Litchfield enquirer. [volume] (Litchfield, Conn.) 1829-current, 1855-05-17

The American party had its origin in the
peculiar necessities Of the times, and com.
mends itself by the practical results which
its mission is calculated to accomplish, to
the favor of the great masses of the people.
No man could mistake the drift Of politics
for the last few years. Sectionalism, fos-
tered by ambitious and unpatriotic men, was
acquiring strength and vitality imminent
ly dangerous to the Union. Demasogues,
both North and South, were stirring up pre-
JUDGES and rousing into activity jsalousies
which were fast destroying the harmony of
tile Union. Under their guidance the North
was arraying itself against the South, and
the South against the North. The bonds Of
determination which held the States together
were being worn away by the atlrition of
sectional hates. Abolitionism at the North
in its hatred Of Slavery, was hewing away
at the Constitution, and pro.slavery fanata-
cism at the South was mining beneath it,
Northern demagogues, seeing the deep feel
ing against Slavery in the free States seiz-
ed upon it as an element Of political strength
and harnessed il into the service Of party.
Southern demagogues seeing in the pro-
slavery sentiment of the South, an slement
Of local strength. seized upon that, ar har-
nessedsit into the service of party. And
thus the people Of North and South, Under
the influence Of excited passions, were ar
raging themselves against each other, sti-
mulaled by sectional iealousies, and hurried
towards collision by sectional hates.
There was another element scattered all
over the country, that had been growing un-
noticed, infusing itself into politics, acting
covertly but every where moving in con-
cert, in favor sometimes of one party and
sometimes Of tho other, but always as a
unit. Under the guidance Of cunning
priesthood. IL was always thrown in direc-
lion that would tell strongest on the policy
Of the country. 1t was always in the poll
teal market seeking for bidders, and pos.
sesslng peculiar cohesiveness that held it
together always, il came at last, in the equi-
pois Of parties, to hold the balance Of pow
or. and the ability TO command political re-
suits: This element was the foreign CATH
Ollie people who had foated from Europe
and found home among us. Standing by
themselves, bound together by the prejudi-
ces Of educa,ion.. and the promp,ings of a
bigoted and intolerant creed, taught from
their infancy that Professionalism was a
deadly and objectionable sin, instructed in
the dogmas Of the infallability of the Ro-
mish church and the absolnticn of its priest
hood, il was not singular that they should
fail to be republicanized by the liberalism
Of Protestant institutions. or become assimi-
lated in social habits. or political sentiments
to the American people.
These foreign Catholic people,while they
took TO themselves, under the benign prosi.
sions of our naturalization laws, the rights
and privileges of citizenship, failed to APP
preciate its duties. They chung to the alb
solu.ism, the superstitions Of their creed,
and submitted with blind and servile obe-
dience to an intolerant priesthood. Though
adopted into the family Of the American
people, aud clothed with the imm0nities Of
citizenship, they remained the subjects of a
foreign hierarchy and an alien faith.
The demagogues Of party, seeing in the
combination Of these foreign and Catholic
voters an element Of strength, marched them
into the arena Of politics. courted their inliu-
ence. propitiated their power, preferred them
10 place, made them the recipients Of nat.
Yonage. They were courted and Hattered
made 70 build up and pull down the poli,i.
4 cal fortunes Of men, until their favor was al
necessary to the success OF an aspirant FOL
Office as their opposition was sure to effec,
his defeat. Candidates were selected with
Inference TO the securing Of the foreign and
3tholis yote, until il became almost nsces