The independent press. (Abbeville C.H., S.C.) 1853-1860, 1855-08-10

people. There is in every society, save that
in which the institution of slavery obtains,
a natural aud unavoidable contest between
capital and labor; or, which is virtually the
same, between property and persons. In
the States where there are no slaves this
natural struggle developes itself in riots,
house -burnings, blood-shed and murder
The influx of foreigners ESTIMATED to be
annually about half million, the most OF
whom are laborers) aggravates this contest
to such degree that upon the immigrant is
enormously charged evils which arc natural
to their condition of society. At the North
the low price Of labor, (Which is incident
to every commercial prcssure-which pres
surcs at intervals of about ten years per-
wade our entire country, because Of All in-
tlated currency, provoking wild spcculation)
is by false philosophy attributed solely to the
heavy foreign population, and the conse-
quencc is that collisions and riots arc Of
almost daily occurrence; which cndangcr
life and property. Now, while they are in
turmoil, strife and confusion, we arc living
in quictudc and peace. These facts must
have an influence upon public opinion; for
their thinking men will not be long at fault
in discovering the cause of this difference Of
condition to be the conservatism of negro sla
very, nor will their capitalists he long in de-
termining where to make their Investments
with the greatest security.
You will readily appreciate the value Of
the connection Of the Catholic with slavery,
when I recall to your remembrance the
very striking historical fact that every slave
State which has been added TO the Confed
eracy, and formed out of territory acquired
since the Revolution, was originally Catho-
lie territory. Louisiana, Arkansas and Mis-
souri, were acquired from Catholic France !;
Florida was purchased from Catholic Spain;
and Texas was stolen, through the instru-
mentality of SAM HoUsToS, from Catholic
Mexico. If all these States are not now
Catholic in religion, it only shows that the
sect is not so dangerous rs it is represented.
At the proper time, and i'll the proper way
Of getting it, we Of the South will want,
and must have, and wW hare, Cuba. Now,
if the doctrines of the Know Nothngs pre-
vail, she herself would scorn all alliance
the considerations Of which would be the en-
change of the most valuable territory of
its size in the haJitable world on the one
hand, for miserable and contemplate rear
vassalaGe on the other.
When We reflect upon the character Of
our Governmcnt-obscrvc It's continuous
expansion in the cold regions Of the North
remember that the admission of every
new State adds instantly two votes in the
Senate and one in the House to the major
ity already against us-when we consider
the fact that natural laws will prevent the
expansion of our institutions everywhere
throughout our domain, save in Texas and
i'll Kansas, and that the Territories of Orc
gon, Washington, Nebraska, Utah and Min
nesota are rapidly growing into States, the
ultimate acquisition of Cuba is presented
to us as an imperative political necessity.
Cuba would not altogether restore and per
petuate the political power between the two
sections but desire to direct your attell-
tion to this point that if the principles OF
the Know Nothing Order prevail, it fhen
becomes absolutely impossible that the
equilibrium can ever be restored; for we
and our institutions can expand but in one
direction, and that is in the Catholic direc-
ton. Are the people of the South willing
to live forever at the mercy Of majority
which is daily and hourly increasing in
strength and t:,naticsm Better, far bet
ter, would it be for us and our children, to
give to every Catholic upon earth home
stead, and stock it with negroes, at our own
expense. In "ploughman's phrase" the Nor,
then fanatic has the long end of the sin
gle-tree, and if we turn our backs upon
the Catholic, the Freesoiler will keep it
forever. With ample power in his hand
and lawless fanaticism in his heart, what
injustice, what insult, what injury, will. he
not inflict upon us ?
Ihayenever yet scena Catholic Abolition
ist, and Of the three thousand preachers Of re-
ligion who insulted the Senate BY an imper-
tinent protest against the Nebraska bill, not
one. was Catholic. I have never read or
heard Of an anti.slavery sermon written by a
Catholic priest in America, andit is my de-
liberate judgment that Northern hostility to
Catholicism is. hostility to Slavery. I have
observed that the Know Nothing presses
ask, with much. earnestness and apparent
purpose, Tf any Catholic priest was eyer
known TO take the. oath of allegiance, or to
vote, in America Z" Admitting that they
have not, | can see no great significance in
the fact. Naturalization would confer upon
them but two rights which they do not pos
sess without 1.-THE rigl. to hold and de-
wise real estate, and the right to vote
neither of which does he value. His Church
provides him with a home, which is the prop
erty of the Church. and supplies all his
wants abundantly. His Church is his estate :;
and in view of his celibacy, any other estate