The Opelousas patriot. [volume] (Opelousas, Parish of St. Landry, La.) 1855-1863, 1855-04-14

and are equal if not superior in quality of soil, com
mand as good a price? So far from that, Atchafa-
laya lands are sold for less than twenty dollars per
acre. FARMER.
ST. t The American Party. A
Editors Of the Opelousas Patriot:
We propose to return to the subject Of the Ameri-
can Party in this number Of your paper-not, how.
ever, SO much for the purpose of defending it against
the charge Of religious prescription that has been
brought against it by its enemies, or of preventing
that charge from receiving credit at the hands of the
intelligent portion Of our community, as to endeayor
to show that it has originated in bad filth, and is the
offspring of old political hacks and partisan leaders.
These are the mel who most dread the new associa-
ton, for its object-political reformation-if reached,
puts an end to their occupation.
They are not really ignorant of this object. They
know it well; for they know that the organs Of the
party have not misled the public in laying down the
platform; and they know, too, that the results that
have marked the action of the party, wherever it
has endeavored to carry out its work, are the true
opponents of its views.
They shy that it will not do to give faith to the
professions Of the new party, made through its or
gans, because it is q part Of their system to deny
what they are. Judge them, then, by their works
by their fruits. These will challenge investigation.
No man, who will approach the subject with a can.
did mind, seeking after truth alone, can arise from .
close investigation thereof without rejecting the idea
that the American party is intolerant or prcscriptive
of any religion. For unless he libel the American
people-unless he deny to them that attachment to
their Constitution, and to their Union, whose palla-
dunn it is, which has marked them out as a bright
vnr1rIa NJ rn1F ---.-A So ~ =
that a party, one Of whose principles il religious in
tolerancc-proscription of Roman Catholics-could
exist in the United States and number SO large and
so respectable q class of American citizens us does
the American party.
The recollection of his %country's past would rebuke
the entertaining of such an dea-tha past SO rcplcte
with the evidences of the devotion of our ancestors
to principles of government, the absence of which in
the Old World induced them to forsake their native
homes, and give up the allurements of civilized and
enlightened society, to settle o wilderness and do
battle with a relentless and savage foe-principles
which caused them to recognize the hand of tyranny
in the legislation of a government that fostered them
in the infancy of their settlement, but failed to respect
the liberal views which they put forth as they grew
in political power-principles that are embodied in
the Constitution under which we now live, and pre-.
eminent among which is that of freedom Of con-
science, of religious belief and worship.
Our Constitution has been from time to time
manifestations changes have from time to time
been suggested in many of its provisions but no
man has yet been found sufficiently bold, sufficiently
regardless of public opinion, to propose any innova.
ton upon that instrument that would even restrict
the operation Of that portion thereof which estab-
fishes religious liberation. If the American party
were once fairly convicted of this charge before the
American people, its doom would he sealed for ever.
No better badge of unpopularity could be fastened
upon it.
VI this its opponents are well aware and hence
the cry they have raised against it of religious perse.
cutlon-of antagonism to the Catholic faith.
But. to present an argument in favor Of the asso.
citation in this connection, which will strike the
SUPERFICIAL observer, and which has not been over.
looked ny It's friends, while writing in its defense
how does it work in Catholic States Pin MARYLAND.
III missouri, in Louisiana, does it not count its ad-
herents ny thousands Fin the city Of NewOrleans,
does II not receive daily accessions to its strength
ana nooflsh These facts have a peculiar signiG-
cance-a significance which thetsetpponents of the
parry the llbeiers Ut the American people and of the
good Creole Catholics of Louisiana, would tain
ignore, but which stares them in tile face and brands
them with a verdict of bad faith.
10 the outsider, the real principles of the order
may be o mystery; to the initiated, they certainly
are not. The charge against the society of religious
intolerance, made by an outsider, is a blow struck in
the dark, which the initiation of one good and true
Catholic, and his adhesion to the order. ia sufficient
to parry.
Ii this charge be well founded, one of two things.
IN relation to the Catholics of Louisiana who belong
10 the order, must be true either they are hypo.
critics, or they are fools. And we, as a Louisianion.
make free to say they are neither, let who will saw
the contrary.
1t is as wrongheaded to believe and persist in saw.
ing that an association whose object is prescription
oil the Roman Catholic faith could flourish in a Cath.
ono community as it is to say that the American
pubic would sanction an object SO at war with one
OF the vital principles of the American Constitution.
But While that sacred instrument establishes reli.
gloas liberation in its widest sense, it frowns upon
the nnlon OF Church and State. 1t will not tolerate
interference, under the color of religion, with the
government formed under it, in the exercise of powers
peculiarly and legitimately its own, by any religion
No merely religious tenet is to lie feared by OH.
Government, as long as it concerns things onlv
spiritual but the. moment any class of men living
under our Government feel themselves bound in con.
science, by their religion, to set up a power in tenn.
poral matters as higher than the secular power-the
moment that their religion calls upon them to disre.
gard the legitimate action of the latter, and interfere
IN the relation existing between it and its citizens, the
face Of things is changed. and good policy requires
that the Government should put forth its arms and
strike in self.defence. The Pope of Rome, a. far as
the exercise of his spiritual rswsrs and authority