Weekly North Carolina standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1850-1858, 1855-04-18
OBJ Stanbar1*
RALEIGH. SATURDAY. APRIL IA. 1855.
MASSACHUSETTS, BIGOTRY.

MASSACHUSETTS, BIGOTRY.
We gave, in our last, fro the Boston Adver-
t;ser 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 been summoned before the Legisla-
ture to give an account of themselves-in other
words, to state on oath what they know about the
matter They declare, in their issue of The oth,
that thew can prove their statement Of the affair to
be true in every essential particular. They close
their second article on the subject as follows:
"In small chamber in the house, one of the
reside in the island of Cuba, but who is herself an
American by birth, speaking English perfectly, lay
in her bed ILL., During the day the sister superior
had been applying leeches to this sufferer and the
dsagreeable operation scarcely concluded when
the omnibuses drove up and the numerous party
slighted The advent of this masculine band caused
great terror in the school-room the Children LITERAL
" screamed with fright. The superiors first care
was to pacify them and calm their fears; and next,
recoecting what effect this noise and the unexpected
arrival must have upon her young patient up stars'
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 asleep
On receiving the party in the parlor below, the
sister superior Informed them that one OF her pupils
was i'll, lying abed in her chamber, and requested
them to make as little noise possible in approach
ing that part of the house. We need not tell our
readers how gentlemen of ordinary refinement aud
dignity would have behaved in such a case: our
business is to tell what these visers did On reach
ing the chamber where the girl lay, the superior
stated the fact Did the "gentlemen" shrink back !?
NJ. A., ri G believed
tualy entered the room and at all events several ap-
preached within twelve inches of the bedside. The
chamber is scarcely larger than closet the bedstead
is small iron structure, and is placed close to the
door; so that the nquistors, without actually cros-
sing the Threshold could carry their presence into
| its privacy.
What were the feelings of that weak and suffering
girl as these rude hung over her, we shall not
attempt to describe. They were not content with
the view obtained by the ordinary door. She saw
two mems heads peering into the room by another
door, which was open at the foot of the bed. To
obtain this view these two " gentleman" must have
leaned another bed which stands across the open
doorway in an adjoining room. We trust their
curiosity gratitied.
There is no doubt whatever of the facts about this
matter We heard them first indirectly from one o
the supernumerary visiters. We have since made
inquiry, and we have unquestionabe and direct ev
dence. Further than this we have seen the young
lady herself girl of twelve or thirteen years OF age
She has no. happily recovered her health and he'
spirits, and we 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 tmid and
blushing, but with entire sefpossession, she an
swered the questions put her, and doubt one word
thestory-and he must be possessed of an ehrontery
Of which trust the inquistors have the monopoly
in Massachusetts,, not to burn with indignation tt
think that such things not only told, but have
actually happened. For ourselves, we confess tha
We were half abashed at the task we had underta
ken-intandum jubere renouare dotoren-when W.
found ourselves only hearing the brief tale OF wha
those men did,
Is there mother in Massachusetts, who can reat
this recital without shudder, recollecting that th
Legislature possesses precisely as much (and pre-
cisely as tte) power to authorize such an invasion
Of her daughters sick chamber, in any house in tn
State? But we are ashamed to place the disgrace
Of the affair to the account Of want OF authority
Where the courtsey, where was the decency
where the humanity of these men? Suppos
the illness of the girl had been more critical than
was-suppose the superior had not been able t
warn her of the approach of the band of inquis
tors-who will answer for the result or defend tn
proceeding? Truly, now at least, and in Massachr
setts " the age of chivalry is gone" A moder
Burke might even utter more bitter lament. Oh
vary has gone, and decency, and humanity"
We are not the advocates of either monasterie
Or nunneries; and, being Protestant both by &c
ucation and deliberate conviction Of the truth an
soundness of Professionalism we should not, undo
any circumstances, send a child or ward Of ou'
to Catholic School; yet this is one thing, an
the rights which religious denominations are ent
tied to under the Constitution and the laws, is al
other. The Constitution of the United States d.
elares that Congress shall make no law respec
ing an establishment Of religion, or prohibiting til
free exercise thereof; and that the right of tn
people to be secure in their persons, houses, p;
Pers, and effects against unreasonable searches an
seizures, shall not be. .violAted and no warrant
snail issue, but upon probable cause, supported b
Oa'n Or affirmation, and particularly describing til
pace to be searched, and the persons or things
Os sezed." The Constitution Of Massachuset
contains provisions substantially to the same efec
80 oath or affirmation" was had 10 this. cas