The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1855-06-23

the Common School System, by which chill
dren, Ohe germ which expands into future
citizens,) are instructed in reading--thc Sun
day or Sabbath Scbool-Bible Societies.
Domestic, or Home, or Foreign Missionary
Societies. The last and others which I need
not name, do not at present fall within my
purview. However meritorious or important
in their spheres, they have no direct or
necessary connection with AMEnIcANIsM, and
Shall therefore be passed in silence.
| have said that the three great natural
rights freedom ofSpeech, of the Press, and
liberty of conscience; though guaranteed by,
were anterior and supeforto all Law. 1 will
now add that they are Sic foundations of all
civil and political LibeAy, and without them,
freedom in the United States could not exist
one day. Every act done, every word utter
cd, calculated to impair, or restrict the exer-
else Of these rights is blow aimed at free
dom, and it is the duty of every man who
bears the name of american to shield and
protect them with his life. If necessary. 'Tis
in vain the founders Of our Government,
! wasted their treasure and shed their blood
~ q.
ANONYMOUSLY resign them TO the first despoil-
er / do not care who the assailant may be;
whether clurchman or layman, catholic or
protestant, foreigner or native, the man and
men, who assaults a citizen in the exercise
of either OF these rights, is guilty Of fla
grant wrong, which ought forever to exclude
him from the fellowship Of Amcrican citizens
f1,f,n II, To-
no matter under what name, or by what lead
ers marshalIcd, they should be met with
equal or superior numbers, and driven forth
from the land. LIT they, fearing the result of
pcis NAL collision, resort to duplicity and
cunning, and strive to obtain political power,
in order that they may under the forms Of
Law, stile the expression OF opinion, or sup
press that Liberty Of conscience and know
ledge of Biblical truths which constitute at
once the glory and the safeguard of our
county; they must be met by the law and if
the law be not equal to an eXigency which its
trainers never dreamed Of let it be changed.
extended, strengthened, until it furnishes in
practice to every man, that protection which
in theory il promises to all. | do not incul-
pate nor dcnounce any sect. But its no fault
Of mine if the foreign Roman Catholics, have,
in their zeal to serve their master, arrayed
themselves against the civil and Religious
interests and rights OF their adopted country
Nor will it be my fault if they he not here
after held in check by a strength of political
opposition, which they cannot rcpcl or cvado.
am aware that it has become the habit Of
dcmagogcal ambition, in order to secure the
votes of foreigners, to insist in the most opcn
and shameless manner, that every act of a
mcritorious character, whether achieved by
the present generation, or their ancestors.
was attributable to foreign aid. The Rcvo-
luton, say they, was fought by foreigners
and catholics. The war Of 1872, was fought
by the Catholic Irish. The Mexican war,
with its brilliant effects they pass ovO in
silence, seeming to fear encountering one
O'Reilly and his comrades. For the present,
l will only say, that the record ofpast events
does not bear out the assertion so euogstic
Of foreign courage and devotion. One fact
is clear-ifth the war of 1872 was not fought
by them it was certainly fought for them.
held, that no citizen could expatriate him
self, unless with the consent Of the Govern
mcnt under which he was born. The right
to reclaim her sailors, in time of need, origi
mated the practice of searching our vessels.
Had the United st ates rclinquished the Eng
fish and Irish sailors employed in her Com
mcrcial Marine, there would have ended the
dispute; but the Executive taking the Amcri-
caa view, that man was born 18th the right to
change his domicle without the consent of
the parent Government, defended the for
eigners. War cnsued. The question was
finally settled in favor of the U. States, but
not till the vndication of foreigners had cost
the country millions of money and no small
expenditure of blood.
This war Of 1912 was the first effect Of the
Naturalization Law which was fairly brought
to our government. That we recently escap-
ed a war with Austria, in the case one Mar
tin Kozta, was owing quite as much to the DO
nestle condition of that country, as to any
merit existing in the case of the subject Of
the dispute. The cases of cmpressment I'M
der the right of search, which involved this
government in a large, bloody and expensive
war, and the more recent case of kozta, both
rest on the same principle the right Of the
country to demand the services Of the sub
ject it has nurtured, whenever it requires
them. Such cases may occur again to-day,
to- morrow, or any day; and g. succession of
them may impose upon us the burthen of
maintaining and carrying on perpetual wars,
or of subjugating all European Governments
Are we prepared to pay this price, for the
; maintenance of Law Of at least doubtful
cxpediency!
Having explained to the readers of this ar
ticlc, the rights which are most dear to all
American citizens, will now proceed in the
plaincst possible form, to shew when and how
t they have been invaded and by whom.
t The first instance occurring in the United
, States of which l have any knowledge, in
which an open assault was made upon the
liberty of conscience, took place in the city
f of Philadelphia, in Saint Mary's Church, in
the year 1920 and was continued through
part of the year 1921. William Hogan, a
4 catholic Priest belonging to the Diocese OF