Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1853-1862, 1855-01-18
THE HYPOCRISY OF wnIaGERY,

Il1E hlEDJhlSE OE y itiitSLkI,
We lately spsnt leisure Lorr in leoaine over
the files Of the Nos.Uiae Banner szd NasIple 7ras
Wh!g, published during the Presidential canvass Of
1852, and turned down the pages which contained
arguments against the election ofFRAxEIN PifacG,
because be lived ms State which excluded Catholics
from holding Office. Referring to cur own files, we
found that, at that time, we contended that nlsn
ought not to be held responsible for the existence
Of bad law, VIXEN be had opposed that Law. We
found, however, that this argument did rot con-
vince our neighbors. So horrible, in their eyes,
was the idea Of prescribing man for his religious
belief that they appealed to the people to vote
against citizen Of the State which tolerated such
prescription, even though this citizen himself he'd
labored to repeal tie obnoxious law. We shall
occasionally amuse our readers by printing some Of
the arguments referred to- now that both the Baa-
ncr and Iius Wig have become know-nothng
organs; and prepare them for the exposure which
these extracts vii. make by publishing the follow
ing article from the Louisville Democrat
REMAREABLE REVOLUTION N Vine SENrIMrSr-
IL the year Of our Lord 1852 after the nomination
of Franklin Pierce as President ii was recolected
that his State had clause in her Constitution pro-
scri5ing from certain State Offices all men Of Ro-
man Catholic faith Wing editors from one end
Of tic Union to the other became terribly excited
ABOUT it. lC was inquired, if Franklin Pierce was
responsible In any way for this proscriptive clause
in the organic law Of the State. Fierce, elaborate
and yiuGc.jvs comments were made upon such
anti-Ame.can doctrine as was contained in the
Constitution Of New Hampshire. l. was said that
efforts had been made TO adopt a new ConStiLu-
lion; that one had been submitted to the people
q y
and that it had been rejected; and the wings proved
TO their satisfaction that it was lost by democratic
votes. Wing editors published columns Of returns
ia detail showing that in the democratic counties
3hr new Constitution found little favor.
On the other hand, it was affirmed that the wing
leaders opposed striking out the religious test and
gpnerallv voted against the new Constitution; that
Pierce aad Woodbury., the leading democrats in the
convention, had done all they could against this re-
giou7 test and got it stricken out that Pierce had
left his seat the was president Of the Convention
ana made mcst eloquent speech in behalf of re)
Iaioas liberty and against the odous provision IN
the old Constitution; that subsequently, when the
vote was being taken ia his own town upon the
new Constitution he called the voters together, and
urged them 10 vote aye in order 10 get rid Of the
religious test.
An this didn't satisfy tie wings. They -aii that
Pierce had influence enough in his State 10 have
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earnest about il, and that, at any rate no man in
State that would tolerate such a Constitutional
provision ought 10 be elected President. They
though. It dec dedY best to prescribe every man in
The Safe d.sraCcl by having and retaining a re-
lgioas test in her Constitution. Nobody defended
tho provision uti'c,Cd to- 1t was repudiated every
where. AIthe democrats could do was 10 show
that Pierce wss not responsible for the sin; that
he had done all he could against it, So dear is
religions liberty in this country, and so hateful
were restraints UpOn it, that no one could be
found ID defend . Constitution prescribing any
RELIGIOUS sect No one was bold enough to stand
Up and face tie country with defence Of IT,
THIS Was only two years ago; and where now
sleens the holy zeal Of wing editors for freedom
of c5us.-Hc-2 Where now are the eloquent and
na,Tict1 L-uulCatlurs OF intolerance Where
slacus the C0nacences Of wing editors? They were
thrown into spssus two years ago IN behalf OF
RELIGIOUS liberty. They then employed all their
resources Of capacity and luendacy against the
raon=trc=,tv O. religious tests. Did they waste all
the zeal for the holy cause of freedom OF con-
science .3- spells IN 1892, SO that there IS none
left now Have they come 10 believe that the
crime they tried TO lasteG upon Pierce was, after
al a virtue Were they playing the hypocTite
anu deI0agogge when they so Eercely denounced
the New Hamrshge Constitution, merely availing
themselves O. a popular hobby 10 beat an oPpon-
gaf and tll7 get Office and PeiE
What is The lac5 roE1 There IS a secret and
gisl,snt organization Eow formed all over the un-
lon handed together By pledges signs, pass words,
-rias. aud perhaps, oafhs, to exclude all Roman
Catholics from o9ice. 1t IS operating, wherever
llere is political contest for the hig candidates:
and wig editors are quiet as lambs. Net word
10 We READ C.. those fierce and terrible appeals in
behalf Of TEL. z.cus freedom. We can find no ener-
getic reputation Of this secret phalanE in lis 20
LIica-relg.-us creed.
We present this fact 20 the sober reflection Of
Inc public We are often told that politics are
ve1aI. nerccrarv end corrupt Il looks so, indeed,
30 this aspect Of lie case. Was the wing zeal Of
1892 al sham and hypocrisy, and le-a great
public shameless l.-: I. not So whats the matter
now?