Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1853-1862, 1855-04-22
paFFnnM-

iaily FJoyed by those who pay proper respect to
us, existence as the privilege Of al To trespsss
UPON It's exercise il any individual or class Of in
oaS'ouals IS 70 limit our freedom with that in
oisiauai or Case and arouse the enmty and ca
psei;y to trespass upon Us, be or they may now or
hereafter possess Here originate all the severanoes
and civil connections Of the world. The inaliena-
Gle rights Of man are 10 fact Of higher authority
than the decisions Of any sell constituted body Of
men can be Bodies, therefore that combine
against any class, where no crime is alleged must
sooner or late. be regarded as the enemies of man
kind. TIE combination being in violation Of ma.
tuFal rights, viii arouse all who cherish their own
ights AID thus lead to resistance that must in the
end, sweep, forever sweep, every vestge oftyranny
end usurpation from the earth Men NAV mistake
their rights snJ fight for their wrongs so to speak,
but they 60 not mistake their oppressors, and
hence olen fer very silly superstition they bear
suaeriags ard manifest resistance that for time
seems to threaten universal anarchy Any effort.
therefore 10 preserve American Institutions at the
expense Of an ipalonabe right of class of the
American or any other people, must lead to an in
su5crd;nation, worse, infinitely worse, than any
evils that can grow cat of the misuse of natural
right: the right TO choose our rulers.
The United States government tolerates all re-
ligions and allows to foreigners the same privileges
wbicL it grants to the native population Why does
It DO this? Because it has chosen 10 recognise
natural and inalenable right in man TO worship
God according to the dictates Of his own con-
science Il originated and attained all its charsc-
terstic perfection in a love of the unrestricted
freedom Of religious opinion for men of every ma
ton, kindred, tibe and tongue Cannot any, even
the most superficial observer, see, that il we deny
this right, OF limit il, ALLEVIATE or disIanchise
any sect or class because of religious opinions, our
institutions become a ridiculous farce2 Could any
honest mar, entertaining the opinions for which
be suffers prescription, honor the government
thus injurine him? Would he not be driven back
10 his sect with all tie powers of his mind and the
means Of his influence against the government?
Could he be otherwise than open enemy or a
hypocrtcal sycophant biding his hour? Now,
how stands the case?
The Know-Nothing party prescribe the Catholic
because he is a Catholic. Suppose their principle
becomes tie policy Of the government lie, the
Catholic, Is, in the first ace, deceived in the pro-
fe5sed protection Of the government he has left all
10 honor Ills opinions are already unpopular
Justly so, every Protestant thinks. He is excluded
from macy circles Of fashion and piety pointed
st TiL more CT less derision in cur streets; made
often tofei Tee bitter prejudice Of upstart Theo-
iogaus and Ho;spur preachers, whose temporal
prospects hey Suppose, depend upon blasting the
interest, Gripping the energies and defsming the
character e what they chastely call the Who're Of
BABYLON Now add to this the denial OF the Elec-
tive FrarcLize, and take away all hope for the
honors aud rewards cf the Government he has
chosen, and in The name Of Justice what induce
ment hrs ne 10 love- protect preserve that which
every man desires 70 cherish with "life, fortune
and sacred honor Where is room for patriotism?
Who can love a country that joins his enemies in
seeking u deprive him Of his ell +? Who can es-
innate the power Of IN ever-incTeasipg class
converted from ,rie ldship to enmity, aenated
already by scctsrian and pittess opposition, when
it shall become the settled policy Of the govern
ment to deprive such Of their rights as men?
But let Us reduce this view of the subject to a
more severe course Of reasoning. The objection of
the Know Nothing to the Catholic may be ard is
stated with great plausibity. Thus: We 90 not
object to the religion Of the Catholic IS such. But
in the proportion in which he loves bis sect he
must be aleuated from his government He can
not as Catholic, surrender his love to disparity for
a pure patriotism. Such IS his love for his sect DO
cannot love his country.
Suppose We admit the statement, what then ?
Is it rot equally true Of every zsaot Of every sect
in ChTistendom? Would sincere Melhodist or
Baptist give ID his love Of his creed and church for
the goveTnueDt2 Where. then, will prescription
end? Can prescription change sectaran zeal7
Again Is it not natural for every man to fall back
upon his sect for defence, which government |
denies him7 Do you not increase the love Of the |
sect in the exact. proportion in which you debar
the nan rom the native privileges the government
denies him and the sect in its limited measures may
grant? - I
Would you then break down the devotion TO the
mere part zsu character Of Romauisrn or any other
of the tbousaud isns Of religion, You must guar
antee more rights, more priviieges;-in word,
greater freedom than the sect can give. And Just
kere is The power and glory Of our Institutions
Thew deal with men as men, and not as Catholic
or Protestant They plant their standard upon
broad basis tie basis Of the Rights OF Mainland
Tins show a faith 10 God and man above the mar
row confines Of any dcgmatic creed-one broad
enough TO allow to every man bis idol or his God
&c he or his uoighbors may choose to call 1t. By
,,roteetipg tie Romauist, as man; giving him
eousl privilege, and no more, with MS Protestant
,r Ratiopaist peiehbor, we offer an object towards
which the human heart viii ever Turn IN ionoest
affection. swelling every patriotic impulse, and Sc
curing ultimately, its honor and its lie, II need be,
mon the altar Of lis liberty. As you strengthen
The love Of country you weaken the love Of sect
As YOU weaken tie love Of sect, you increase the
love Of nan; and direct to bis elevation, all the
MOWERS that were once engrossed in selfish emuia-
ton and its iuhuuan stri.es.
What nan Ct human sympatbes needs to be told
that the warm and generous sympathies OF human
nature; its diynost deeds; its hottest patriotism,
are chilled aud paralzed by al efforts to force the
viii. or dive the understanding? Human beings
and human Interests can only flow together where
resneot is paid to tie rights Of ALL Who does not
know tbat ignorance, pride Of opinion and selfish
ovqrcg are ncurished and developed, whenever the