Semi-weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1853-18??, 1855-04-14
OBJ STANDARD.
RALEIGH. SATURDAY. APRIL IA. 1865.
MASSACHUSETTS BLGoTRY.


tiser and the New York Herald, some account of
the recent visit of inspection by the Know Nothing
Committee of the Legislature of Massachusetts to
the Catholic Boarding School, at Roxbury, near
Boston. 1t appears that the Editors of the Ad-
yertiser have zen summoned before the Legsla-
ture to give an account of themselves-in other
words, to state on oath what they know about the
matter. They declare, III their Issue of the 9th
that they can prove their statement OF the affair
be true in every essential PARTICULAR. They close
their second article the subject as follows
"In small chamber in the house, one of the
boardcrS Young lady, whose parents, we believe,
reside in the island of Cuba, but who is herself
American by birth, speaking English perfectly lay
in her bed i'll. During the day the sister superior
had been applying ecches to this sufferer, and the
disagreeabe operation was scarcely concluded when
the omnibuses drove up and the numerous party
alghted. The advent of this masculine band caused
great terror in the school-room: the Children literal
" screamed with fright. The superior's first care
was to pacify them and calm their fears; and next
recollecting what effect this noise and the unexpected
arrival must have upon her young patient up stairs,
the superior proceeded to her chamber and bid her
not be frightened-warned her that she might be
disturbed, and advised her to appear TO be aisle p.
On receiving the party in the parlor below, the
sister superior informed them that of her pupils
was ill., lying abed in her chamber, and requested
them make as little noise as possible in approach
ing that part of the house. We need not tell our
readers how gentlemen of ordinary refinement and
dignity would have behaved in such case: our
business is to tell what these visitors did On reach
ing the chamber where the girl lay, the superior
stated the fact Did the gentlemen" shrink back?
No, they pressed forward One it is believed,
tualy entered the room and at all events several APP
preached within twelve inches OF the bedside. The
chamber is scarcely larger than closet; the bedsead
is small iron structure, and Is placed close to the
door; so that the inquisitors without actually eros
Gin the threshold could their presence into
its privacy.
What were the feelings of that weak and suffering
girl as these rude men hung over her, we shall not
attempt to describe. They not content with
the view obtained by the ordinary door. She
two mems heads peering into the room by another
door, which was open, at the foot of the bed. 10
obtain this view these two gentleman must have
leaned another bed which stands the open
doorway in ad . mig room. We trust their
curiosity gratited.
There is no doubt whatever of the facts about this
matter. We heard them first indirectly from one of
the Supernumerary visitors. We have since made
inquiry, and we have unquestonable and direct evil
dence Further than this we have seen the young
lady herself girl of twelve thirteen years of age.
She has happily recovered her health and her
spirits, and have heard from her own lips, the
simple story of her trial Nobody could look in the
frank, open face of that young girl, as timid and
bluShing, but with entire sef-pOSSeSSlon, she an
swered the questions put her, and doubt word of
the story-and he must be possessed of an etrontery
Of which trust the inquisitors have the monopoly
in Massachusetts,, not to burn with indignation to
think that such things not only told, but have
actually happened For ourselves we confess that
We're half abashed at the task we had underta-
ken-infandum ju6ere ren0UGre dOtoren-when we
found ourselves only hearing the brief tale OF what
those men did.
Is there mother in Massachusetts who read
this recital without shudder, recoecting that the
Legislature possesses precisely much (and pre-
csely lite) power to authorize sue an invasion
of her daughters sick chamber in any house in the
Ctofo OYNlnr Tho
of the affair the account of want of aut 'rity.
Where the cOurtSey, where was the decency,
where was the humanity of these men? Suppose
the illness of the girl had been more critical than it
was-suppoSe the superior had not been able to
her of the approach of the band of inquiSi-
tors-who will answer for the result or defend the
proceeding? Truly, now at least, and in Mas>achu-
sets, " the age of chivary is gone" A modern
Burke might even utter more bitter lament. Chi
valry has gone, and decency, and humanity.
We are not the advocates of either monasteries
nunneres; and, being Protestant both by ed
ucation and deliberate conviction of the truth and
soundness of Professionalism, should not, under
any circumstances, send child or ward of ours
to a Catholic School; yet this is one thing, and
the rights which religious denominations are ent-
tied to under the Constitution and the laws is an
other. The Constitution Of the United States de-
cares that Congress shall make no law respect
ing establishment of religion, prohibiting the
free exercise thereof" and that " the rig hit of the
people to be secure in their persons, houses, pa
pers, and effects against unreasonable searches and
seizures, shall not be violated; and no warrants
shall issue, but upon probable cause, supported by
oath or affirmation and particularly describing the
place to be searched, and the persons things 10
be seized.' The Constitution of Massachusetts
contains provisions substantially to the effect
No oath or affirmation - was had in this case.
There had been no information according to the
forms Of law-no presentment indictment. If
Massachusetts can act thus, North Carolina can
also; and if the Catholic schools can thus be scar
ched under bare imputation suspicion of crime,
Protestant schools can be subjected to similar
ches and examinations Who, then, under such
system of legislative espionage would be safe from
lntrusion from irnpertinent curiosity, from injury
and modification as the result of suspc ion i'm
Putaton of misconduct or crime We said there !
had been no oath :" taken in this matter-we
we're mistaken-these very Know Nothings had !
bound themselves by the most awful obligations |
to prescribe, and persecute and vex these very Ca
tholcs. 1t was part of their business. They |
had sworn to doEt; and nos only this, but to re-
gard the countrymen of Emmett, and DeKaib,