The Opelousas patriot. [volume] (Opelousas, Parish of St. Landry, La.) 1855-1863, 1855-03-17
THE 4MERIcAN MoTEAfENT.

the impression that one of its leading objects
is to make war upon the Catholic Religion,
and to ~ostracise Catholics from official trusts
under the Government. This has been done
with the view of prejudicing the party in the
estimation of the intelligent and patriotic
Creoles Of the State, whose influence and iden-
tity with the soil would give tone and charac-
ter to any political movement in which they
might participate.
To sustain their position, the opponents of
the American Party seek arguments thou
sands of miles from Louisiana, among individ,
ual fanatics at the North, who oppose every
creed, and every thing, which is not peculiarly
their own. Garbled extracts of speeches,
enaiinting from this %equivocal source, are
arrayed in the columns of the opposition press
copspicuously italicised and capitalized, so as
to impart the particular shade of meaning Of
the respective commentators. With such
crudities for argument, they expect to delude
intelligent readers, and to prevent well-lmean-
ing men from participating in the wholesome
reforms contemplated by the American Party.
Our object in the present article is to lay this
subject fairly before the reader, as our silence
might be construed into acqniescence in the
views just enunciated, or a desire to evade the
issue. And We premise by saying that one of
editors ard proprietors of this paper is u
Catholic, as are also many of its warnest
friends and supporters. 4 yl5. ...a
The American Party, according to the best
information we have, opposes no Religion but
is opposed to all fanaticism in every denomin-
alton, which induces its ~votaries to disregard
the paramount obligations of the Constitution.
In this respect, but in this respect alone, it
may be said to initiate against the tendencies
Of certain opinions, among all religious de-
nominations. 70 illustrate our meaning more
clearly there are many Protestants at the
North who believe that they certain obi
cations to their Creator which prevent them
from carrying out certain plain injunctions of
the Constitution. These compose the Higher
Law faction. It is an undisputed principle in
the American Party that these views are I'M
sound, and should be vigorously opposed.
Among the cardinal principles recorded in the
" American Organ" the following is con-
spicuous @ 3
We shall oppose all higher law doctrines, by
which the Constitution is to be set ut nought, vio-
lated or disregarded, whether by politicians, by reli-
gionists, or BY the adherents or followers of either,
or by any other class of persons.'
But it will not be contended that the Amer
lean Party opposes the Protestant Religion
because it repudiates the higher law doctrine
of some Of its members. Yet this is really the
argument used in discussing the relation of that
party to the Catholic Reagion.
Much has been said, particularly among
Northern fanatics, touching the peculiar dog
mas of Catholics in the United States. Some
contend that the hierarchy of Rome claims
and exercises jurisdiction over its members,
in their civil and political relations to society,
and that this doctrine is recognized by the
Church in the United States-in other words,
that the Pope exercises the authority Of con-
trolling voters at the ballot-box. wherever the
elective franchise prevails. The contest, there
fore, has been about a mere bubble. And
because the American Party, in common with
the Catholics of the Union, has repudiated all
foreign interference in the free exercise of the
elective franchise, it is complacently commended
that that party is prescribing the Catholic
Religion. If the American Party is proscrip-
tive, so are the Catholics themselves of their
religion. The American Party saws
" We recognize no power in any foreign po-
tentate to dictate to a citizen of the limited
States how he shall vote, or what shall be his
political conduct" The Catholics saw; "Your
is correct. We recognize the Bishop
OF Rome as our spiritual father; but we W.
him no temporal, civil Or political allegiance"
On this question, the Catholic Church and the
American Party meet on common ground.
principles of the one, and the creed of the
other, are identical. The result is, that while
fanatics and demagogucs continue to aeitate
the subject, the American Party continues to
receive new acccssions of strength from ,be
of Maryland, Missouri, Louisiana.
California and other States.
As stated above, the American Party an.
poses no religion, but recognizes The principle
that the Government should protect every cit
zen IN the free exercise of his religion. The
= American Organ speaking for the entire
says:
y, Inc : American Organ will advocate the free
nhtr''litneled exercise of the rights of conscience
VIII, by all fair and respectful arguments. onnose
lofelSh domination over American citizens. from
quarter it may APPROACH
" We shall oppose and protest against ali abrifne.
tnent Oh religious liberty, holding it as a cor1inar
maxim that religious faith is u question betwcan
aaph individual md Iii, D,l-., 'hN