Thibodaux minerva. [volume] (Thibodaux, La.) 18??-1858, 1855-10-13
Religious Persecution.

and religious persecution, or enemity to the Roma
Catholic Church, and all without grounds, RICH
or reason. The latter we distinctly disavow, AM
hesitate not in pronouncing it false, aye, utter
false, and void of all foundation. Every secede
from the order knows it to be false, and yet the.
have not the independence to say SO, fearing tina
| it may be the means Of adding to the chances o
| the doom that awaits their foreign friends on Mon
day, the 9Th day Of November next. MIR. Asain
| the Messrs Robichaux, and all the small fry nov
up for office in the parish of Lafourche know it
but do not see proper to come out mantully fear
lessy and say to the people of old Lafourche thai
the American party Of Louisiana is viley sandereo
by the managers Of the foreign press; that they
aim at higher and nobler object-the redemp.
ton of their country from foreign rulers-than to
dictate to the people what religion they shall follow
To those who are ignorant Of the objects Of the
American association, our manner of proceeding,
ritual etc, we attach no blame, perhaps, for be-
eving might possibly be something against
the Catholic Church. in view of the adoption of the
sth article of the Philadelphia platform. But to
those who were Of US and k1om that nothing of the
kind exists, at least in the American party Of
Louisiana, in which they held membership, we
cannot form an excuse for their present conduct,
as it is at variance with that which they know to
be true viz that there is nothing in the principles
Of our party which proscribes the Catholic religion
or any other system Of worship. On the contrary
the American party is the friend and protector of
religious freedom, in its real Specification. Ours is
political and not religious order, founded with
the purest and best of motives; and entertaining
no ecclesiastical preferences, it seeks the good of
all and not that Of any particular sect. It seeks,
admits, recognizes and sustains any and all who
choose to worship in the Roman Catholic or any
other faith to believe and profess what they please
in religion; but it does not admit nor will it submit
to any one who attempts to put down by club-law
free debate or free preaching in the house or open
air, nor allow foreign influence to interfere with
our elections, or to raise or threaten mob-law,
consequences if they do not substitute the common
law of Rome, Of England, or that of any other
country, for the State laws of the American Union
even though such subversive attempts may be made
under the name and cloak of religion. The op-
posers Of these doctrines claim to be able to dis
eliminate, and are fully convinced that in refusing
to acquiesce in them, they oppose nothing that
has the least semblance to religion or systems of
aith; but that which is strictly political, and at
he same time egregiously wrong, anti-American,
and intoerant. We claim the right of freely ex-
pressing our opinion Of the policy that should
govern us, and shall use every honorable means to
ensure the success Of our principles.
Floundering in the dark, the leaders of great
md corrupt party, discover that the people de-
serted their barren sceptres, their mighty political
chemes-fruitless Of everything but spoils to the
eaders. They talk most incoherently of "re-
igious persecution" "secret societies." etc., there
~ exposing the secret cabals and corrupt wire
working and log-rolling Of the party which they
essay to defend, thinking all the time, poor de-
nented creatures, that they are giving the Amer.
can party "fts." 1t is truly laughable to hear
he agonizing cries, and to see the wiggng of this
great party, as they write down religious persecu-
ion" " Know Nothing religious persecution, "-as
this very inscription would wipe out the stain
# Americausm ere to-morl ow's sun.
The Democratic-no, foreign party, have not pro-
tied much by experimenting in simple things. |
hey have no doubt heard of the man who custa |
arge hole in his door to admit the cat and small
'ole to admit the kitten; and they have twisted
he philosophy Of this simple thing into religious
"-the small hole to admit the Kitten |
Religious liberty in this country is the last and
reatest inheritance; it is linked with civil liberty,
nd it is worse than folly to think that union of
hurch and State can ever take place in this con.
sderacy. From the very nature of our institutions,
he one would repudiate the other. The first ar
Gle Of the amendments to the Constitution of the
United States provides that Congress shall make no
w respecting an establishment of religion, or pro-
lifting the free exercise thereof The real object
f the amendment, says Judge Story in his com.
,entaries on the Constitution, "was not to coun.
enance, much less to advance Mahometanism,
Judaism or in6delity, by FRUSTRATING christianity;
ut to exclude all rivalry among christian sects, and
prevent any national ecclesiastical establishment
'hch should give to hierarchy the exclusive
atronage Of the National Government" It thus
uts off the means Of "religioms persecution" and
the subversion Of the rights Of conscience in
'atters Of religion, which had been trampled upon
most from the days Of the Apostles down to the
resent time. Such is the tone and tenets Of the
merican party Of Louisiana; and such will even
tally be those Of the American party of every
tate in the Union and not until then do we wish
see our party hailed as the Great American Con-
'rvative Party Of the United States. Louisiana
Is set noble example to her sister States, and
'ere remains not doubt in our mind that the next
ational Convention, will abolish everything that is
a religious character in its ritual We doubt
It also that exceptions will be made in favor of
who have proved themselves ,
orthy Of being hailed as American citizens
ough not born among US. There are many among
IT acquaintances who are eminenty worthy of the
NOR, and We should be pleased to see them in
uded in our ranks.