The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1855-02-07

Roman Catholic Intriguos in 1859.
At the Ellicotvillc " American"
Celebration on the 22nd of November,
Hon. r.. IL. Shankland now Of the
OtSrgo Examiner, and formerly Of the
Cattdrdgus RepaJlican, an ardent
Democratic supporter Of the Pierce and
King ticket in 1852, made some start
ling statements as to the bargains made
respectively and successfully between
Bishop Hughes on the one side. and
Gen Scott and Gen. Pierce on the
other. Col. Shankland, in rcmarking
upon the influence Of the Roman Catho.
lie Priesthood excrted in our former
reflections, said that it was now well
under stood that Gen. Scotia short
time after his nomination, had an inter-
view with Bishop Hughes at which the
bishop asked what the General would
do for the Roman Catholics, in case
their votes should be secured to him.
The General requested four days for
consideration. The Bishop would not
consent he demanded an instant reply
and insisted uponit, despite all enircaty.
The General then promised a seat in
the Cabinet. This was not enough ;
the agreement must be in writing. Of
c@rsc this was reluctantly Welded to-.
The knowledge of the transaction was
intended to be kept secret among the
faithful. 1t was, however, suffered
to give so much courage and conii>
dence to certain Wings al the Astor
House that some spsvicioa Of the ar
rangemcnt were aroused in the minds
of the Tammanv Hall leaders. by
getting some Of these Wig particians
in melios0 STATE, the bargain wa:
wormcd out."-Ihereupon a de-
putation was Immediately sent to Gen.
Pierce, who authorized his friends tc
secure a reputation Of the Scott con-
tract and the formation Of another il
his own favor by making the generous
oifor to Roman Catholic Alliance, O.
a Cabinet post, Foreign Mission, an(
the next best Office in the President
gift. This of course overset Gen. Scot
and elected Gen. Pierce, who redeem
ed his pledge by making Mr.. Campbell
his Postmaster General, Mr.. SoulC
his minister to Spain, and Mr.. O'Con
nor U. S. Attorney for tho Southern
District of New York-all of thest
three being Of Roman Catholic faith
and one of them at least of foreign birth
, TO show still farther, the truth Of thi
statement, it is only necessary to ado
that, after the resignation of Mr.
/ O'Connor, in pursuance Of his sym
f pathies and cooperation in the con
trovelsy of Collector Bronson viii
, Secretary Guthrie, a controversy pro
| vokcd by the Administration agains
, the Adamantinc party in this State
President Pierce was compelled t
appoint another Roman Catholic in hi
: place, namely John McKeon, also al
Adamantine, and all this to carry GU
an original bargain, even at the peril O
.. alternating the Softs, who could not III
derstand why another Adamantin
,, should take the place of an Adaman
tine who went out of Office because h
was an Adamantine. These develop
ments explain the whole matter AM
/, exhibit the beautiful consistency Of a
otherwise apparent anomaly.
Q The above statement very proper.
/. styled startling" appeared in til
$ Fredonia Advertiser on the LIST ult
, 1t has been widely published, and tn
attention of these interested in contro
verting its charges, distinctly chal
ienged. Butss yet there is not wor
of denial, defence, or explanation. Th
allegations contained therein mus
therefore be taken as confessed. The