The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1855-07-03


wonderful effect. In this city below Canal there
viii be corporas guard of know nothngs in month
from to-day The democratic State ticket powerful and
intend to best for city officers Set down
all right"
THE DEMOCRACY OF TEXAS MoyING-A BOMB
SHELL THROWN INTO THE WOODWORKING
CAMP
We copy the following from the Texas State Gazette,
(extra,) dated June 10:
awe give below the proceedings of of the most i'm
portant meetings held at the capital.
Gov. Pease declines to consider the State system the
issue in his election and promises lay his views before the
people of the State He open against the know
nothings.
The pledges given by Gov are that this
ing has nominated him."
The proceedings of the meeting, together with the plat
form adopted will appear in the next issue of the Union
Mn EplroR Upon the perusa of your paper this morn
ing found article copied from the Baltimore Ameri
can also letter from the amened Bishop England, in
which it asserted that Catholic voted against
lgious liberation, viz: "Jew-emancpaon blln Allow
to contradict positively, upon the authority Of Hon b.
Semes the then speaker Of the house of delegaes and
likewise upon the authority Of John Tyson esq., from both
OF whom have letters to that effect in my possession.
Having been requested by several gentlemen write
article upon that subject declined but promised to col
ect information which another could use Immediately
addressed letter to John Tyson, esq and also to Hon
B. Semmes, of Prince Georges county, Maryland, the
leaders in the cause, from both of whom received re-
ply stating the fact shat every Catholic voted for the bill
and against religious intolerance
AS the letter Of the Hon. b. Semmes enters minutely
into the history of the question: and porays the Catholic
action upon the subject you will greatly oblige
number of your felow-czens by inserting the
your excellent journal.
Letter Of Hon. b. r. Semmes
OAKLAwN March IL, 1855
received your letter Of the l3th and will with pleasure
give information desired The original Constitution Of
Maryland imposed disability upon the Jews though not
mentioned by After prescribing the several oahs
be taken it provided that persons holding office should
subscribe 10 declaration of their belief in the Christian
religion. This particularly applied to members Of the
will perceive that not only Jews but all who did not be-
leve in the Christian religion prescribed There
efforts at different tunes to wipe the odous feature
from the constitution one, have been informed by
Chief Justice fancy while member Of the Senate but Of
this not certain but have heard mentioned by those
who associated with him, and presume It is GER
tanly So but have knowledge of the fact In 1921
first became member of the legislature and introduced
bill to wipe off all the fhrrago and declarations required
by the constitution and to substitute simple oath Of
Office. This of course abolished all tests but simple
oath of Office, at present. and admitted ALL This after
very animated discussion was rejected but by smaller
majority than at any previous time The next wear the
proposition brought forward by Thomas Kennedy Of
Washington county, and passed. but it required con
curing vote Of the next session, 1t was rejected.
ties of the State; and Joseph Merrck who some years
prior had abandoned the Catholic religion and become
Protestant elected from Washington county, led the
opposition, and the bill defeated In 1924 or u.s.
John Tyson, Quaker from Baltimore city introduced
the proposition, and made of the most powerful
speeches heard the subject This speech was
published, and excited great admiration everywhere
Bishop England the Catholic Bishop Of Charleston South
Carolina wrote very complimentary letter to Mr. Tyson
and expressed his regret that any Catholic should have
voted against religious freedom Mr. Tyson replied and
informed himand such the fact-that eperu Cdhoic
the legislature voted for the proposition and in avor Of
religious liberation Subsequently, but what time do
recollec the legislature altered the constitution as
TO admit the Jews Under the present constitution no re-
gous test is required have thus given you brief but
correct of this question, commencing from the
time entered public life until the question attained
From the time il fully and fairly discussed the Catho
lies and Quakers gave vote In opposition and it
constantly gaining strength that when the change
made there was little or no active opposition and pre-
ALL nearly ALL if they did not support acquesced
in the change.
Yours, sincerely, B.L SEMMES
p ST. have made this statement entirely from memory
have documents to refer to- In January, 1912
first gave attention the subject and wrote article
published in the Maryland Republican Of Annapolis
signed Roman Catholic, of Prince Georges county,
Maryland" COL Fenwck of Charles county--a Catholic
Of talents good writerwrote about the time
for the same paper, signed Catholic Of Maryland
B. ]. SEMMES.
For the Union