Fayetteville observer. [volume] (Fayetteville, Tenn.) 1850-1966, 1855-06-28

Is 10 DE found In the religious test it
imposes on candidates for Offices Of
honor or trust. There is doubtless
much misapprthension and some mis-
+ presentation on this subject.
1t is sometimes charged that.the
new partywould so far prescribe Cath
olics, as to deny them the privilege OF
worsbipping God according to their
own conscience sor. forms of their
Church. This is, doubtless, untrue;
for such proposition is too monstrous
to find advocates in this enlightened
age. 1t might have done for the dark
ages of religious superstition and IN
tolerance.
Whilst it docs not profess to inter
ftre with the Catholic in his rights Of
worship, it does propose to prescribe
him politically, 1t does, as | under
stand, provide that no member of the
ord 7 shall cast his vote for Catholic.
Now, can bind myself by no such
obligation. | am no Catholic-my
mind and Judgment can never en-
brace what seems to me so great an
absurdity as part of their creed.
never, lint | know of, voted for a
Catholic. | do not know that | shall
ever vote for one, but / will enter into
no crusade against any religious de-
nomination; will prescribe no denom-
nation. The Constitution makes no
prescription. | shall not go outside
of or beyond the Constitution.
The Constitution declares tn re shall
be no religious test. Such discrim-
ination is at war with the spirit and
genius of our Institutions. The best
interests of the State and the church,
according to the teachings of all his
tory, require that they be kept sepa-
rte and distinct. How long can this
be done, when you make mans relig-
ious faith test of offica?-how long
before you will find it in some insid-
ious form creeping into your halls of
legislation? l can never consent, by
any agency of mine, to be instrument
al in mingling politics and religion to-
gether; they are not harmonious ele-
ments, and can never mingle with
each other. The day that the church
shall descend from its high position to
mingle in the conflicts of party poll
tics, that day will see her brightness
her powers demolished, her
impaired, and her glory de-
parted.
When you have succeeded Gf you
ever shall) in this political proscIip-
ton, think youitwill stop there? When
was the spirit Of prescription or per-
secution (either religious or politicaD
by success? Never. The
more you give the more it demands.
How long after the attainment of such
4 triumph (f it be attainable at alD
would it be before some other church
would come under this ban Of polite
ii prescription? 1t will not do to fiat
5er ourselves that there is so much
harmony and identity of feeling and
interest between the various branches
If the Protestant Church, as to secure
o them immunity from such a catas-
rOphe. Thus to suppose is to falsify
he truth of history and to disregard
he teachings of the past, even in our
'wn country, to say nothing of the
warnings that come to US from other
lays and other countries. What con-
lets have been marked by more bit
erness and rancor, even in this coun-
ry, than those Of a religious character?
might cite you to wars in our own
ay, which for bitterness, malignity,
nd vituperation, would compare most
uccessfully with the widest crusades
f the hustings. A common purpose,
18th a common victim, may for a sea-
On secure harmony and unity Of ac-
on; but when the battle is fought, the
ictory won, old feuds will be revived,
ncient preiudices and animosities viii
ecur again, another victim will be de-
landed, and then another scene of ;
prescription will be-
in. "He that soweth the wind must ]
zap the wlirlwind. I
Our boast is, that this is land Of
lligious freedom and toleration.-
THAT sort of freedom is that which
stracises a large class Of your citi-
ems, both native and foreign, for mere |
ligious opinion sake? This require
ent that not Catholic shall hold Of I
re, is the clearest political ostracism S
lat can exist. And by it, thousands I
I'd tens of thousands Of our own ma
ve-born American citizens are exclu- b
ID from any participation in the hon t
s and offices Of the country. o
Tbcra ore but few Catholics In N