The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1855-02-10
POLITICS IN THE PULPrT-HoS. $. A. SMITHS

greatly increased upon reading bis late speech upon the
naturalization laws and know-nothingm Our increased
regret grows ont Of the that hnd in this speech
such evidences Of high intellectual endowments and Of
elevated and sound craftsmanship that but la
ment the absence from the Congress Of emil
nenty qualified to exert sautary influence upon is de-
libsratons Mr. Smith has served but single term and
declines reelection in opposition the earnest wishes
Or an overwhelming majority Of his constituents lie has
dsueaned himself with that modesty which becomes
young member Of Congress but whenever he has ad-
dressed the House be has impressed the members
with high appreciation Of bis talents his bodness his
ankness and his devotion to democratic principles
The speech before shows that he Is clear and bold
reasoner fearless statesman and determined patriot
He investigates know-nothngism systematically, and ex-
poses its dangers and its deformites with power that
viii satisfy the reader that his positions the result Of
profound reflection and deep research Il i our purpose
to give the speech entire at early day but at present
we can only make for extract in regard TO the
political ntermeddng Of cergymen, which contains SEN
timents 30 much in accordance with own views and
90 well worthy OF study that cannot defer its insertion
We commend the extract the earnest attention OF our
readers 1t Is as follows
Such being the objects Of the party, win now turn
nv attention 10 aSowed principles These consist in the
sea or Modification Of the naturalization laws, and the
prescription of the Catholic religion of the first Of these
assumed principles have already spoken and must now con
tent myself with submitting my views the divine Preten
sons OF this modern nquson do not come as the adyo-
cate Of the Catholic religion the apoogst OF the Catholic
faith believing az always have in the religious doctrines
~ ancestors at an early day mbbed prejudice against
the enets Of the Catholic Church, and these early impress
ons have never been removed dissent from its doctrines
discard its beresie and deaouRee persecution In religion
oppose Catholics as politics do wings believing the
masses Of be honest in their motives and sincere IN
their intentions but wrong in their doctrines.
clam Protestant because believe its teachings to be
the teachings the Bible and its religion the religion OF our
Saviour while strong in my own faith, scorn TO
proscrbe others who differ from in religious sentiment
do not seek TO dive down into the Of ferret
her religious dogma but would secure to every denomina
ton their constitutional right to worship God according to
the dictates OF their conscience Who does not depore
the melancholy spectacle presented by the church in
this free and happy country of the political aspa
ons OF large numbers of the cergyl Political discussions
have entered annual and general conferences and
ona controversies have usuped the time devoted by the
fathers of the church to the exposition OF the Word OF God
Already its banefu influence on the most
powerful branch the Protestant church in America Di
vded by sectional STRIFE and asunder by the ambition
Of portion of its clergy being able live together in
peace and harmony it has sought contentmen in disco
luton of its union and division Of its ecclesiastical govern
ent Other denominations said TO be following in the
same wake and close OF the volume opened TO
record the history Of religious and intolerance in
America may well fear that the church will be strip
ped its holy panop and be clothed in the atteed rags
of religious anaticism Its moral influence destroyed by its
own internal dissensons ancient glores must be laid low
in the dust majestic pillars which support the sacred
edifce must crumbe and fall
And one prodgous swallow ALL
"Sir reverence the American clergy; and what say
of them in reference their political conduct is intended to
apply ONLY 10 those who in disregard of their holy calling
seek usurp the place the politician and control by their
clerical influence the legislation of the country Such
course their part only lead to disputes and contention
between the different denominations of Christians and
sinful world dtrust the sincerity Of every branch of the
church Of God.
But we are told that Of the purposes OF the Of
this new order Of things counterfeit the secret and mis-
chevous designs of Romansm If the republic were imper
HE'D as they claim that it is theirs the way theirs the
means ward of the evil The founders Of the confeder
acy foresaw the danger that in after times might
ace its stability and they hoped securely shielded from
the reasonable designs of all internal foes 1t dscoy
cred orehers not the seer our admiration
has credited be that the somuchtakedo charter
of our liberties but ink and parchment and the supposed
barrier ii offers against the ambitious designs Of
all religious dominons and powers but imsy paper wall
Roman Catholicism after having lost its power the poor
ignorant Of Europe the of these concaves
discover in the raising itself into the first places of this
the and enlightened the purest and rees nation
upon the globe.
And how do they propose avert the monsrous evil
they pretend 10 lurking abous the BODY potc union
Church and State, directly indirectly would be
summation so damning that cannot with camness
plate its remote possibility Romanism is openly
charged with such design. And how do their
propose to save the country from the danger they pretend
have discovered Their plan has least the merit origin
aty Their proposition is first TO prescribe all who profess
the Catholic religion then dsranchse all who happen
be born in foreign land and then, by way Of brilliant
finale TO take the under their fostering
"And who these sayiours OF the republic Who
these in clerical robes who Israel her
midnight concavesnto cempanionship with all the
unrody sm of the times2 Are they not the three thousand
preachers Of the North Who hardly tweyemonth ago. ap
peared bar Of the Congress of the United States and
tempted inmdate the the American peo
pie by protesting the Of Almighty God against
passage the Nebraska BILL and claiming by virtue Of their
high calling control the legislation of the country In the
darkest days of ignorance and religious superstition the world
has known Popery claimed greater power and
now with unbushng erontery these speak with horror
Of the temporal pOsr claimed by the Pope and call upon
aid them discriminating the Catholic religion from
land o, shame where is thy blush We have fallen
upon strange have been taught believe that
the religion Of the Bibles that il the only
exponent the doctrines Of Christ that il
bic, and marching conquerng and TO conquer
claiming the world from supertous and presty de-
cepon that 1t designed to carry the truths Of the
pei portion Of this globe where the rolls
the earth bears plant Bat sir, do believe
this is to be accomplished BY making upon other reli-
ious creeds by the ministers Of the Protestant Church
forsaking the Of their Holy Master mnge the
sectional strs OF the times Render unto
Cesar the things that Casar the advice which
Jesus gave his followers Upon this advice the Prottants
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