Cooper's Clarksburg register. [volume] (Clarksburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1851-1861, 1855-04-25


advocate Of religious liberty,
declared nearly a5haH century age. that
even in Great Britain, nearly all its OPP
ponents had been sileuced some had
been taught sense. others inspired with
shame, until none were left upon the field
except thoseswho could neither learn nor.
blush. The principles of religious liber-
ty are cherished in Virginia with peculiar
affection. Our act for the establishment
of religious freedom, asserts in imposing
and authoritative language. that 1.-the pro-
scribing any citizen as unworthy the pub
lie confidence by laying upon him an in.
capacity. Of being called to offices of trust
and emolument. unless be profess. or re.
nouuCe this or that religious opinion. is
depriving him injuriously of those privi
lsges and advantages to which in com
mon with his fellow citizens he has No
tural right: that it tends only to corrupt
the principles of that religion it is meant
to encourage. by btibing. with monOpo-
ly Of worldly henOrs and emo!uments,
those who will externally profess and con
form to it that though, indeed, those
are criminal who do not withstand such
temptation, yet neither as those innocent
who lay the bait in their way" In the
struggle which terminated in the COM
plete emancipation Of religion in this
State. the dissenting Protestant sects, I'M
der the energetic lead Of the Baptists,
bore q conspicuous part. The act for the
establishment Of Religious Freedom. WAS
eminently Protestant achievement, and
Professionalism in Virginia rudely despoiis
itself Of the fairest ornament with which
it is decorated by history. when it violates
the letter or the spirit of that celebrated
law. The men now who seek TO renew
the dogmas OF religious intolerancs-pay
an appropriate homage to the virtue and
intelligence Of this country when they
coneeal themselves from the public OBJ
sUrvatiOn. Those who afraid to meet the
R 2man Catholic arguments in the field OF
fair discussion. may we'll be alarmed at
its anticipated progress p; but its more in
telligent opponents will regard with com
posure what they consider it's errors. so
long AS reason is left tree 10 combat them.
For every Roman Catholic Prizes. in the
United States, there are some % 'rotes-
tant preachers for every Catholic altar.
there are 80 Protestant pulplLs Scarce
" l-2Oth part of the population of the I'm
ion is attached to the Catholic religion
If Professionalism Isl not safe with these
heavy odds in its favor, It's nBcr ndency
will not be maintained by prosecutions and
civil disabilities imposed upon It's oppo-
nVn... Know N0shinGism may do more
t" advance the G LhOlic cause than all It's
Priesthood. and place Catholicism On The
right side AMI Professionalism on the wrong
side of the great question of Religious
Liberty, BY n course SO illiberal and unwar-
rantabIe. This is attempted to be JUST
fed by An absurd exaggera,ion Of the po-
itietl influence Of Catholicism in This
country. Mr.. Chandler, Of Pennsylvania,
addressing the House OF Representatives
u few weeks since. declared that he knew
of but one Catholic besides himself, who
was member Of that House OF Congress
We may, then, at least pronounce the
Legislative Department 10 be free from
Catholic control. There seems to be nc
occasion to organize new party to pro,
tect that branch Of the Federal Govern
ment, and the Catholic influence is
equally feeble in the Executive and Judi
claI Departments.
What then can Know nottingham nc
complish upon the subjects which it under
takes to 0gitate ? 1t may cxpel from the
Executive department a few naturaiizod
| citizens who are insumbents OF office -
but as niEe-tenths Of the Federal office.
are said to be already filed by native citi
zens, that can scarcely be M object wortl
| the attention Of u national party. Thost
who originated and expect to control this
| organization, must have other and unLi
vulgcd objects in view. Temporary pre-
juIice and excitement on the subjects O
| Foreignism and Catholicism may servo t.
| place them in power when So acquired
| We may we'll recall the eloquent warning
Of great English statesman, and beware
Of $50 trying ching as new power il
new persons. Of whose principles. tempsr'
ana dispositions We have little or no cx,
perence, and in situations where those
who appear most stirring on the scene may
not be the real movers" What is this new
party expected to do upon those great sub
jectS of practical interest to which W,
have before referred ? The elections II
which they have already triumphsd at
| ford Us sufficient data to infer tnsir polio
upon the most important of these subject,
SLAVERY.
Know-Nothingism has had its origin
and growth in those quarters Of the Un.
on where Aboltionism is the most power
full. AT the very instant thai Know Moth.
ism has swept over the Notwithstanding
States, A5olitionism has acquired an as
tendency to which it never before aspircd
Every election in which Northern Know
NothinSism has triumphed, has snursd 10
the benefit Of abolitionism. Every indi,
vidual whom the Northerp Know. Moth
ings have elected to either branch of the
Federal Legislature. is committed 10
most violent views of Aboiiionism The,
have Frustrated, where they have had
| the power to do so, the same men whom