Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1855-06-22
RELIGIOUS INTOLERANCE.


Twas thought by some that the disastrous deie"'
In Virginia would have taught the know.N o'nl"e'
some little sense, on The subject of religious ioeit!
The action of the Philadelphia National Counc'i na'
shown the folly of expecting such resu'. "oN ."
blind and bico:ed an organization. Inc eAoiNso" "
.ho ,or;,;ans deleration from the Council Demon
..ro... Tim. oec,aren hostility to Roman Catholics Is
s.;u ,,o If tho fundamental principles OF Know-No'
.h;,,,;su The New York Times gives an interesting
sketch Of the Philadelphia proceedings on the oeea
scp. The Order in Louisiana has never arrayeo IT.
seis in hostility to any religious denomination. some
Of ito most prominent and active members are Cato'
lies and one Of their delegates to the National Coun
Gil Mr.. Gayarre, widely known as the author OF tue
"ustory of Louisiana" is among the NUMBER. Inc
committee on credentials objected to receiving tue
Louisiana delegation on account Of their toloration
of the Catholic faith The Times asserts, on reliable
authority that the delegation gave the strongest pos
stle assurances that, although they would not join
in the prescription of any class Of men on account
Of ,hc;r religious sentiments they did not recognize
TIE aa.a9rty of tie Pope, or Of any other *pT""0N
frctouary to interfere any way or to any srfe"''
WRIT. the performance Of their cioiL duties These as
,urances however were not considered satisfactory
arsued in Convention. The great body Of the mem
be.s from the Southern States sustained the LOUISIANA
delegation, and urged the necessity OF maintaining
the principles of religious freedom to their fullest ex-
tent. 1t was represented by members from virginia
that Mr. Wise owed his election, IN good part to the
fac; that his opponent took ground in regard to the
Catholics, which was inconsistent with the religious
liberty which lies at the basis Of all our institutions
Mr.. Raynvr of North Carolina, the only prominent
Southern member who took the opposite ground IN
sisted that opposition to Catholicism, as inconsistent
with Republican institutions 'eas ne rerS cor"er
stone Of tie Nothing increment; and that any
proceeding which should ignore or DO inconsistent
with this position would be fatal to the Order In
this no was sustained by q decided majority OF the
members from the Northern States. 1t was suggest
ed but not formally proposed, that US MIR. dayarre
was the only Catholic in tue delegation, tho other
members might be permitted to take their seats
with the understanding that they would not attempt
to change the ritual OF the Order on this subject
But they unanimously refused to come into the Con-
rention on any terms which should exclude their COL
league in consequence of his religious opinions The
result was, that the Louisiana delegation was er-
Guided"
a storm of indignation in louisiana and will, to
great extent, weaken the Order in that State and in
MARYLAND The n. o. Bulletin. a staunch Wing
Know-N Nothing organ, says that some excitement was
created in New Orleans by the circulation Of report
Of the exclusion Of the Catholic delegation 1t adds
that the report must be fabrication, for we cannot
believe that National Convention, composed OF
able enlightened and patriotic men, would so complete
la sy itself before the rioters fthe Union and sak
itself hopc!pssy beyond tie pocer Of redemp'on as to
maze mere religious opinions test Of political t*ow-
snip. 1t cannot be- and We shall utterly refuse to
place the least credit in the ru,nor till we have the
mos: unquestionable evidence Of tho fact
Ry this time, the Bulletin must be thoroughly sat
isicd of the truth of the and that the National
Council hos completely stultifed itself before the
voters of tho Union and has sunk tsof hopeessy be-
yond the power Of redemption
What other result can follow the bigoted
and intolerant course Of such collection OF
tricksters who would for the sake OF the spois vio
late the first principles of liberty, throw into the
community the frebrand Of religious dissenson' ar
ray one religious class against another and drasge IN
the ire of political discussion the hottest interests
that con occupy the mind Gnd soul! BY their fruits
shall tho country know this arrogant party OF perse-
cn.ion and prescription. What those fruits are, we
shall allow the caustic and eloquent pen of Judge
Loncstreet, the abe pous and esteemed President Of
the Mississippi University, to depict. In his words,
they are "most desperate and dangerous agitation
churches rending asunder-pastors and hocks at va
Christians losing all confidence IN each other
Saints and sinners in close embrace-preachers
of the same church getting but half congregations
and half support-ons looking on approvngly, while
another Is abused-teachers ottering-their pupils in
midnight cliques-friendship severing-raGe taking
the place of lovefsther against son-brother against
brother. These things now are, aud they proclaim,
trumpet-onGued. what is coming, if the monster be
not crushed at once. And all for WHAT In honest
truth, TO set in the oats and get out the 'as This s
the ,rne object Of the Order. Well, it must take its
course till reason resumes her sent