The Feliciana Democrat., 1855-12-15
[coMMuNIcATEp.1 ]

u Mr.. Editor.--Old citizen, ] see, is again
out in the American Patriot, endeavoring with
his usual ability and ingenuity, to resist the
power and influence Of the catholic church, or
rather by The fore.lock to warn the country
against the lectures Of Hon. Joseph r. Chan
dler on the persecution of Catholics in the
United States. Old citizen treats the subject
as lightly and with as much seeming monchal-
ance as If there was no truth in the statement.
He attempts to thsow ridicule upon the whole
matter by asking several questions about, Hal
Mary! ho'y ,0ater, Bishop Hzghss, the count
1 think / know Old citizen, and If he be the
person take him to be, my respect for him
as nan, and for his sacred calling, will CON-
mand for him and his publication, q calm, fair,
and respectful consideration. ut a6F
Old citizens good sense, long experience
and extensive reading, should make him firm
defender Of religious freedom, and universal
tolcration. When distinguished divines CON-
nit errors, their errors are mush more baneful
to society than when an individual of ordinary
standing happens to do so. They are looked
up to, and revered as men Of great intsl-
gence moral, and intellectual worth by the
general mass Of mankind. They are supposed
to be governed by the holy principles and
precepts Of the savior Of the word-not liable
to be led astray by prejudice as persons Of sec
ular pursuits and habits are generally known
to be. How very close, and impartial then
should be their investigation Of every question,
and how nicely should they weigh every word
that they utter on issues involving the public
veal They are powerful to do good. by
using right means to right ends, and equally
powerful to do mischief by disobeying the CON-
mands of Christ, to 60 into the world and
preach the gospel to every creature, "and rem
der unto Cesar the things which are Caesars, y
but preaching instead the politics of the day,
teaching people how to vote at elections.
| In the first place, the Hon. Joseph r. Chan
dler, is gentleman, whose character is above
reproach, and whose learning, research, and
venerable age should secure for him at least
respectful attention to whatever he may say
or publish on any subject, and more particu
larly on so grave a question as the one, whicl
is now the theme Of his lectures. 1t will not
do, to denounce, or speak lightly Of the pro
ductons of sach man, on so important a sub
lject, without some cause or justification for sc
doing. If the lectures abound with errors
and untruths, itwould be right and proper fol
old citizen to show it, and produce rebuttinl
evidence, but it will not do for him to attemp
their disparagement, by ridcule, and asking
questions which have no direct bearing upol
the subject, some of which we believe are found
ed on erroneous information.
Old citizen does not deny that the catho
lies have been prosecuted in the country, bu
seems to think it all right because the catbo
lies themselves prosecuted the Huguenots il
France, and murdered large number of then
on the night of ST. Bartholomew in 1852.
No one should know better than old ctizel
.iito ~ 10 io JsotihSutuh III peISOH W COIIl
nit crime, because another has done so.-
Every act Of man that infracts the moral law
is wrong, and we are admonished by reason
Revelation, and our internal moral sense, al
ways to do right. To condemn catholics be
cause they have persecuted, and murdered 9th
er christian sects, would to some extent estab
lish rule that would reach to many other
. and consign them alike to condemnation AM
reproach. History informs us, that man
other denominations besides the catholics wer
, guilty of persecution, and other crimes dis
{ graceful to them, and at war, alike with til
laws of God and man. Were we, only tt
look at the dark side Of the picture, and rea
!, only that page in their history which record
/ their faults and folies, there is scarcely sec
! in christendom, but would be condemned unde
6 the rule which Old citizen has laid down, b
which to judge the catholics. @.
Let lis, Old citizen look back into the pas
and see, if the Hon. j. r. Chandler, has nc
some data on which to found his lectures. w
0 shall not go very far back into the history