The true Democrat., 1856-06-03

amiss in us to advert somewhat to the patriot. ism of the Catholics as American citizens. at the same time, holding ourself in readiness, to do the same thing for any other sect, when they are similarly assailed.
 As already shown, the Catholic colony of Marylan was the first to proclaim and practice religious tolerance on this continent. Some of the most distinguished signers of the declara. ton of independence, and members of the con- vehtion which framed our federal constitution were catholics, as devoted to their religion, as they were true to the cause of their country. and they staked their allin its support. So of those who fought the battles of the revolution. some Of the most distinguished were those who worshlpped God according to the forms of the Cathode church. Ofthe common soldiers many were Catholics; but the question of their reG. zion, as before stated formed no part of their qualification as soldiers That question Was left to be asked and discussed, in secret con. clave, by the august body of Know Nothings whose fathers or grandfathers were probably not on this side of the Atlantic, at the time of the achievement of our independence
 And to bring the case nearer home, and within the knowledge of all of our readers we will call attention to occurrences of last winter before the Congress of the United States When the Nebraska bill was pending before the last Congress, more than three thousand clergymen signed a paper and had it presented and read before the U. s. Senate, in which they protested ID tue nanae of Almighty God, against the passage of the bill They attempted, by throwing their weight, as ministers of the gos. pe into the scale, to prevent the passage of an
 important bill through Congress, which did in. justice to no one, and which was, and is, measure of vital importance to the people of the south. Pending the passage of this bill and since its passage, these clergymen have preached against it, and in favor of its repeal though 1t be done at the expense of disSolu- tion of this Union. To the credit of the Catho lie church be it said, that not one of her minis ters signed his name to the protest presented to the Senate or has participated in or encOu- ragged, any agitation on this subject, which is still kept up by unworthy ministers of other churches.
 On the arrest of fugitive slaves at the north, Protestant clergymen have harangued mobs, and melted them to deeds of violence and mur. der; Catholic clergymen have done no such thing; they have never opposed the execution of the law.
 On the subject of the Catholics, we regret to see Magazine of American literature, of the
 influence and extent of circulation of Ha,pers, making war on the Catholic religion; and, as if afraid to discuss the case on its merits, resort to rdicule to effect what we are bound to infer could not be achieved by reason. Has the edi. tor of that Magazine looked into the other po- pular religions of the day to see what in them may be made the subject of ridicule? If so and he has an eye for the ridiculous as he cer- tainly appears to have, we think he has scarce. " examined one sect that could not be made the subject of ridicule to an extent conceived of by but few. Has he ever read the books written against the Bible itself? If so, does he not remember that some of the most scath-
 ing ridicule, he ever read, has been applied by unbelievers to that Holy Book? For our own part, we believe that the ridcule of the Bible by those who do not believe in its authenticity, has done more to promote unbelief than all the other kinds of assault it has sustained.
 We have extended this article to greater length than we intended when we took up our pen to commence it. There are many other things which might be written now, and which we may write, at some other time, if occasion require 1t. We have not written a foreign CT, or one who has any undue sympathies for that class of population, for our grand fathers both on fathers and mothers side, were native born Americans, and did their duty as soldiers, honorably, though in an humble sphere, in the war of our independence Nor have we writ ten as Catholic, or one believing in the pecu. liar religious doctrines of that church, for what ever of religious predilections we have, are in favor of the Protestants; but we have written as an American who loves his country, and is opposed to seeing the best of her institutions perverted to the worst of purposes; as one oR posed to the adoption of political principle which, if applied to its fullest extent, would exclude its very authors from any participation in our affairs, for the aboriginal Indians are the only bona fide native Americans; as one op- posed to the adoption of a principle which would fence in the. United States with worse than Chinese wall; for if we prohibit foreign CTS, forever from coming among us and par tlcipating in our affairs, we must expect the rule to work both ways by circumscribing our selves within our present limits--never coop erating or sympathiSing with the democratic masses who are struggling against the iron yoke Of tyranny in the old world; as one opposed to the adoption of principle which, f fully ap- piled, would result in an union of church and state, for if one religious sect be prescribed and put down, by political movement, the next thing will be to prevent it's rising by law and taking such steps as will strengthen and legal ize the opposing church.
 The practical operation of the principles of the society of Know Nothings we believe to be in contravention of the plainest principles of our constitution; at war with the spirit of our government; and, fraught with danger to the country.
 We have therefore thought proper to place ourself on the record as anti Know Nothing"