The western Democrat. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1852-1870, 1855-10-02

mems, by denying TO Congress the i2ht To pass
| any "la" respecting the establishment OF religion
! or prohibiting the free exercise thereof" Aud
this They derm tqutily important, the ghol.-
article shows, with ''frtedcn Of speech or Of ihe
press, or the tight of The E.eople peacenbly tn
assemble aud to petition for redress oil Eri'y
ances."
If comb station TO the Injury Of HE nniprnz"d
ciIizrn. mrniy b. Cause nf his Lrjng naruraz d
is imProP'r, how much more improper. If thst
| be possible, is such conbinnIloD tai FEET the
rights OF Citizen, nerher patiSe az H'grnFe'i,
because merely 81 bis g. ligious -opininus I
Ut The cal" ,nJeS " ich have tii CT. j the world
since the 4rIb Of Christ il j. mol less Than
s:rargs that The mosr appalling have had their
| or.gIn in diiIer"ncrs Of 7'&j"nS d"cnim, That
, fuIh which incuCaIrs peace on the earth and
good wIll In man, has 10 mans "b'iquIty and SIN
{ frequently been tie ar'ua canse of the most
Smoking rTue!ties. AbandnnIng alt"g -lher the
example OF its great founder, man has often nj
rTpPied TO teach is mild and heavenly d0ciruts
/ by means of The tng."t mud th" sword. II the
blood >hrd in III So rrrIs cnp'd b. coll. c!rd II
you'd d"lugc much of tie earth IL The ag"nIe<
/ so CAUSED could be- HpY beard in one united voice.
! it would s'nI'Ir The wnrId-and yet all has beer
dome in IIls name ST p1 pa lent. li:sncrIIicins
and merci'a Ind
! With such results, how my ChriGilnn man can
d"u The duty OF leaving matters Ql f'gInn Ia r.
s..rtl' between his brother and his Maker. passes
i'my c"mRrrhPnsioH And then, too, what practi
cal ihhdellty ~ thrFe IN any one or NOR" s"c's as
Stunning that they, ST all others. tn" elect OF
u avcn2 4 seIEsnlliciency So gross would b"
amusing il il vas nG prrnci"us, and prrnici"uS,
Aec"use iinpi"u<;
u it'll u, too, at this time the Roman Catholics
rlle objects of assault. Forgetting for The
ca>on their own substantial differences, Protest
ants Of most secs, if Of all, said be-
cerned in this POLITICAL religious crusade. What
WOULD they think, T. constituting as they once did
"A ma >ry, the Catholics were To unite in such
warfare? Thank God, at that period they not
nnbler, for there nothing HubIer in The opposite
cause, Lur Eoble-a sublime example. OF This
their descendants may well be proud. FLYING
from religious persrcui0n, one amongst their first
acts OF Legislation was provision for perfect re-
igi"us freedom: On The 2lsl Of April, l649, they
passed This statu'e
"And whereas the enforcing of the conscience
in ma tiers OF religion hath frequently fallen out TO
be OF dangerous cons quPDce in these common.
weaIths where il has been prac>ed, and for the
more quiet and praceabie government OF this pro-
vince and the better 10 preserve mutual love and
amiy among the inhabitants, person within This
province protesting to believe in Jesus Christ shall
be by any way troubled, mnlpsred or di>coun.
enanced from his or her religion, in The free
exercise thereof"
This done, too, as history tells US, "wi,h
tho learnest concurrence of their Governor, and
Of the proprietary" Sir George Calvert. who,
We are also told, "in age when religious con.
trOVcTsy still continued To be active, and when
The increasing DIVISIONS among the ProreSianrs
were spreading general alarm, his mind sought
relief from controversy in The bQsam of the
Roman Catholic Church; and preferrlng he avo~.
al OF his opinions TO The emolumens Of Office he
resigned his place, end openly Prule9sod his com
muniOn."
INCREASING Divisions among Proreslanrs!" How
much have they sirce multiplied and hog persua.
svc should the fact be with Prolesapts for The cause
of religious federation
In Justification Of this political hostility to the
CATHOLICS, it is alleged tina, they owe a paramount
allegiance to the Ropish see. Suppose they do,
Is there anything IN that Ia alarm US I Should we
be fearful that they would sacrifice the interests
Of this country TO those of Rome, or that our
liberty could in any measure be endangered I!
The TEMPORAL government of the Pope is impo.eni
for aggression. Not able 10 maintain it at home
he has relied, and yet relies on the aid of
other Governments. To feel approximations for |
American freedom, The institutions protecting
II, from such quarter. would be as idle as "a |
lear that the light and power OF the sun would be
lost IN the mild radiancc and feeble power Of The
moon.
But in truth, what ground is there for charging
such an allegiance Can any believe that
Catholic American cirIzens entertain IL? Every
battle field Of the revolution was illustrated by their
vaOr-every field in the OF 1912 was mixed
with their bood-every Struggle OF the Mexican
war Witnessed their gallanIry and Devotion, ard
every Office they have held (and wha, office have
they not filled under the Federal aud State G. ".
y they have discharged the duties If
with credit TO themselves, and usefulness to the
country.
! fprhear TO name instance amongst the liv-
ing. bu there is holding The highest judicial
flee in the wQrld, who has long since enjoyed the
respect and won The admiration Of all religion
WhIch numbers amongst its followers such a msn,
one would thipk incapable OF doing harm to Amerr-
cap freedom, or Of having concealed political
allegiance, Inconsistent with a full and faithful
discharge Of every DUTY known to American insl-
uripnS,
With these fucts brinre us-pouring out their
blood in common with Professionals to maintain the
hopor OF the nati0n-wh their dust Mingled in
he same grave and wateIed alike by the dews of
equally honest and pariorIc per.
ormance ofevrry duty-how any one be found
50 bold TO declare that under he Constitution
aud laws they should be hereafter treated as aliens
and enemies?
Ever coufding with absolute confidence 10 the
sound sense, honesty. aud justice OF the American
PEOPLE, have no fear thai such an opinion can
ong prevail, do ! know any more certain
node to arrest al and forever such ianatI.
:Ism. than the recurrence IN every wear TO the
eachinss of the Constitution and HE lrarnng Of