The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1855-09-05

free and undisturbed exercise Of their re-
ligion; and to the clergy the full, perfect,
and peaceable enjoyment of all their es-
tates. We are too well acquainted with
the liberality of sentiment Distinguishing
your nation, to imagine that difference of
religion will prejudice you against a hear.
ty amity with us. You know that the
transcendent nature of freedom elevates
those who unite in the cause, above all
such low-Ininded infirmities. The Swiss
Cantons furnish memorable proof of this
truth. Their Union is composed of Cath
olie and Protestant States, living in the
utmost concord and peace with one an
other. and thereby enabled ever since they
bravely indicated their freedom, to defy
and defeat every foe that has invaded
them" Has the nature of freedom changed
since those days? Have the opinions of
religious intolerance the opinions or prac-
tice of the fathers of our Republic to sus-
tain them? Oh shame! Degenerate sons
of the sires of Seyenty-six!
[ will finish this communication with
one or two extracts from Catholic works,
which are in the hands of not only bish-
ops and priests, but the laity; the proof
of which will be forthcoming whenever
called upon. The first is from work
called "The End of Controversy by
Rev. John Miner, d. d., page 33I. He
says: 1t is not, then, the faith Of this
church that the Pope has any civil or
for Nv ~, - soh
he can depose princes, or give or take
away the property of other persons out of
his domain: for even the incarnate Son of
God from whom he derives the supremacy
he possesses, did not claim, here on earth,
any right of the aforementioned kind:
on the contrary, he positively declared
that his kingdom is not Of ttis scorldn
The next is from little work called
'The Papist," published in 1849, by
Rev. John Gother. On page 3S, he says:
at is no part of the faith of the Pa
pist, to believe that the Pope has author
ity to dispense with his allegiance to his
sovereign, or that he can depose princes
upon any account whatsoever; or give
leave to their subjects to take up arms
against them, and endeavor their ruin. "
Both of the works referred to are Amer
lean editions, and are, as !, have said be-
fore, works that are in the hands of the
I tlaity. And thus we see that from the IN
fancy of our Republic to the present time.
the Catholics have taught that the Pope
has no power to absolve them from their
allegiance to this or any other govern
ment, and that they owe him no allegiance
whatever in any civil or temporal matter,
but that his authority is of q purely
spiritual" nature.
All this must have been known to my
friend Mr. Hollister, and this explains
why he chose to conduct the discussion in
the manner he has; endeavoring to eyade
the facts in the case, and calling the at
tention to the doings and sayings Of Cath
olies in ancient times and in other coun-
tries than this.
If his facts were truths, and his logic
sound, they would not affect the question;
but neither of them are worth the paper
they spoil With the same kind of facts,
and the same long-legged logic, he can
condemn every sect that has had an exist
ence for one hundred years.
This, Mr.. Editor, will, in all probable
ity, be my last communication on this
subject; for / am confident from past ex-
perience that shall never have an argu-
ment from the gentleman worthy of q re-
ply. If it can afford him any grati6ca-
tion to trumpet his own fame, and read
his praises of himself, it is probable he
will continue his most Interesting disqui-
sitions. But if, by some unforeseen acci-
dent he should happen to bring forward
something tangible, having the least ten
dency towards bearing upon this sub
ject, we will patiently read, aud endeavor
to reply to his article. Until such shall
be the case, we respectfully beg leave to
decline the further discussion Of this sub-
ject, at least with him.
VIM. P. RICHARDSON.
Woodsfeld, Sept. s.