Lynchburg daily Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1852-1861, 1855-09-24

portion of Mr. Berrien's able and statesman.li k
letter.to the people ofhis State.wbch announce
his views of the policy that should be adopte
towards the foreigners who are crowding gu
shores. We now give the concluding part Of tn
letter, directed to the diseussion.in the cali
and lucid tone. Of another topic involved in th
party agitation of the day:
.. As further means of attaining their objec
the individuals composing the American part
have bound themselves, by mutual pledges, on
to another, TO unite their exertions for it
accomplishment | suppose such pledge. eithe
expressed or implied. is the tic which connect
the members OF every lmisy. As 10 their organ
ization. their ritual, their particular modes o
proceeding and of recognition. and the secrecy
which has hithertobeen observed in their pro
ceedings-al which has given occasion Tor -
much eloquent 4 ingenious defamation and de
nunciaton--I am not required 10 express al
opinion: for these. it is understood, have been
abandoned by their National Council. and nj
that is now required for admission into their Or
der is the approval of their principles One o
these that which announces their discriminate
not to vote for or appoint Ramansis to Office ha
been the subject Of nfuch reprehension and ha
been assailed a violation of the libertyof oon
science. which is secured by the constitution.
The provisions of that iDstfumept whichTlre sup
posed to beyiolated. are contained in the con
GLIDING olnnse o. the third section Of the sixt
article, and in the first clause of the first arlicl
of the amendments. The fret. after providin
for administering the oaih TO different publ
funcionaries, contains the following provision
"Bnt no religious test shall ever be require
as qualification for any office or public trus
under the United States
The second declares
..Tbnt ronUraSs sba1l inakn no law rpgDpctin
an establishment of religion, or prohibiting tn
free exercise thereof
"By what process ~ Of reasoning the provision
of the constitution can be made 10 conflict wit
the right of the citizen to the unlimited exercis
of his own free and uncontrolled will in the en-
ioyment Of his elective franchise, am utterly
a loss 10 discover; and have sought in vain,
such arguments of the DIRECTORS as have ha
an opportunity of perusing. The first clause re
laies to persons elected TO Office and re9uires th
they shall have the oath oi office administered
them withou, being subjected to any religion
test And this is the whole scope and effect ,
the act 1t does mol, even remotely, interior
with the right of an individual 10 exercise hi
own Judgment in determining waothcr the re
lgon of the candidate. o. the want Of II, ought
or ought not, 10 influence HIM in casting his vot
for or aganst him This seems almost too plni
for argument. II voter believes the religion
a candidate TO beunsound aud dangerous, to II
extent which would induce distrust in the ord
nary transactions OF life, il is not only his right
but his duty. 10 withhold his confidence and hi
vote.
No provision of the constitution forbids tim
duty TO the country requires it. 1t would b
wrong in the government to make this test, be
causei, is an exercise of discretion which tn
people have notintrnsted to them, bot have re
served 10 themselves Thus that which woul
be wrong in the government, is the right and tn
duty of the citizen. How far this may apply +
Romanism is a matter for the exercise of ind
vidua Judgment and that alone. | would not fee
that native American Romani-ts. trained in tn
principles of civil liberty, of reverence for th
constitution and laws, and devoted to the Union
would come within lis scope, For the rest, I,
show that the view of the American party is sus
tanned by mnn oflerge intelligence, aud of un
doubted piety, Isuhjoin the letter of Mr.. Yves
ley, remarking only that the attempt to restrc
his opinions TO the particular state of affairs exs
ting at the time when his letter was written,
simply futile, since il is perfectly obvious tina
they are Of enduring applicability, at least until
Romanists shall abandon those precepts of thei
religion to which Mr.. Webster refers
SIR Sometime ago pamphlet sent
me, entitled IAN Appeal from the Profession
Association to the people of Great Britain" A
day or two since. kind of answer to this wa
put into my hands, which pronounces its style con
temptble, its reasoning futile, and its object ma
licious. On the contrary, think the style of
is clear, easy and natural the reasoning, in gen
eral strong and conclusive; the object or design,
kind and benevolent.
And in pursuance of the same kind and bcnevo.
lent design.namelv,t preserve our happy const-
tuition, shall endeayor to confirm the substance
of that tractby few plain arguments. With per
| baya 10 In |
man for his religious principles. Let there be
boundless freedom in religion any man ca,
conceive. But this does not touch the point b
will set religion, true or false, utterly out of tn,
question. Suppose the Bible if you please, to
be fable, and the Koran TO be the word of God.
/ consider not whether the Romish religion b
true or false: build nothing one or the Other
supposition. Therefore away with your com
monplace defamation about intolerance and per
sscuton for religion. Suppose every word
Pope Pius's creed to be true suppose the Coun
Gil Of Trent 10 have been infallihe; yet nsis
upon il, that no government not Roman Catho
ought to tolerate men of the Roman Catholic per
suasion.
! prove this by plain argument, (let him an
swer it that CAM that no Roman Catholic does
can give security for his allegiance or peaceabl
behavior prove it thus: 1t is a Roman Catho
lie maxim. established not by private men, but b,
public council, that mo faith is to be kept icih
heretics," This has been openly avowed by the
Council of Constance but it was never openly dis
claimed. Whether private persons ayow or dis
avow it, tits fixed maxim of the Church o
Rome. But as long as it is SO, nothing can b.
more plain, than that the members of III,
church can give ne reasonable security to any
government of their allegiance or peaceabe be-
havior. Therefore, they ought not TO be tolera-
ted by any government, Protestant. Mahomme
dan, or Pagan. You say "nay, but they vii
take the oath Of allegiance True, five hundred
oaths : but the maxim, no firth il to be KEEP
with heretics," sweeps them all away as SPIDER
web. So that still no geveYnm. nts that are no
Roman Catholics can have any security for their
allegiance.
Again, those who acknowledge the sn;ritual