The independent press. (Abbeville C.H., S.C.) 1853-1860, 1855-08-03

|
ed but one Catholic (Gavarre, the d;stin-
guished historian.) There was no virtue. no
party affinity, that could redeem their er-
ror, or wash out the damned spot" In
the Judgment of this tribunal, no one could
Ce true American" and Catholic Here.
then, we have the new "American aoc,rine,' .
explained by the true Americans" them
selves, and practical application and de-
vclopment of their ambiguous resolves.
Odlous as all this appears, it must not be
supposed that this party has originated anv
new development Of power: religious in
t"leras &c is as old as the history of man.
In IS country, where freedom and equality,
unuer the shadow Of the law, walk hand in
hand throughout the land, intolerance lies
dormant III the breast, or, when excited in
to action, shrlnks from the public eye. It
Is, however, fully entitled to tho bad cmi-
he nee" OF being the first in the history of
our country which has dared openly to slim
ulate this feeling for political objects: thus
IN the name OF Christianity itself, laying
the tram to light the torch Of religious per-
secuton
Ii the leaders in this crusade were rc,i-
gious fanatics, we might respect their SIN
ccrity, though we denounced their action.
But who are they! The Wing and Dem
ociatic parties are said to have become cor
rupt. But this new party, as you see is
very much controlled by the scum which
the agitation of the old ones has thrown
oil. Look around, my dear sir, and inquire
how many of those leaders have been noted
for their pitty, or characterised by DEVOTION
al feeling, who now launt their religious
robes IN the face Of every passer-by. How
appropriately may they be described
with smooth DISSEMINATION skilled to grace,
! y devils purpose, with un angels face"
do not doubt the sincerity of the great
mass of those who have been deluded into
these lodges. l believe the mass of all
parties to he honest; but | also believe that
! the great ma jori,y OF their leaders are i'm
peltcd by the hope of obtaining from new
o:San!:.,s,., L. l.-.ss+:.:. pro1.,t;os: which
they despaired Of receiving from the old
ones. What faith can We have in the sim
cerity Of the men, now so Jealous in their
anti-Catholic professions, who but a few
months ago made the air redolent with
their cries agains: our present worthy Exec
utive, because the constitution of New
| Hampshire excluded Catholics from office
You perceive, | have treated the move
ment Of the "Know Nothings" as direct
attack upon the constitution itself, because
| really regard the plea which acknowl-
edges that the Catholics are to be excluded
by voluntary associations bound by oalhs,
| but denies that any Legislative enactrent'
is to be rcsortcd to for that purpose as be-
meath criticism. Why, my dear sir, if the
exclusion be justifablc and necessary, should
it not be cngrattcd upon our constitution
If the people of these States should ever re-
ceive this bastard "Amcricanisln" AS true
rcpublicanism, what should prevent that
opinion from being organized into lava Is
law in this country anything else hut or
ganizcd public opinions? 1t is weak and
miserable design, which seeks by indirec-
ton, to effect the disiranchisement of por-
tion Of our citizens, while it cowariy ad-
mits that the law which denounccs this dis
reimbursement should be preserved unal-
tered.
confess to you, my friend, that few
months ago looked with feelings almost of
despair upon the downward course of our
political affairs. My confidence, however,
is restored the South, always conservative,
always jealous of power, and comparative
ly free from those sudden excitelnents to
which the denser populations of the North
are subject, will vindica'e the character
which she has nobly earned. Virginia, the
oldest of the sisters, has led the way to tri-
umph; and Alabama, one of the youngest
and fairest, will come out of her impend-
ing struggle radiant in victory, and with gar
ments undefiled.
Let, however, the result be what it may,
if the present brings no thanks to you and
others, who have stood by the principle of
religious equality and freedom, the future,
the not distant future, will be yours.
Yours, most truly, P. Phillips.
Jno.. Forsyth, Esq, Editor Of Register"
Mobile, Ala.
SwEARING.-The California Christian
Advocate says: 1An intelligent lady of our
acquaintance, whose little boy was beginning
to swear, anxious to express to her child her
horror Of profanity, hit upon the novel pro-
cess of washing out bis mouth with soap
suds whenever he swore. 1t was An effectual
fcpge. The boy understood his mothers
lsHse Of the corruption of an oath, which,
with the taste of the suds, produced the de-
sired result" The practice, If universally
adopted, would raise, the price of soap.
| a. ooJn.oa ,,,n., -, So. cSstt.l q 4 :,