The independent press. (Abbeville C.H., S.C.) 1853-1860, 1855-08-03

requires the exclusion Of Catholics from tn,
rights of citizenship! II know that upon q
mere quibble, it may be denied that this in
ference is justified; but the quotation mean.
this or nothing. The circumstances which
surrounded this declaration have written
upon it its true scope aud character. No great
change in government was ever accomplish
cd by the full development OF It's principles
in the inception of the movement. Gu,
own revolution rested for a period upon a
redress of grievances accompanied with an
earnest protcsta,ion Of continued loyalty to
the British Crown. The change now aim
cd at for excluding Catholics from their
share in the government Of the country
like all radical and revolutionary movements
must be effected, If yiectcd at all, by grad.
uaI stages of progrez. which inurc us to the
journey, an! accus.Om US to the road. Let
those who may be unwilling to admit that
my inference is jus, read attentivcly the
events which are tnnspiring around. The
sentiment of the Philadelphia Convention
is repeated at every $sscmbIy Of the party
It's echo at Montgou:ry, in our State, pro-
claims opposition athc election to office
of every man who rEognizes the right of
any religious demon aaton to political pow
cr, or the authority: an higher law than
the Constitution q the United Statcs.'
The country is flooil with spurious lit
craturc, in which tx imagination of its au-
thors has been stinla,cd into activity to
portray the fancied !orrors Of cloister and
cell, and describe IL Catholic priesthood as
clothed in the garusnls OF every crime. In
many parts Of the &untry the pulpit is full
lniaIa,ing doctrirsr essays TO prove the
Catholic Church eaupt, and its aillcrents
unfit repositories i the rights Of citizen
ship. II Caii,vF citizen, however capa-
bic and honest, kapi'oilIted Il to political
position, a howl issarl Throughout the land,
and dcnunciation lows the appointment.
What is the merlg Of all this? l can
NOT be deceived i any "*st phrase of
speech" l tear Gtic iiimsy disguise of
words. and heho the naked aud hileons,
truth: Religious Intolerance Party as
selnbcs have metre this; declarations of
POLITICAL principleaave been common in
our practice ncvarties have been formed;
old ones have bctnlodified; but when be-
fore in our histor has it been considered
necessary to an:=matize 1.-THE aggressive
policy and corrurs tendencies of the Ro-
man Catholic chrI 2" When before has
it been found prcr to introduce religion
into our roitic congratulations When
before was the fi,ss for political office test
cd, not by the hcs,y or capability Of the
candidate, butabyle religious faith he pro-
fesseda Times lie indeed changed, and
we have changc'kith them. When the
venerable Carrolbos up the pen to affix
his name to the mortal "Derlaraticn," no
man cried "Holdyou are Catholic" Ii
new necessity ssprung up justifying a
new law, then, TX, where does it exist,
and in what forlocs it appear? Surely
Professionalism baot become so weak as to
require protectidrom the arm Of a polit-
ical party. Hag entertained no fears of
the Pope ofsRo! when in power, does it
fear his dominion this country now that
he is dependent foreign bayoncts to pre-
serve his domini in Rome itself? 1t would
be unjust to corue these resolutions as
vague generaliti having no application
to any existing d-the remedy for which
was to be found this new party organiza-
ton. What, en-, is their application
DO "the aggre&e policy and corrupting
tendencies of tkRoman Catholic Church"
point to condor of things existing a.
mong us in the tguage Of the Montgome-
ry resolutions, sody Of men "who recog-
nize the right q, religious denomination
to political pows or the authority OF any
higher law thanhe constitution Of the u
nited Statesa" Against whom is the law
to be enforced /? 1t is vain to attempt dis
guise or preyaiation. The alleged evil is
declared to exhhere, and the new rule is
to find its justiation in the religious faith
OF our Catholie:,izens-citizens secured in
their faith, notaly by the written stiPula-
tions of our FeraI and State constitutions,
but, as with us,y solemn treaty stipula.
ton 'that the ,habitants Of the ceded ter
ritory shallbe eorporated in the Union OF
the United Stss, and admitted as soon as
possible, aceoIag to the principles of the
Federal coassision, to the enjoyment Of all
the rights, SdNtages, and imnunities, Of
citizens of theUnited States; and in the
mean tilneSshs be maintained, and pro-
teeted, in the se enjoyment Of their liber,
ty, property, al the religion they profess
tLet these 9uaons DO answered, not by
mere specpiato, much less in the spirit o.
captlousness, It by the solemn acts and
declarations I the most authoritative as.
sembly. Wh before the grand council
or conventlont Philadelphia the delegation
rom touistan presented sthsir party ere
dentials- legation composed Of men
whose raPeability was not .quessIoneds
whose god th was not Snspe ected
were spurSsdofn tile council, .as nn6ss 10,