Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1853-1862, 1855-04-29
oPPREssION-RErALIATIoN.

W
perieuce, than this Those who are oppressed by
Governments viii live and die to change them. IL
.hen Americans % are determined to Cypress
the Roman Catholic and the Foreigner, they mus
90 il with their eyes open to the fact' Una. 's
nurse an enemy of ever increasing strength A.
very vitals Of the country-one tnat VIC .'1 -.
ceiyed with the promise Of liberty nc oeu'1 -, -
enjoy at home; and that, too, wnlle giving Nu
-, ,a orea. advantages that arise from poRnsriiy
,b.t attaches itself to those prosecuted Or pro
so,;hs6 Cor their religious opinions. And we AZ
yraystez lis. evil and precpitate its consequence
bv the. sssiter of a secrecy of policy and move
man, that must be cursed as inimical to the
shirt of liberty ITSELF The most obtuse mind can
not fail to see the tendency OF now-nothingism
Suppose we grant that man who is even oppress-
cd by his country has right to become It's enemy;
that he should kiss the ,od that scourges him, and
especially so long as he has hope that the exercise
of her authority in its Injustice viii be seen and
redressed. Still, are Americans prepared to re-
nounce all their professions of Liberty because
they can Cypress people whose religion and con-
dition may make it wise and patriotic to suffer
without resistance2 Are we SO strong that we
can tamper with the feelings and hopes of large
classes of the community Tor the sake Of a momen-
tary elevation to cface andsits etnoluments1 Do
we forget, in sud- respAssea, shat human passions
are ever strong. ssIIe human reason is weak, and
that Hnen who suffer wilTnot always keep within
the bounds Of heroic subordination? VIII they
not seize opportunities of resisting law that dis"
franchises and degrades them? And viii they not
fatter themselves, that they do not run theF re-
venge against government or the people, the an
nocent and collective body their countrymen; that
they have no desire to snbvert the Constitution and
Law. but to redress and prevent the abuse OF
lsw which persecutes them2 Thus men who suf-
er are ant to reason and If the reasoning be COM
mon to numbers, they may proceed to such prin-
cipes and actions as may make lot only street
battles and city riots, but CIVIL war and the hor-
rors il ever entails. And oil fer whatl For
vain attempt to do what never can be done while
our Constitutions, State and Natienal have en- ex-
istence 1t Is attempt 70 stsbyert religious lib
erty for class becsase hat class is not as popular
as some others which political demagegues desire to
hatter WiEe governments have ever been careful to
distinguish between Punishment and Persecution,
and have never suffered the former, however just,
to wear the appearances OF the latter. But here
no crime is pretended. Neither the Catholic nor
the Foregnef have been suspected OF plotting
against single law of the government but be-
cause they are foreigners by birth and have for
egn religion, for the same reason, therefore, they
must be prescribed. Has human history ever re-
corded a movement so unnatural, so base, 50 de-
void of reason, law or rel:gion2 To plot against
a psople, innocently, and for the most part indus
triously, pursuing the ordinary duties OF lie, be-
cause they were born across the deep, and have
come to our widespread and unoccupied territory
by the invitation of the same bounteons Providence
that has provided abundantly for US all,-and TO
plot against them, not for crimes, for we allege
none. except the crime Of not coming TO our shores
before they were born but for their religion
History may be challenged for So example Of
greater barbsrity and folly. PSI "A
Its absurdity must ultimately shock all patriotic
Americans and the lovers of liberty throughout the
world while its lesson to all must be- that we can
not guard our liberties with too much vigilance
1t would lay the axe of despcable inquisition at
the very root Of the Tree of Liberty at once, and
destroy that only independence, the independence
Of the individual conscience, by which alone the
freedom Of our government can be preserved Such
a proposition should arouse every true man in this
Republic, and we, and the world should know, who
are Republicans and who are not: Who would sell
themselves, without regard to the principles OF
Liberty and Right and much more, with scandal
Ious disregard for the means employed. For it is
4. II. g oatbi in
it less provoking as well less dangerous to strug-
gle with an open foe, though formidable one, than
with body of men who plot ia secret, and deny
with unblushing impotence in public, the very
deeds OF their own deyising; who. despatch their
emissa-ies under the cover of night, like so many
evil demons. to the north and to the south, to
levy votes upon sectional prejudices; who make an
honor of falsehood and deceptionl Surely, the
liberties of the American people were never assailed
by so impudent and at the same time so cowardly
a foel
Our duty, therefore, as American citizens and
lovers of our kind, is plain. II we would weaken |
the love of sect we must Increase the love of coun-
try. If we would increase the love Of country, we
must preserve and elevate the Rights Of Man. If
we would avoid long and tremendous convus!ons,
and desolsting revolutions, we must guarantee and
perpetuae the peaceful policy that places all OF all
creeds upon equality of protection and privilege
while refusing to allow TO any exclusive rights or
advantages If we would not see cur liberal insti-
buttons, and the hope of the world, sink from the
most brilliant glory ever achieved by human gov
eminent, to the most profound degradation, we
must hold with sacred and scrupulous vigilance that
system Of Constitutional Law and human legsia-
ton, that has become the pride ofOur country and |
the model for all who desire the reign OF Justice over
that of Supersttious Egotism and Brute Forcel |
We have all, in our guarantees of liberty of con- 1
science that which constitutes the power, grace |
and happiness of truly civilized society. We have /
opened free theatre for philosophy, moral and |
theological speculation, domestic and refined art,
the discoveries and application Of the laws u SCI
euce, and the achievements of industry This, our
chief glory, is now shining with almost meridian
splendor, and in our past history has led to the
preference of country to sect or SELF to the virtue
honor and liberty Of thousands who in the govern
ments they have renounced, were never allowed to
feel the impulses of manly hearts; aud now, when
made conscious Of the tie that binds them to their