True American. [volume] (Steubenville [Ohio]) 1855-1861, 1856-09-24
-[FrOm the New York Evan gelist, Sept. l8.
Is Fremont a Catholic 9-The Question
Settled.
NOT FOR PARTY BUT FOR TRUTH.

NOT FOR PARTY BUT FOR TRUTH.
1t is not our business to enter into the
strife of politics. That is not our yoca-
tion, and we have -religiously .abstained
from such contests, Nor shall we depart
from this line of strict pr6pIisiy. But
we are SOME times appealed to for infor-
nation as TO matters Of fact, by readers
who imagine that we may have special
means of knowing the truth. In such a
case we are willing to tell what we know
mot for sake Of party but for TRUTH
This we may do without Sacrificing our
neutral and independent character. If we
can help tocorrect an error, or disabuse
the public mind ofa false Impression, we
are doing service to right minded men
OF all parties. We do not urge our rea-
ders to vote one way or the other, but we
do wish them to vote intelligently.
1t iswell known that one of the candi-
dates for the Presidency has been charged
with being Roman Catholic. To this
story we never gave the slightest impor-
tance, considering it as one of those bold
fasehoods which were fabricated for a
party purpose, and which would drop in
10 oblivion and be despised as soon as it
had served its object. But as the -origi-
nators of the story cling TO it with great
pertinacity, thinking ii a very effective
weapon TO excite odium and prejudice,
some good men have thought it worth
while to set the matter at once and forever
at rest.--Clergymen of this city have been
applied to by members of their churches,
and by letters from abroad, to make per-
sonal inquiry, since the public would have
entire confidence in their statement,
knowing that they were not likely to be
deceived themselves, and that they could
have no motive 10 misstate the fact.
Thus appealed to, a number of clergy
men, though very reluctant to do any
thing which could bring their names be-
fore the public in connection with any
political question, called upon Col. Fre-
mont for the purpose Of frank conversa-
ton in regard to his religious profession
and belief, This they did--not for their
own personal saislaction--for not one
of them had doubt about the matter
but simply that they might be able to sat-
is(y others by an assurance from his own
lips. Among those who went, were Rev.
DR.. De Witt, of the Dutch Reformed
Church Henry B. Smith and r. D.
Hitchcock; Of the Union Theological
Seminary Rev. David B Coe, Secretary
of the Home Missionary Society and one
of the Editors of this paper. They were
received with great cordiality, and Col.
Fremont responded very frankly and
cheerfully 10 their inquiries.
When it was remarked that some Of
our good people were disturbed about his
religion, he replied, smiling, that he was
glad that his opponents were willing 10
admit, at least, that he had some reIi-
gious leeling-that he was not wholly in
different to Christianity. One of the
Ministers inquired if the account Of his
early religious education and of his join
ing the Episcopal Church, as given in
Bigelow's /" Life of Fremont" was cor
rect Ele replied that it was; and add
ed, in few words, that he had been born
and educated in the Episcopal Church /;
that he had been confirmed as member
of that Church, and had never had shad,
ow of thought Of leaving it.
When alluSlon was made TO the persis-
lie mt assertions that he was Catholic, he
replied that be could not immagne how
such story took its rise, for that, in fact,
he had not hardly been inside of Cath
oic Church more than half ~ dozen times
in his life, and then upon occasions Of
public interest or curiosity, .....,g
All this was said very quietly and with
no apparent desire to obtrude his religion,
or make capital out Of it, but TO state the
simple fact of his religious education and
belief. No one could listen to this frank,
vet modest statement, without feeling that
it was perfectly ingenious; and that, with
no bigo,ry towards others, he was sin
cerely and unafectedly attached to the re-
ligion in which he had been educated by
, piOus mother.