Fayetteville observer. [volume] (Fayetteville, Tenn.) 1850-1966, 1855-11-22
Speech Of JOAN Ii. Bright, Esq.

| bpSNVH VI 0VAAn N~' 'Stp Nt
lAqeiast Know Nethiagisn,. at Fla
Creek, Bs9forG County, Seqtem5e
1l,1855. J est
But We have also said that the ex
clusion of Catholics from office b,
! this party would be DANGEROUS to th'
existence Of the Federal Govern
| ment. If eur Constitution could nev
er have been formed without prohib
iting Congress from making religious
tests, SO usurpation of the prohib
tied power by political party would
be productive of the very evil against
which The Constitution intended to
provide. Does not the Constitution
show that, when it was adopted, it was
clearly understood and agreed by the
different religious sects, in political
matters, they were not to run the re-
ligious question on each other?-
They all accorded political orthodoxy
to each other. Then, if one sect is
elected from the stable Of the nation
al councils the Constitution would
be as liable to fall as an arch by stri-
king out the keystone. II the Gath
olics are the first to be elected, it
will not be long before another sect
is elected, perhaps the Universallsts;
it may be, the Mormons next; and
thus one after the other elected, until
the strongest takes possession Of the
gates Of power.
We have also said that the exclu.
sion of Catholics from Office would
be dangerous to the peace of the
country. twill be remembered that
in our government, the sovereign
poweris lodged in the people: through
the balIot-box they control the affairs
of the government. BY forming a
combination of Protestants they may
impart a religious complexion to all
our elections, and monopolize all the
offices of the country. tbs woutd
be a practical a'sion of .Charch and
State, and just as oppressive on
Catholics as if they were placed un-
der legal disability. Know-Nothing-
ism proposes this very thing to con.
meet the civil power with religious
opinions.
On this subject, we will read you
from Justice Story: (vol. ii, P. 81,
Oonst.) He says, "The history Of
the world has shown the extreme
dangers, as well as difficulties, of
co,mectiag tie ciViI power and religious
opinions. Half the calamities with
which the human race have been
scourged, have arisen from the union
of Church and State; and the people
of America. above all others, have too
largely partaken of the terrors and
the suilarings of prosecutions for con-
science sake, not to feel an excessive
repugnance to the. introduction OF
religious tests. Experience has de-
monstratcd the folly as weA as the
injustice Of exclusions from Office, found
ed upon religious opinions. They have
aggravated all the evils in the polid.
ical organization of societies, They
carry in their train discord, oppres-
sion, and bloodshed. They eperpetuate
a savage ferocity, and insensibility
to human rights and -sufferings. ="
@Discord, Oppression and Bloodshed!
what an internal spawn to spring
from either the lawful or adulterous
union Of Church and State! AM
yet how true! Point me if you can
to the Church which has not been
rent and torn by "Discord," and i
now not bleeding at some pore
Look to the recent tragedy in the
city of Louisville, and you will set
the lamentable evidences Of 's0p
preston and Bloodshad!" 1t mat.
ters not who struck the first blow, OF
whether both parties fought wiling
ly; in either case, they are still the
offspring of the adslterous unloA o. O
| Church and State. But where are
the evidences of savage ferocity7
Think ,of, the women and children
as their Wild shrieks mount with The
flames through the falling beams ant
rafters Of their houses. shrill anc
terrible enough to stir thelhsar o
| Death! And if q frantic mother
rushes from the flames, bearing bel
infant in her arms, it is Drained bj
the ruffian's club! Bat when yol
unroll the page of history, and SCI
| all the distractions produced by clsl
ldisabilities--hear all the sighs ant
groans which have issued from dun
geons and inquisitions-and Wher