Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1853-1862, 1855-04-11
r. p. CALDWELL, Secretary.
+ From tie N y. Heral.

| From ls n, J. LeFaIf Ne
| LEGISLATIVE ESPIONAGE IN MASSACHUSETTS,
UNLAWFUL DESCENT UPON CATHOLIC
SCHOOL.
We publish to day all the material facts and tes-
tmory on both sides of the question, touching the
late nquistoria visit of special committee of the
Massachusetts Legislature to little female school
in one of the suburbs of Boston, kept by seven
ladies of the Roman Catholic "Sisters of Charity {"
These facts and this testimony, in our judgment,
constitute the proofs of despotic, anti American
unconstitutional outrage upon private rights by
the Soons Of the Massachusetts Legislature
In the first place, special legislative committee
of seven was appointed to examine and report up
on the condition Of the Theological seninaries
boarding schools, academies nunneries and con-
vents" of the Commonwealth. Secondly il appears
from the testimony of the committee themselves,
that they proceeded 10 this examination, in the
of the Roxbnry school, as if fully satisfied that
their appointment by the Legislature gave them
the undisputed power of an unlimited search war
rant there, or at any other place within the scope
of their inquiries. Now this was either the result
of degree of ignorance among the members of
the commsttee, Giscreditabe to theconlmon schools
of Massachusetts, or it act of inquistorial
purtancal espionage, which we had supposed had
ceased to exist in tie old Bay State since the last
witch burning frolc at Salem.
We had supposed that every member of the
that the constitution of the United States is the
supreme law of Massachusetts, as Of every other
State and Territory of the Union; that all acts Of
any party any Legislature inconsistent with the
federal constitution are null and void. Our ideas
however OF the wisdom Of the legislators Of Massa-
chusettS appear 10 have been somewhat extrava-
CANT Those wise men Of tine east seem to have
very little knowledge of or very little respect for
the supreme law Of the land We are therefore
constrained to repeat for their information, that
provision of this supreme law, which procaims that
. the right ofthe people To be in their per-
sons, houses, papers and effects, against unreason
able searches and seizures. shall not be violated;
and warrants shall issue but upon probable cause,
supported by oath or affirmation, aud particularly
describing the place to be searched, and the per-
sons or things to be seized"
la the face OF this organic law of the Uaon and
OF Massachusetts, a committee of that Legislature
proceed TO the little school of the Sisters OF Char-
~ at Roxbury, and exhibit their authority from
the Legislature to examine the premises, as if it
were an edict from the emperor of all the Russians
They certainty so considered it, or they would not
have made their first official notification to the es-
Establishment in that overbearing air OF authority
which characterized their visit The committee
not only went in body, but they invited a num-
Der Of their friends to accompany them and see
the sport. Fine sport, truly; this breaking into
the sanctuary of the citizen this disregard of that
saving prime PIE OF cVl:iZeu society thaC man S |
house is his castle. Where was their warrant, |
their complaint, "their probable cause, their |
oaths or affirmations? They had none. They /
were guilty OF an outrage upon private rights.
This Catholic school was private institution
an iuquisitoral committee could only invade it
der complaint on affidavit, and warrant, accord
ing to law. But they say that they were freely
admitted and conducted in their examination, by
the Lady Superior, throughout tie house. That
1nnSr al,
stupidity or criminal folly of the Legislature in
.honzlng this inquisitorial visit and in The COM
ttee IN acting upon it full and sufficient war;
AM Tor their proceedings. The Legislature is al
r Cs. unanimously anti Catholic if entirely so.
NJ. %Ss eiectec, to very great extent upon the
&c.. AsnGhc feeling so prevalent throughout the
Ss.e, ana, since the unwise movements of Arch
,,Snop hughes on the church property and public
cnoo questions, and the late mission of Bedini 90
prevalent throughout the country. We can'timag
me- therefore, that those Catholic Sisters of Chart
y, IN their little establishment at Roxbury, opened