Daily American organ. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1856, 1855-07-25
Letter OF Counsellor Phillips.

We received n circular letter addressed by
Mr.. p. Phillips to the editor of the Register,
Mobile the main object of which seems to con-
vict the American Order Of religious intoler-
ance. What there is in the argument to JUS
tify some one or other In mourning the expense
of printing and distributing it, we cannot pre-
cisely perceive, nor perhaps is it our business
to inquire. Mr.. Phillips was late representa-
tive in Congress from the Mobile district, who
has declined denomination under the recent
demonstrations, and transferred his professional
talents and attention to the courts Of this Dis
trict We may say moreover, that Mr.. Phil
lips is highly respectable defender of the
Crucihxion, who with commendable liberality
comes forward on this occasion to protect the
Church of the Cross. We presume that, after
this evidence of the tolerance of American in
sttutions, there can be little fear of either mas
sacre or prescription.
Rabbi Phillips seems to have hit upon new
vet perfectly consistent objection to the Amer
lean platform. He contends that the prohibi-
ton to Congress of a power to make "any
law respecting an establishment Of religion"
was intended to ''renounce Christianity as ma
tional belief" He also assumes that the rejection
of the Sunday mail petition "could only rest
upon the denial of the proposition that Christi
anity was an element of our political system"
Such nm inference we cannot admit. The OBJ
lection to Sunday mail might have been, to
some extent, measure Of physical economy. 1t
proved nothing in regard to Christianity, since
the Sabbath is not peculiarly Christian in
stitution. Any teacher in the Synagogue
knows that the sanctity of the Sabbath is as
dear to the Israelite as to the Puritan. The
Saviour of mankind has taught doctrine under
which the sanctity of the Sabbath is so far sus-
pended as to justify acts of mercy necessity
performed upon that day. So the refusal to stop
the mail on Sunday was no denial that Chris
tianity is the fundamental doctrine upon which
American institutions are based because it
no more violates Christianity than it violates
Judaism.
But the Rabbi next asserts that the Ameri-
can platform afirms that christianity is an
clement in our political system" and that "ac-
cording to the platform pure Christianity re-
ouires the exclusion of Catholics from the
rights Of citizenship" -
Now when the Catholic Church finds its de-
foncc assumed by an Israelite, who we will
admit to be wholly without guile, it is impor-
tant for them and ourselves, as believers in the
divinity of Christ, not to widen our religious
differences by the adroit Interpretation of
those who radically deny the legality of any
Christian sect whatsoever.
The American Order excerpts to the tempo
raj allegiance alleged to be due by certain
members of the Roman persuasion to the Pa
pal throne.
1t does not except to the mode Of religious
faith professed By any member of the Catholic,
or any other church. Its opposition is levelled
against an alleged abuse of an allegiance which,
being only due in a spiritual sense, has been
perverted to temporal or political object.
Mr.. Phillips relies upon the case Of Charles
Carroll to prove his charges of injustice. We
accept It as perfect illustration Of the Amer
lean meaning Charles Carroll renowned his
political allegiance to George the Third, and to
all other powers and potentates, when he sign
cd the Declaration Of American Independence.
Whenever member OF the same persuasion
with himself viii, in like manner, make re-
nunciation of the temporal authority OF the
Pope. he will have shriven himself Of the
American objections against him. The same
objection will apply to any religious sect that
attempts to connect itself with the politics OF
our Government, or to any citizen who believes
that there is any legal power on earth para
mount to the Constitution Of the United States.
The opposition is general-only applied to the
Catholics because that is the only persuasion
10 which such doctrine is attributed, but APP
plicable to any others who may avow it.
We are glad, however, TO see the respected
Rabbi 80 decided against political prescription.
With the example Of our worthy President"
whom he 80 much admires, weshould presume
this excessive bile against the refusal to ap-
point one man to office, because the appointing
power thinks some one else ought to have it,
ought TO abate Pray, how is the present
Executive justified upon Rabbi Phillips's doc
trine in removing men suspected OF being
Americans or convicted of being Wings? Is
a Wing or an American of less worth than
Catholic or JewS Has the Counsellor sat
with closed lips, and seen, for two years past,
the political " dead, great and small, stand
before the throne Of General Piercc-and |
docs he, at this late day, fly out against the
American Order because they prefer an Ameri- |
can Protestant to an Irish PapistH
We do not offer the example Of the admins |
tration as a justification. We do not act upon
the Same principle Our refusal TO vote for
aliens or Papists is based upon the belief that
they are incompetent to comprehend the true
nature Of our government He removes
men from Office because they are suspected of
being inimical to party.
A Threahbare Game.