The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1855-08-22
6 o m mnnica ations.
For the Spirit of Democracy.

the Monroe Journal of the 10th instant,
on the subject of Catholicism, preceded
by some remarks in reference to the man
ner in which the proposed discussion
arose The editor of that paper is some-
what IN error when he says that Mr..
VIM. p. Richardson proposed to Mr..
Warren Hollister that he would discuss
the Cleveland Platform of the American
party with him." and that Mr. Hollister
accepted the proposition"
The proposition was made by Mr. Hol-
lister, and accepted by me, and the subse-
quent change to the simple proposition,
"Should Catholics be excluded from Office
in the United States?" was made at his
suggestion.
l make these corrections simply for the
reason that if it is of any Importance to
the public how this discussion arose, each
party may occupy his true position; and
| apprehend that the charge, whereby I
was made the challenger instead of the
challenged, was merely misrepresentation
on the part of the Editor of the Journal.
In reply to the article already men,
toned, l will say, that the question to be
discussed and the one now being dis
cussed all over the country, is not whether
the Catholic religion is orthodox or other
wise; nor, whether we should vote for a
Catholic or not; but whether it is neces-
sary to prevent the people from electing a
Catholic if they see fit; or, in other words,
TO exclude the Catholic citizen from the
privilege OF being elected or appointed to
any Office of honor, trust or profit, by law.
| Mr.. Hollister, after stating the ques-
tion, and saying that he most unhesita-
| tingly takes the affirmative, goes on to say
that the American party wars not against
religion" If the present movement is
aot an attack upon the Catholic religion,
| am at loss to know what that gentle
nan would call one.
He says: Indeed their great aim is to
preserve civil and religious liberty" Now
religious liberty, as understood in this
country, means not only that every one
/ has the right to embrace whatever reli-
gious theory he may deem correct, but
that his religious opinions, be they what
they may, shall be no disqualification as
to his rights and privileges as citizen
Mr.. Kent says: THE free exercise and
|enjoyment Of religious profession and
worship, may be considered as one of the
absolute rights of individuals, recognized
in American constitutions, and secured tc
them by law. Civil and religious liberty
generally go hand in hand, and the sup.
tpression of either of them, for any length
of time, will terminate the existence o
| the other" (Kent's Com. vol II. p. 34.,
| 1t is perfectly idle for any one to say
that the American party wars not upor
religion, while they advocate the exclusion
of any class of citizens from any of tn,
privileges or rights of citizenship on ac
count of their religious opinions. Ii
what other way could they war upon reli
gion, or upon the tenets of any particula
sect, but by disabilities, fines, penalties
imprisonment and death. This party say
to the Catholic: We are the friends of re
ligious liberty; we are opposed to putin,
any restraint upon mems consciences
worship God after your own fashion: bu
if you do so after the Catholic fashion
you must give up some of your privileges
, You must not hold any Office of honor
: trust or profit.
Divest the Catholic of his religion
> let him become Protestant or Jew, Inf
= del or Atheist, and according to the prin
ciples of the American party, he is n
longer obnoxious, but eligible to any ofic
: the people may see fit to confer upon hin
ri Then it is his religion that units him
!, the eyes of that party, and they do wa
! upon religion.
J Let the gentleman take his true pos
= ton. Let him say that he desires to criE
:, = pie now, and if possible to exterminat
: Catholicism, by The strong arm of the Law
. Let him say that he would punish men fo
:. ,eing Catholics, and reward them for bt
: ing Protestants. Let him acknowledg
: that the wisdom and moderation of 6u
ancestors, in placing all sects and demon
, nations upon a perfect equality. pretec'
:. ing all, but favoring none; giving US fire
. thought and free speech upon all subject
both political and religious, without fea
Of molestation from either church or stat,
or of being in danger of forfeiting eithe
estate or property, have failed to awake
in his mind corresponding sentiments. A
= for the rest of the gentleman's commun
: cation, it does not seem to me to call f(
= any reply. 1t can, in my opinion, be
: no Importance to the American peopl
and is not at all relevant to the subjet
under discussion, what Popes did, an
Catholic writer's thought, so far back s
the gentleman has seen fit to go for h
facts and illustrations. 1t is true, as
. believe, that Popes claimed, and in tho.
times exercised, the power the gentlema
:, represents them as having claimed an
exerted. 1t is also equally true that sint
!. those times the claim has been as fir
quently and as solemnly denied, and th'
: too by the very highest authority. So,
> the gentleman succeeds in establishing Il
;. supremacy and infallibility of the Cathol
e church, he may find himself in the, to hir
disagreeable position of having prove