall ever give him the right TO partici-
pate in the government of his country.
The American party stop not with the for
eigners. They advocate the exclusion of the
Roman Catholics from all offices. This they
defend upon the ground that the Romanist
acknowledges the supremacy of the Pope in
TEMPORAL as well as in spiritual Matters
The exclusion extends to all Romanists. Adj
NIT, therefore, that some RomanistS hold the
Pope supreme in temporal matters, it would
not follow that all should be excluded. In
order to satisfy this part of their political
creed, it must be shown that all Romanists
hold the obnoxious sentiment: for if but a
portion maintains the doctrine, it would be
sufficient to exclude that portion. 1t is be-
lieved that no candid man, who is informed
on the subject would hazard the assertion
that all Romanists hold such an opinion
History informs us to the contrary our own
experience teaches us that such is not the
fact. 1t may I've safely affirmed, that the
number of Romanists in this country who
hold such opinions as to the power and au-
thority of the Pope is very small. If there
FORE the Roman Catholics are to be excluded
from Office, it is not because they hold their
Pope supreme in temporal government-not
because they are not loyal to the government
of this country, but because they are, in their
religion, Romanists.
In other words they are not fit for Office
they shall not hold Office, because their reli-
gion does not suit us. / will not say that
the American party violates the Constitution
of the United States, when they obligate
themselves not to confer Office upon Roman
lists, because every man has the unquestiona-
ole right to vote for whom he pleases, and to
agree to vote for whom he pleases; but do
say, that he who binds himself to exclude
the Romanists from all offices, is acting con-
trary to the spirit Of that provision of the
Constitution, which declares that mo religious
test shall ever be required as a qualification
to any Office or public trust under the United
States" Article g. sec. 3. This is the en-
phatic language of the Constitution "Shall
ever be required" Two men present them
selves as candidates for office-the American
party ask Mr. A. "to what Church do you be-
long ?" He answers to the Methodist, Bap-
fist, or some other Protestant denomination.
) And Mr.. B., "to what Church do you be-
long ?' He answers, ito the Roman Catho-
lic" They vote for the Protestant, telling
; the Roman Catholic, eve can vote for no man
who is of your communion" He is not object
ed to because he is not qualified-it is not
pretended that he not man of probity and
intelligence. He is not asked, edo you hold
the Pope Supreme Governor in temporal as
we'll as spiritual matters" No "You are
a Roman Catholic, we can't vote for you."-
Now, what is this but applying religious
test? True the electors may confer their
suffrages on whom they please, and they are
accountable to no earthly tribunal You can
not, and ought not, hold them to account for
the reasons of their vote.
But still the party who makes " the test -
a conclusive objection to the candidate, do that
in their organization which the Constitution
under which they live, has declared shall not
be done by the Federal Government The
Constitution declares the Romanist eligible to
Office True, says the American party, but
we won't elect him. The Constitution pro-
vides the Federal Government shall require
"no religious test qualification to Office"
True, says the American party, but our Co.,
eminent says there shall be religious test; to
get our votes, the candidate must not be a
Roman Catholic. Is not the action of this
party, therefore, contrary to the spirit Of the
Constitution Do they not propose, by their
action, to make an amendment to the Oonsti-
tuition ? What benefit is this provision of the
Constitution to the Romanist, if there should
be dominant party in the country, whose
fundamental principle obliges them TO with
hold their suffrages from the Romanist ? As
long rs this party is triumphant there is, in
this respect, no Constitution for the Roman
list. His religion is his exclusion A "reli-
gious test" is applied to him, and he is told
that his faith is such an abominable thing
that he is thereby rendered unworthy to par
ticipate in the government of his country.
The spirit of the American party is not the
spirit of the American Constitution.
No matter how it may be disguised, this
article in the creed of the American party is
religious persecution. They do not propose,
it is true, to confiscate the goods of the Roman
Catholic; they do not propose to Danish him
from the country they do not propose to i'm
prison his body. No, they protest that they
are opposed to religious intolerance yet they
declare that the Romanist is unfit by reason
of his religious faith, to hold office of any
- :, fa hot h. ;,,+o r