Republican vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1857, 1855-06-09
AIr. Stephens, Of Georgia, who

of Representatives. and who BY his aaiii
'fty, his eloquence, his lfiFh character, an
his valuable public selviFes, has won
Eproad ard vide spread fame. has, Iik
! many Of the better sort Of wings, declare,
himself against Know Notbihsism. I'm
/ willing TO trust 10 secret oath bound soeie
ties, opposed to eoneeainent, mystery ant
hidden party machinery. he has written
letter declining 10 be q eandidate fer a sea
IN the next Congress. -.
When men of AIr. Stephens talents
character, aud party bins, are drawn ou
in dehuhcistlons of this new Order, veril3
are its days numbered.
lie nave ohiy foom for the follow ina
extracts from Mr.. Stephens Letter
"ln say opinion, 10 man IL dt to repre-
sent a free people who has any private or
secret objects or aims tina. he does not
openly arov, or wac is net ready and
wiling at all times, when required otask-
cd eaudidly and faithfully 10 proclaim To
the assembled multitude not only his prln.
ciples. but bis views and sentiments upon
all questions fhet may come before him III
his representative capacity. It was On
tins basis Thai representative government
was founded, and on thi;s alone can il b.
maintained III purity and safety. And II
any secret party shall ever se SO far sue
ccss!u! IN this country as to bring The gov.
ernment III all lis departments aud func-
tons uDder the baneiui inlaence Of its
control and power, political ruin will in
esltabiy ensae. No truth in politics eau
b. more easily and firmly established either
BY fegson or from history, upen history OF
authority, than this. These are my opiu-
ions eaodidly expressed
But have been anticipating somewhat.
was OF the preliminary question that is
The secrecy which lies at the foundation Of
the patty that atmosphere OF darkness in
81 ieh il lives, utoyes, aud hes lis being,
and without m,4ieh il could not exist. |
do act, however, Intend 10 stop with that.
viii 20 further, and give now my opin-
lens upon these questions which are said
. be within the range of its secret objects
and AIMS. Tie principles as published
.. s.sosc principles which are attributed
70 tie order. though nobody, IS an oTs4uis
zed party aYow them) have. as under
ssana tAesn tso leading ideas, and tive on
y. These are a prescription by an exclu.
sion from Office of all Catholics as class,
aAd prescription Of all PERSONS Of foreign
birth as ciass---tie latter % be ueeom-
plisIled net only By an exclusion y;om OH
&c OF all iefeigers who are now citizens
by naluraliza,ians bu. to be mere etleetuai-
~ carried out by an abrogatlon Of The nsi-
uraiizat.sa laF 10: iAe lu;ufe, CT such ~
amendment Us would be virtually santa-
mount toit. These, ve ere told, are the
great estensible objects for oil this mach-
iherY--shese oaths, pledges. secret signes,
eguipocatioDs, dehiass, and waat not
And What have TO say OF them is, thQt i
these, IN deed and III ruth, be the princi-
plies titus attempted TO be carried cut, then
| ata opposed TO both Of taem oPealy aud
unqualiiiediy.
but to pass TO The oii,Hs view Of these
pfineip les-that 10, the consideration OF
them as questions Of public policy. With
AIT they 10th stand III 10 better light in
this aspect than they do in The other
The tiIst assutaes temporal jurisdiction in
| "foFum eohseienliae which am quite
is much opposed as | ana 20 the spiritual
powers controlling tlie temporal. One il
is bad as .he pthsr--hoth are bad az,
utterly opposed 10 mingIing religion with
politics III any Way whatever; aud espe-
eialiy am I opposed 70 making il test in
qualifications for eiyilolise. Religion is a
mailer between man and his creator,
with whiel. governments should have notl.
ing to do. Ia this country the constitu-
ton guarantees to every citizen the right
to entertain whatever creed he pleases, Of
no creed al all, fine is so iaclined and no
other man has a RICH, TO pry into bis con-
science to inquire what he believes, OF
what he does not believe. AS a citizen
and as a membeF OF society, he is to be
judged By his acts, and not By his creed
\ Catholic, Therefore, in our country, ant
IN aliieoualries, ought, as all other citizens
TO be permitted to stand or fall in pnbiii
favor and estimation upon his own iadi-
viduai merits. Every Tub should stan,
upon is own boltom.' u
"But think, of all the Christian de
nominations ~ the United. States. ant
Catholics are the last that southern people
snould join in attempt ingssto put undel
the ban of civil prescription for as .
church they have neyer varied against u.
or our peculiar institutions. No man car
say as much Of New England Baplists
presf5yterians, OF Methodisis the Ions
ron of Abolition petitions with which Con
gFess has been SO mueb excited and agiia
tea for years past come not from the Cath
olies F; their Pulpls Al the North are moi
desrcrAted every Sabbath With analhem,
rs against slavery. And Of the .hre,
thousand New England clsfgymen who
sent the anti Nebraska inemorialto tn,
Senate last year. not one was a Catholic
as have been informed and believe
Why, then, should we southern men ioit
the Puritans Of the North TO nroscrib,
from office the Catholics on account o.
religion; bet them aud their rulig.
ion be, or as Their aeensefs say they are,
they cannot be warse than these same l'u-
ritanieal aeeasers. whp started thss pefse.
eution against them, say that we are.--
They say we are going II perdition fol
the enormous san al holding slaves. Tbs
i Pops with all his followers canpot. sup.
pose, even ia their Judgment Be going ,e
a woise place for holding what they con
slider the mons,rous absu,aiIy Of 'immacu.
late conception And for any par, would