Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1855-09-25
LETTER FROM BISHOP McGILL.
For the Enquirer.


paper three days after, think may leave all who
take any interest in the matter to form their con-
clu:ion to the justice Of the accusation made
against Inc III the National American mud the Rch-
mond Wing. have declared that did not allow my
self to form the Judgment, nor, consequently, an
nnuuce to others thar considered the san Of Know
NothIugism, the Of the scOurge which afflicted
Norfolk and Portsmouth, but that u ailored 10 judge,
would select that rs the Of our day, most likely
to bring down the anger Of heaven In other words,
that am aware Of no siu more likely tn provoke
Heaven, than secret onN-bo~ud conspiracy against
the Church Of God" The editors OF the National
American mud of the Richmond " Nhig, will not nd-
nit my statement. but, without authority, aud With
ont evidence continue to rciteratc their accusaon.-
Had any other respectable citizen, similarly accused
given an explanation, it would, by gentlemaniy anu
courteous editors have been received with welcome
and Judged upon its merits; bur, being Chthoic
Bishop, am not TO expect or receive any such JUS;
consideration. Ii is not go much what sad. ont
my religion and my clerical profession which consti'
tute "the head and front of my offending
| am told of trembling Kings and Emperor'' ot
centousness, theft and fulsehood Of "killnS herct-
les, bringing the heads Of all Pro,cstants TO the
| block Of ''Purgatury," and thousand other &C.
llghtiul reasons why must have really delivered Inc
discourse which these editors chose to denounce.J
Had intended or sad the thing which they charged,
should not have denied il; but all their indignation
gratuitous, their informcr could tell them II ne
| were disposed to do me uscc.
When | read the two columns and a halt OF decia-
| nation, with which the editor 0i the National Ame-
| rcan wns pleascd to accompany the publication OF
| my letter felt that like the renowned hero ot Ger
vantes, had encountered mini-mW. "W"rds,,
words, words like orient pearls az random strung,
claer through 10 the end in the real r0r IT ptr'rrca
n,hH style. lie plunges about pretty much after the
manner OF fish with hook in him, and, after va
rous ilourishes, ends by turning up his scay SIDE to
the gaze of the public He seems surprised nt the
fnrbcarance Of an insnltcd people, numbering ma
.,f
ungcnrrous an unjust himself, forgetting tiat
he had gratuitously heapcd insult upon Catholics ny
accusing them of ''worslipping images instead "i
God" of putting faith in the priest instead o' me
Saviour" aud being satisfied with "mulnmery ana
superstition" My !opiniun, that "a "cra and oah-
bonmd conspiracy against the Church OF God Il
SIM causes him 10 invoke the Indignation ni 'lose
whom he can influence; but lie may indulge his !um'
in calling nc and other Catholics ii0!st1rs AMI r0lI-
res oj snrrMlti1n to his hearts content, ana think
| that it is Il mere exercise of imrr1r9H trcriom The
generous nnd liberal editor, in reading history mas nos
Yet discovered tina; sHngn's mtTiyT"m, sfmrn IhrS,
! han0yHn and hence wishes to have ME p"Inlnelled
| into [! Il belief that Know Nuth;ng,In Is Il virtue.
Bat while conSratuaflng him upon his kiili snicn'
tuns towards inc, entertain no npprcheslols oi hlS
finding others to sympnhise with him. nave never
inclined tn offer insult 10 persons o amy creed
or party but have felt It my right To discuss, eA-
ailne and Judge doctrines and principles, anu when
this aud similar ri sbts are taken from me by myo"-
ticS my American citizenship will be but II worthless
maine. :,
| The editor much TO his own credit and to the cd
ticatiou of his readers, says: $50 lar as intellectual
ability is concerned, We must confess, we appear IN
David appeared before The giant eiol1ah -wi'hou
| Duvil's nll-prn,rcting, a!l-conqu'rns i7i,n' ana
without alas even Da'ih siiPe IN L';'r.
seen little DnVids IN oiniiar preachlhch' of'''"
"withou faith, and without rilnE but most cohi-
monty we'll supplied with siang For want oi sling
does tlr editor in','hu l" s"! ii' WIN ' i
| used bv Sampson
The WORTHY editor ;magines himself in particular
lime OF discussion afu u'Ii, a., ror,r"vr.v n,
nG P"nEea IN Sfa VI .,,;, ,,, cnrrsr, his false
u ues.ea i.a'i ~ W. a" mn W M Lire Of dis
S "S W. h ;m.;ra. U made false ac.
ousa,;nn .h;"b Jsn;,J onI which, without reason
cusatioh M''rh ue'i'eu: uHu ; 80 or ..,hn ;nn,;,
nc re,'erh'es' oeeau,o " ' ..,;o. L;ui" il, fimr,
non, Ills sympathy ao' nG rnrion. other reason.
gone oy, as nc enrrp%. @ nr "" ,he question in hand
never hai any 'n,''s @ ,rn Io,,;,.inm mr. kiIIiu
any thihs 10 u. e't"r' @ WIN ~, ..l"ro:;,ns Of ,I
m,ie'.., :" Il 'lS: So,on, ,,nerrnn and tho Richmond
wh;1 ''' >'''''
| These editors are par nobALc frciTnm, and have
.tn '.urnicd in the ,ume school, 1t will be diff.
cuIt l,r ON. oi them to claim honor the other
in their treatment of this matter. Perhaps the editor
Of the Whp NAV be considered the less excusabe by
| tho,. who know them both. Gin under obligations
i,r the editorial remarks with which he ushered be-
-. tbc nubic nv letter 10 him. as there is an advan-
| tnpo in contrasts. He thinks himself "in rough
roll and tumble battle and therefore uses language
sui,cd 10 whnt is his view Of the circumstances. AS
do not participate i'll his Pus'sc Iancles I, pre.e, ,
| talk as would to gentleman. He VIII know .lc
difference Of the styles, when he undertakes % use
the one in which have addresse" nun
or me, he says: ave have taken MN unuei ou
wn2-he is our meat aud We mean 10 insts'iHas s as'
him. &C. This opens before US an extremely pea
| SAINT prospect. We doubt not that those VINO nave
care of him will fnd reason TO advise him ai'cr
| awhile 10 change his diet.
In the meantime, should wish to know II am 100
no;nt out the line or part of my letter which midi
rnt., ,bnt .the faith of Catholics requires them TO
| r;yc their allegiance to the Pope OF Rome, and To
| withhold il from the Government under which thesv
| H. - donv thot the Catholics Of this country owe
,,. u,oiEcni ollnynnce 10 the Pope Of Rome" and
on. oa he tnow, IN true that there is not line or
word in INV letter to him, which "indicdtes
tbnt they owe to the Pope Of Rome any
no;ticnl allegiance whatever This is ono 'cut out oi
Ina whole CLOTH" and made up to SUIT the
market. Is this the first effort Of the editor nj
making his .mcat" out of ME; and does be think
nv this caumny on Catholics, 10 Justify MS party ~"
their league against the Caiholic ia,n "''u Guu.sp
He pretepds that .'utter, and that SHo~ utter
vile md unmtyated SANDER" when represent
Known Sothngism as "a secret and organized opposl
ton TO the Catholic faith and Church' hoout nhy
other kind OF Acknowledgment than th's, ! nav
pnt amid word and il he has no partwlth this Klno
of Enow. \ o.hinpsm he has no right to tnke cIcep
ton IN what have said. 1t is only to this KIDD tha
hnye objected, and il this kind be nom-'T'Sse"r,
INV remarks fell harmless in the air. believed sucn
:,nsnrocy 10 exist and as those engaged in it were
LnnI hv nrths 10 recr.sy had no light to credit
thM..nJ Ssnins tLa such war not the fact, and could
not credit such denals in face OF the oa'h' when nno
hcrn nublished, aud even recognized as Tue lluc
/ ooth, hv'snmc who had tnken them. But time ALTER
,;mn have Catholics, who hnvo no secret creed; aN
who are bound 10 profess their faith openly dsciarc
that they owe and pay civil or political neg'"nf;' !;
to the Pope of Rome; that their aesianCg 10 " or
n,r,Iy suiritual, to the head "t their 0huFcn: hn
t, iba th.Ir true civil allegiance is due and paid u
the tne government :v under which they live. . 40, u,
&C Catholic. can have possible interest to ,st act w ~s
duicy in this any other Question :" 'Ger frm r. ,bI
zion. they expect and receive nothing from INT
Tnra uf Rome 10 mak them sacrifice truth conscience
and their country a. man, the Pope Is to ,tu them :"
mo more importance than nny other man, that they