The western Democrat. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1852-1870, 1855-09-18

press SidIIiIchtIoi! lHal MS church
and Intiu"ntal in the United States as TO obtain
such an honor, but he more than once on subse-
quent occasions, alluded TO The principle of rel,.
gious lOl"raiinn one of the fundamental ba Ses
q! our roiIucnl institutions. There are other mis-.
aFprc tensions, certainly nadvrrient. in vcur let.
Ter, TO which do moi here de-, m it important to
aliude. | have referred to his conversation with
the Nuncio, hen In social intercourse with others
as well as yourself surely not for the purpose of
proving a p"li:ical bargain with Archbishop
Hughes, or with any other Catholic persons in h.
last Preside niial rIecnn ui The United States for
as your properly remark, had been for wears
Out of The c,untry and was DOT thoroughly con-
VeESGnI WIlh The charg"s aud Issues and undercur.
rents ot The Prpsdrn'Ial tlection' | had Eoihing
!" 90 with II but as represf NATIVE abroad, Ell.
deavnred TO serve the Interests of my country
without reference 10 party distinctions OF any kind
whatsoever.
Bot have menl"ned this conversation for the
puIpCSc OF show ing the interest taken in our coun.
Try by The higher order of the Catholic Clergy in
Europe and as an illustration Of " hat have had
several occasions TO observe as did TO yourself
on this suhjact and in This very connection, that
he leading members of tna church are as fami-
liar or, more so perhaps, with th" character of
institutions aud pcople-our resouFces-cur geOg-
raphy-our general history AMI progress than
many O! the wS"st statesmen of Europe. / repeat,
| have never conn"cird 1t in nay own mind or OH.
rrwi>c, for the purpose Of proving the charge OF
political corruplinn 10 which you -cf-r-but for u
totally different object, just stated. And here
IN lies your great mStake-hut one into which,
with your views the subj. CT OF that charge
aud without the knowledge Of the facts c"nnrcteA
y :lh the conversation which possess, YOU might
tall. | mentioned il for one purpo>e-
you cmpl"y II for another, without, as | linnk,
any Ju,t ground for doing 1ou mistaken
IN surprising that ever m"nrinnrd 1t tn y"u at
any time CUntirmatory OF the political charge
to Which You refer. | could not have done so.
for never believed so. 1t would have been nb-
surd in inc to believe so, unleS, had imagined,
rs you sem 20 think, but hich the facts do not
81 stain, thar the Nuucio had previous knowledge
that tho appointment to be- made, and before
it really WAS made. The first time | saw in what
| regarded imperfect report Of lour speech
mt Wa >hing'On, pnhii~hcd in the Raleigh Register,
the circumstance this conversation u-cd os proof
Of this charge fastened to correct The errnnf Gus
impr, ssinn. in my letter you Of the h of July
at 81 CARA Fni!s. And when saw that |
nfirrw aGds qu ted authority frr statement in
Il lrh of July Ocarion at Washington. for s,ying
not only that he Pop"'s Nunco at Madrid, gave
me this iu!ormaliuu-het that il was given tver
hoi"re the CahiHet OF th" President was known
to The public H. re in the United Sintes--and that
II used 10 slnblI>h d. in part. this charge OF
political corruption, wrote 10 the author, Mr.. 81
lis, To correct the statement in letter u h!ch has
been published
Il was entirely proper and mol cut of rs cord
tn Il ! should sl,tp, us have drne iii the ieners on
this suLlnct my inI, reuc"s from tie infnr-
fnaIon communicate To me. 1t was essential 10
the Who'll" truth (or wir,n;' it, crrnn Gus imprcs-
sinns we're being made, never intended by me-
and IN my opinIrn. not justified by The facts
When this nlnrGrr referred tn bv us at 3ailI-
more in June lrs,, when ! met you but for short
lime, | did not al all suppose that il had been, or
lhrtir was To be us"d in c"nncc'inn with this charge
nor did suppose, in our first cnnvcIsatIon 1T
K ,lrIgh, that il would be used for any purpose,
puhlicklT. For though the c"nVrrs tjour With
yen were not conGd"nti, hut in n" !rred'm "f
ra>urI social intercourse, couli not suppose |
would be qrord nurhorIy snch suit ct
and for such purpose. in public addresses, with
uut il writren permission and statement from me.
In reply to your inquiry whether intend III my
letter tn say that my opiniol now 1t that there
was no such understanding hat referred tn n
regard io Tie Roman Catholic vote being given 10
Me. PIERCE, wh"rhcr youF opinion now is that
The Pop"'s NuaC;o h al no rr 'vlous FnoWI"dg" ut /
an intention To appoint Mr. Camphel,' answer.
ln nh"Sratngy, that my opinion has not changed,
,mi th,t certainly think the communrcati'n mad"
10 me by rhe Pope'< Nuaco affords rro2f Of
,ns!i u charge O, unotrStandiH2. Whether there
,' oter allie CATIONS and facts CIrcUG1S'HnirI or
ii:ccf, which may be presented 10 sustain this
charge or moi, am not aware. And, as an hon ;
Isl man ] am bound presume innocence until
,miIi is shown, in all cases. and especially IN
matter ali citing 50 deeply The honor of 'he c"un-
ry as we'll The Ligh parties immediately iTfi-
,a'rd.
You need not f,ar, nv dear sir, that any un-
Willingness on my part that | should be mi>rrpTc-
,.n.cd to the injury of Mr. Pierce or the P"prs
NpDcin could operate 10 allow nv name oYIn. .
ons To be used or perverted to your i"l1ry. !
wish To do iIsrice Ia all and the cause of truth.
HoIr integrity or veracriy is not in question: You
,.arr what YOU believe To be correct. nu only /
lraw an inference, and form an OP1Ht0n from Il .
act WHICH YOU think is iegl;imate-5nt which |, /.
n i,h necessarily better knowedg. Of the crcum-
stances feel confident, Is erroneous AM Ill founded
A. to any supposed hiIs, political or oherwIsF
contrary TO truth as understand it, II i scarcey
necessary Ia say Iha, would scorn TO allow II t"
nfurnce me- 1t is hardly necessary 10 say I"
rou and others TO whom am at all known, that
yhi,e | have meyer been violent partiz1n or
zen lot | have always been CONSISTENT mag IN /
,oIircs and in religious faith a PrO'cSfd"i. bui
n the one and in The o:hrr, have CnGeaEOred To
,xercise a spirit OF tolt-rali"n, as most congenaI
rilh truth and sincerity in both. And II he IN
,etIye political lie, though now for some tIme
,.sr ont of the vortex. | have endeaVor"d to
,raciics toleraton towards my opponents, Ger
ninl1 will not now abandon spirit essential
o rppuhgIcan freedom and especisIlv at period
ID fp-