The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1855-04-04

the sanctuary Of the citizen, this disregard of
that-saving principle of civilized society that
/" a mans house is his CASTLE" Where was their
warrsnt, their complaint, their "probahle
cause" their oaths or aflirmationsf They had
none. They were guilty Of an outrage upen
private rights
This Catholic school was private institu-
tioG-an inquisitorial committee could only in
wade it under complaint on affidavit, and
warrant, according to law. But they say that
they were freely admitted and conducted in
their examination, by the Lady Superior,
throughout the house. That does not mend the
matter. The offence is in the stupidity or cri-
miDal folly of the Legislature in authorizing
this inquisitorial visit; and in the committee,
in acting upon it as full and sufficient warrant
for their proceedings. The Legislature is al
most unanimously anti Catholic if not entirely
so. 1t was elected, - a very great extent,
upon the anti Cstholie feeling so preva-
lent throughout the State; and, since the
unwise movements Of Archbishop Hughes on
the church property and public school ques-
tons, and the late mission of Bedini, SO preva.
lent throughout the country. We can't ina
CINE, therefore, that those Catholic Sisters of
Charity, in their little establishment at Rox-
bury, opened their doors to this Legislative
committee as to a deputation Of friends, per-
sonal, religious or political. No. They could
only regard the committee as 80 many inquisi-
tive enemies. And herein lies the weight of the
outrage.
In this light, the act of the Legislature ap-
pointing this committee was cruel, lawless
act, and the visit of the committee under it was
an outrage. With the antipathies existing be-
tween the Legislature and the committee, on
the one part, and this Catholic female school
nothing like persecution intended in this Off
cial visit, it might have been managed at
least more courteously. In order to avoid all
appearances of intimiC alton, suppose single
member of the committee had first called at
this school, and stated his case thus:--"I am
one Of legislative committee appointed to
exsmire into the condition of the converts aud
nunneries Of this State. Your establishment is
private. We have no authority over your
religion or system Of education, except where
they may conflict with the laws We have no
complaint against you, NO affidavit, no warrant
You may, therefore, exclude US, if you please
But if you think proper to admit us, we shall
call here upon some appointed day, to look into
your institution and ask you some questions
We are not Catholics; but we are not barba-
rians.", Had some such application as this
been made at this Roxbury school by this com
mittee, it would have been in better taste but
acting as they did without law, they had no
authority to act at all. In confounding prl-
vate houses with public schools the act of the
Legislature appointing the committee was
Iullity, of no more binding force than SINH
lar edct from Billy Bowlegs.
Civil and religious liberty ia these United
States are tangible and practical rights. We
cannot disturb them with IMMUNITY. Wherever
the church any church attempts to usurp the
powers Of the State; wherever the clergy at
tempt to monopolize the temporal properly of
their congregations wherever n religious Or
der or society enters the field Of politics as
balance Of power in political affairs, Legisla-
lures and parties may rightfully interpose to
resist them. But as neither Congress nor the
State Legislatures have the power to abolish
converts or nunneries, or to interfere in their
internal economy, so have they no authority
for these Roxbury inquisitorial committees of
inspection.
We admonish the new party of the Massachu-
sets Legislature to adhere to the constitution.
There is no safety beyond it.
RECRUITING IN New YORK FOR THE CRIMEA--
We are of opinion that it is a pretty well set
tied fact that persons in the employment of the