Daily American organ. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1856, 1855-11-03
NUMBER $40.
Letter from Colonel Clemens to General
Cass.--N0. q.

Letter from Colonel Clemens to General
Cass.--N0. 2.
(coNrrEuKD.)
There Is scarcely clause In the constitution
with which Know Nothing would be more un-
willing to part than the very one which is thus
quoted against us. One of the chief objections to
Catholicism IL to be found in Its constant struggles
TO connect itself with the State. Every other de-
nomination Of Christians look upon all connexion
with the government fatal to the best interests
of religion. In that Church, alone, restless long
ing for power, an Unsuitable thirst for persecution
and blood induces unremitting efforts to obtain
possession Of the temporal sword. In guarding
against that danger in seeking to keep the stains
Of earth far away from the crmine OF the Christian
Church, the first amendment to the constitution IL
an auxiliary no American wishes to lose. The
Catholic may perform the exercises Of his religion
on the public highways, or in the marketplaces, If
he pleases he may celebrate mass at midday or at
midnight he may nail saint or two over his door,
or collect dozen holy relies in his cabinet, and
no one will interpose on objection. The American
party make no war upon the Catholic to prevent
the free exercise of his religion but to prevent the
possibility Of his interfering with the free exercise
of our own, Men who have already declared that
1t is unconstitutional to permit the Bible to be
studied In schools, have no further scruplc6 to
overcome before declaring it unconstitutional to
attend any but Catholi, church. SWhen other
arguments fail, It is customary to resort to weak
attempts to rdicule the fear Of danger from Cath
oic influence; and In order to make this effectua,
the census statistics have beed unscrupulously per-
verted. According to that document, the Baptists
provide church Accommodations fbr 3,247 ,029, tho
Methodists for 4,33S 5T9, while the Catholics pro-
vide accommodations for only 887 0s2.
The reason Of this disparity is plais. The Bap-
fists and Methodists do not build churches for
themselves alone every church will hold more
than double as many worshippers as actually be-
long to the church, Their houses are scattered all
over the country, and the whole neighborhood
whether they belong to any church or not, are
welcomed when they come. l99e
The Catholic cathedrals, on the other hand, are
put up on a scale Of such regal magnihcence that
1t Is only in the cities and large towns they can
afford to build at all. They have not yet the right
u tax us to build churches for them and the con-
sequence is, that such thing as Catholic church
in the country is never heard Of. They cannot
afford to worship God in the plan unassuming
edihccs with which other denominations have dot
ted the land. They seem to estimate the value of
prayer according to the splendor Of the temple
from which 1t ascends, and to fear that log cabin
supplications would never reach the ear of St Pc
ter. Their church accommodations therefore,
afford no rule by which to estimate the number Of
members. The actual number Of members In the
three Churches is as follows: Baptists (including
ding four different sects,) l,779526; while the
Catholics rise 10 !, ,l73,7oo, according TO the Bap-
tist almanac, or 1884, 500, according 10. another
estimate made by the superintendent Of the cen
sus. This was In 1850. In 1852, Archbishop
Hughes gave II as his opinion that there were not
less than 100000 Catholics in the United States
and added " Emigration has no doubt contributed
much to this result Since 1850, the emigration
has been immense, and at this day have very
little doubt the Alchbishops estimate Is far below
the truth. 1t must be remembered also, that
there are no .cts, no schisns among them They
have common objcct-they obey common
head. 4
In all that relates 10 the advancement of the
church they have scruples, no restraints and
their capacity for mischief is thus increased many
fold beyond their actual numbers. Yet wo are ad.
monished to let this church aonc--to permit Il TO
60 on increasing, without opposition, at the present
fearful rate. Even Christian ministers have enter
ed the POLITICAL arena TO wnrn us that persecution
will give IL new vitality. The serpent is among
us,--we see IL grow day by dsy--wel watch It's
scales harden, and still we must not touch Il for
fear persecution will strengthen il. This Is one Of
those popular errors which have been accepted
from generation TO generation, because no ono
thought IL OF sufficient importance TO expose it.
IL Is not only false, il Is libel upon the Protes-
tant faith,s and the American character. Il pre-
snpposes two things repugnant alike 20 the un-
derstanding aud the heart. 1t supposcs the
Catholic tobo the true religion, and applies to
Il the maxim that" the blood Of the martyrs is
the seed Of the church." The great reformer
Kuox held no such opinion, stern, sincere, fear
less, uLawed by power, unseduced by Aattcry, he
denounced with equal severity the ina gstrate who
tolefated, and the citizen who practised Romish
supersttions. John Wesley was not behind him.
The following extract from one Of his letters speaks
for itself The disciples OF the school ho founded
do ~ It4tl-
frequently than many OF them appear to have done
Again, those who acknowledge the spiritual
power Of the Pope can give security Of their ale
glance 10 any government; but all Roman Catho.
lies acknovle Ige this therefore they can give no
security for their allegiance
"The power Of granting pardon foral sns--past,
present. and 70 come-is, and has been, for many
centuries, one branch Of his spiritual power But
those who acknowledge him 70 have this spiritual
power can give no security for their allegiance,
snlce they believe that the Pope can pardon rabel-
lion, high treason, and all other sins whatsoever
The power Of dispensing with any PROMISE OATH
or vow, Is another branch Of the spiritual power
Of the Pope, and all who acknowledge his spiritual
power must acknowledge this But whoever ac-
knowledges the dispensing power Of the Pope can
give no security for bis allegiance TO any govern
meut. 0aths and promises are gone they are
light as air--d disD@,sdfioa makes them oil null
and poid Nay, not ouly the Pope but even
priest has power 10 pardon sinsl
This Is an essential doctrine Of the Church Of
Rome. But they that acknowledge this cannot
possibly give any security fcf their allegiance TO
any government. 0sths are no security at all for
the priest pardon both perjury and high trea-
son. Setting their religion aside Ii Ia plain that,
upon principles Of reason, no government ought
70 tolerate men who cannot give ny security to
that government for their allegiance and pesceabe
behavior. But this no Romanist can do, not only
while he holds that "no faith is 70 be kept with
heretics,p but 30 long as he acknowledges either
priesty absolution on the spiritual power Of the
Pope.
IF any one pleases to answer this and sign his