Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1853-1862, 1855-06-09


Among the three thousand preachers who asked
repeal Of the Kansas and Nebraska bill was there
single Catholic? No, not one Instead of
m aklng tiem DER enemies, we should protect
slavery.
But men may say to themselves that l make
these statements and this argument because am
opposed 10 this new party but how came to
oppose 1t! This will explain to you. In the
hrst places must be permitted to look upon you
as the great jury o., our country, before whom
every candidate ought and raust annear. that his
merits and principles may be canvassed, and scru-
tinlzed This hold to be essential to the purity
and pepetuity of republican institutions; and
wnen tins has been done, ask you, in illustration
Oh that purity OF trial by jury who take their
seats 70 40 justice between man and man accord
ing 10 tne law and testimony. to discard all pledges
and preludices and decide according to your best
judgments, and honest conviction, upon our merits
ana the truth OF our principles. This hold to be
a solemn duty you owe to your country, whether
you discharge it or not
Like many of you, I was preiudiced against
Catholics and foreigners This prejudice Iimbbed
in my earliest childhood, having been raised by
Protestant parents, and when heard of this new
party, this prejudice naturally prompted me to join
them, and determined to do so Still, not APP
proving OF the secresy, for knew it was wrong,
and that the prescription of Catholics aud foreigners
was also wrong, yet from know nothing paper,
that came regularly to my office by some means
or other, never exactly knew how, which spoke
in alarming tones of the power of the Pope of
Rome. the mighty designs of the Catholics upon
our institutions, the riots, mobs, and the tremen-
dous and dangerous influence exercised by foreign
ers in our elections, was persuaded to join, not
withsanding the objections; aud accordingly
night was set; but on that night providentially
for me, it rained and have thanked heaven
thousand times since that it did, consequently
did not 60. The next morning upon reflection,
knowing that secresy was wrong and fearing
that l might DO something wrong, | thought
it became my duty to investigate the matter for
myself, and not to take the statements Of men and
of newspapers. So 1 procured the report of the
census of 1850, bringing it down to 1854 This il
the only true standard by which we can be gov
erned, and to my utter astonishment found there
were only 1000 900 of foreigners in the United
States and 20, 900, 900 of native born Americans
and how this number could possibly endauger our
institutions could not see, when only about one
tenth of the whole number were voters. The idea
that 1000, 600 of foreigners could destroy Ameri-
can institutions even were they so disposed, guard
ed by $1,000 900 native born Americans, when
1900, 900 had defended themselves against the
mighty power of England, seems to me to be an
looked to see how the Catholics Stood and found
that up to 1854, they only numbered Liza, 100
but small number Of whom could vote / then
tn ned to the statistics of own State, and how
many Catholics did / find in Tennessee? 400
Catholics, and three churches; whereas the Pro
testants numbered 1876, 900 members, with 2Oll
churchesi These are facts which cannot be disputed
and from these facts / was compelled to conclude
that it was but humbug intended to excite fear
g.. u
some other OBJECT Then the inquiry naturally
suggested ITSELF what was that obisct2
lst. Knowing that there were q great many
elections on hand throughout the union, l thought
it was the object Of disappointed partizsns and
leaders of faction 10 carry them, and consequently
they adopted this scheme, and for these reasons
and not wishing to carry cut their designs oppos
ed them.
I'd. l opposed it because l thought it was the
object of the aboltionists, by these means, to de-
stroy the two old parties North and strengthen
their own; and that they sought, at some future
time, by this same plan to destroy the institution
of slavery, by nstitutng in all the principal cities
South, where they at first were best calculated to
meet with success some secret organization, called
friends Of freedom, or some other popular name,
whose proceedings should be kept in secresy,
no one being invited into their councils until well
sounded. From the cities it is extended to the
county seats and so on until their ranks will have
swelled with such numbers that they begin to talk
aloud and doubtless to publish a platform filed
equally with as many patriotic sentiments as that
of the know nothing party, and whose motto, l
have doubt, will be, that We as friends Of free
dom, oppose all slavery upon American soil, now
and for ever ... ..f.
Sd. | oppose it for its prescription Of the Cath
olics; and 4.hy by exciting this Catholic prejudice
it prevents the annexation of Cuba aud lastly, its
seeresy.
Now, fellow -ountrymer, let me see whether or
not there is any truth in these objections. As to
the truth of the first objection, want no other
evidence than what they, themselves say; that 1--WE
want the Offices" ''the offices we will and must
have" ard that 1--WE will oppose all who oppose
u.s." Do they propose to govern according to any
fixed principles or measures? No, none Whatever,
we cannot find any laid down anywhere Conse-
quently we are bound to conclude that this is one
of their Objects And will Americans become the
sworn instruments for the accomplishment Of such
designs? presume when it is once rightly UNDER
stood, they will not As to the second objection,
for the truth Of the first part simply refer you to
the recent election at the North; and to being
their object to destroy at future time the in
sttution!of slavery by similar plan, this is what
time alone will prove. t..t
The third objection the prescription of Catholics,
this party, they deny and point to their platform
Why, then, this unholy crusade against thsml-
Why denounce them through your papers? Why
decaim against them upon every street and cor
ner, as denomination unworthy of the franchise
of freemen, unworthy to be elevated to Office,
fit to be trusted, as owing allegiance to the Pope,
and who are only awaiting opportunity to prove
themselves traitors TO their country Do these
gentlemen know the history OF their country Do
they know that Catholic Ir5land fiiledther regular
army which conquered Catholic Mex COZ Do they
know against whom they make such charges2 Do
they know that out of the one mi lion one hundred
and seventy-tlr o thousand and seven hundred
Catholics eight hundred thousand ere native
born Americans, descendants of the Catholics OF
Maryland, who, when other religious sects were
prosecuting each other, offered them protection and
proclaimed religious freedom to all, and who fell
fighting side by side with the Protestarts for civil
and religious freedom; whose blood stained every
battle field; who were signers Of the Declaration of
and who approved of that great car
dnal principle Of Republicsnism, which gives to
every mantle right to worship God a. he pleases2
Men who surrendered their fortunes and lives that
we might be free2 What did Washington saY2-
he said: Ihope eUer TO see America foremost among
he nations Of the earth in er11npleS of justice and
fderality and presume my teo,o citizens qeiR mer
'r forget the patriotic part acIich Catholics took in
he accomplishment of their reuoluti0n and the estab
tshme7t OF their government or the important Gssis
once 1chch they received from France, IN aohich the
Catholic religion is protessed Yet are told |
their descendants are not worthy to be trusted
Will men suppose that these eight hundred thous- |
md Catholics possess no patriotism, and would |
urn traitors at the nod of the Pope? Do these men