Semi-weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1853-18??, 1855-04-11
MASSACHUSETTS, BrGoTRY.


internal arrangements those institutions Accord
inely, on the Goth ult the members of the commit
tee accompanied by some other individuals, repair
ed to the convent at Roxbury which is Kept by Sc
ven Sisters OF Charity of the order of Notre Dame.
OF their proceedings while there the Boston Adver-
tiscr, of the 31st ult tells the following story
~ On the Dedham turnpike, in Roxbury, just beyond
Oak street, there is an ordinary house IN which a
school is kept by seven ladies, Catholic sisters OF
Charity" members of the order of Notrc Dame
They have twelve pupils, young ladies' between the
ages often and fifteen all Americans by BIRTH Ihese
nineteen ladies form the whole household, with the
exception of an Irshnan, who is employed about
the nremises as a servant The house is located up
on a thoroughfare much travelled it is not seclu-
ded in any way from public gaze, the grounds
are not surrounded by any blrriers, nor does
II have any of the characteristics OF q monastIc
institution The ladies who reside there as teachers
are highly cultivated and accomplished and as much
entitled to respect and courtesy as any IN the state
Their pupils likewise respectable and there is not
the least evidence that their attendance at school IS
forced that they sub ected to any rigorous dis
cipline or obliged to undergo any sort of i!treat
ment
the nineteen ladies residing therein were surprised on
last Monday afternoon to see two omnibuseS drive
up to the DOORS crowded with passengers, who aght
and inquire for the "lady superior, and being met
by the head of the establishment, the spokesman OF
the party informs her that the crowd is committee
appointed by the Legislature to examine the house
No notification of the visit to be expected has been
served upon the ladies, aud they obliged to take
the statement of the members of the party on their
own authority We have already seen that the COM
ntee actually appointed by the Legislature consists
of but seven members. We are unable to state the
number of the party protesting to act as this COM
mittee on this occasion, but from the fact that two
twelve seat omnbuses, which appeared to be full,
were required for their transport, we can only est-
mate their number at twenty-four. There may have
been q few more or less.
= Nineteen ladies, twelve of them less than fifteen
8 fnfn
tual obstacle to the entrance of twenty four full
grown men into a common house, even had the Ia
dies known the rights guaranteed them by the con-
stitntion and laws of Massachusetts,, and had they
been disposed to maintain those rights by force
The " gentlemen I've presume we must call men,
bers of the Legislature by this hte-roamed over
the whole house, from attic to cellar. No chamber,
no passage no closet no cupboard, escaped their
vigilant search. No part of the house was enough
sacred or enough protected by respect for the COM
mon courtesies of civilized life to be spared in the
examination. The ladies' dresses hanging IN their
wardrobes were tossed over. The party invaded the
chapel and showed their respect-as' Protestants,
we presume-for the One God whom all Christians
worship, by talking loudly with their hats on while
the ladies shrank in terror at the dissertation of
spot which they believe hallowed
While in the chapel the ladies declined holding any
conversation with their prosecutors; but III another
part of the house the principal expressed her perfect
willingness to answer any questions propounded by
" the committee One of q the gentlemen" accord
hand turns over the rosary suspended round her
neck with the other and asks her if she is content
with her situation whether she can leave when she
pleascs? The young ladies were of course subject
ed to questions more rude-whether there are
any bows boarding in the Observation-Disclosures pun
ishments they suffer for msdemeanors &c 1t is
scarcely necessary describe such conversation in
detail the reader readily imagine what the scene
must have been.
The examining party of course, had everything
their own way, and when their searches and their
insults had been protracted to the extent of their
pleasure they took their leave 1t is scarcely neces
sary to say that " they found-no matter what-it
was not what they sought unless the object of
the visit was simply lark at the expense of the
State, in which the object was doubtless attain
ed. There nuns immured alive in contrac-
ted cells any evidences of abuse of any sort call
ing for legislative interference or even inquiry.
Now ask the rejecting men and women of |
appeal to the candor of the
eighty thousand voters who pat the present admin
stration in powers such record the above fit
o form page in the history of the free and enlight
med Commonwealth of Massachusetts in the nine |
zenith century? Make any allowance you please
or exaggeratons in the story which may have been |
aused by the natural fears of the terrified witnesses
md does the record stand clear and fair? Is such
he treatment that defenceless women ought to
eive? Is such the behavior of gentlemen in the !
legislature? 1t is only paraeled by the stories that
ave come down of the insults and excuses of UNI
licensed soldiers in time of war.
Our legislators ought to havea more intimate prac-
ical acquaintance with the fundamental principles !
our government. The bill Of rights which is the |
rst part of the constitution of Massachusetts, con-
aims this article:
every subject has right to be secure from all !
seizures of his person, his houses his
apers and all his possessions. All warrants there
pre- are contrary to this right if the foun-
alton of them be not previously supported by oath
affirmation and if the order, in the warrant to
ivi officer, to make search in suspected places,
0 arrest one more suspected persons or to seize
heir property, be not accompanied with special |
esigna ton of the persons objects of search,
est seizure; and no warrant ought to be issued |
ut in cases. and with the formalities prescribed by
he laws"
1t would be super1uous to point out how this ar
cle was violated in every clause by the action
ave recorded. What was the warrant of this COM
nittee of seven, swelling it's own numbers by its
wn act? Nothing but vote of the Legislature,
by oath or affirmation and drawn up
nth regard to formalities either prescribed by
Nv or otherwise.
In like manner the Constitution of the United
tates guarantees that The right of the people to
secure in their persons houses papers and effects
gains unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not
3 violated and no warrants shall issue but upon
robable cause, supported by oath affirmation, and
articularly describing the place to be searched and
ne persons or things to be seized."
Who is safe from such unreasonable searches as
lat of Monday last? What house is there in the
tate, occupied wholly by defenceless women, that
lay- not be the next scene for froc of party of
1de menl Let the constituents of any of the gen.
emen- composing this committee consider how they
ouId relish an invasion of their residences and
sturbance of the privacy of their families by such
mist DartieS as this