The true Democrat., 1856-07-08

cullar forms or opinions, 1t Is also in contraven' tion of the principles, for which the revolution was fought and of the constitution of the Uni ted States which provides that Congress shaN naake no laa0s respectlng on establishment of| religion; or prohibiting the free exercise thereot'
 Our country owes its settlement, and we think, its republican form of government, to religious persecution. At different times, and under different dynasties, in the old countries diff ferert sects of reGgionlsts, were persecuted and driven into eXle on account of their pe- culiar religious tenets conflicting with those of the then ruling powers. More particularly was this the case with regard to the Puritans the Catholics, and the Quakers. Driven from their homes to the then savage wilds of Ame- rica, and feeling keenly the scourge of the per secutor, they here learned the lesson taught by the Saviour of Man in His Golden Rule, aN things a0hatsoeuer ye a0ouAl Uot neen shouH do to you, do ye even 80 to Mem.' They learned and practiced that tolerance which is always dis tinctve of true Christians. The Catholic colo ny of Maryland was the first to proclaim and practice religious tolerance Her example was, in due time, followed by the other colonies.
 In the war of our independence there was no distinction of creed or belief. All were op- pressed alike by King George III; all resisted oppression alike. That war showed the Qua ker and the Cavalier the Puritan and the Catholic standing shoulder to shoulder for the country and they formed phalanx, against which the shafts of tyranny could not prevail Relying on the justice of their cause, and the approval of tHeir God, they offered themselves as common sacrifices on the altar of their coun. try, in the common cause of her freedom. This offering was acceptable, as evidenced by the victory which perched upon their banners There were then no questions asked, as to whether any one was Protestant or Catho- lie. The question then was, are you for the c0untry2
 It is not our purpose to draw invdious dis functions as to the patriotism of one religious sect more than another; for we believe all to be patriotic; but as this association of Know Nothings appears to have been formed for the purpose of prosecuting Catholics, 1t will not be 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 smllar V aSsailed.
 As already shown, the Catholic colony of Maryland was the first to proclaim and practice religious tolerance on this continent. Some of the most distinguished signers of the declara- ton ot independence, and members of the con- ventlon 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 all its support. 50 of those who fought the battles of the revolution; some of the most distinguished were those who worshipped God according to the forms of the Catholic church. Or the common soldiers many were Catholics; but the question of their rclI- +yl z +hoir qualification as soldiers. That question Was left to be asked and discussed, in secret con cave, by the august body of Know Nothin-s, whose fathers or grandtathers 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 cergymen signed paper aud had It presented and read before the U. $ Senate, in which they protested in tAe name of 1411njghy Col, against the passage of the bill. They attempted, by throwing their wei Jht, as ministers of the gOs- pei, into the scale, to prevent the passage of an important bill through Congress, which did m- justice to no one, and which was, and is, a measure of vital importance to the people of the south. Pending the passage of this bIll and slnce its passage, these cergymen have preached against t, and Ill favor of its repeal, though 1t be done at the expense of a diSsoiu- tion of this Union. To the credit of the Catho- lie church be 1t said, that not one of her minis ters signed his name to the protest presented to the Senate, or has participated Tn, 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 HQJpeyS, 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 edl- 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 talnly appears to have we think he has scarce ly 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 ridculc of the Bible, by those who do not believe in it's authenticity, has done more to promote unbellef 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 may write, at some other tme if occasion require it. We have not written as a foreign CT, or one who has any undue sympathes 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, honorablv, 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 predlectons 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 op- 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 .iide native Americans; as one op- posed to the adoption of 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 ticipating in our affairs, we must expect the rule to work both ways, by circumscribing our selves within our present limits--never co-op- erating or sympathising with the democratic masses who are struggling against the iron yoke of tyrahny in the old world; as one opposed to the adoption of a principle which, if fully ap- piled, would result in an union of church and state, for if one religious sect be prescribed and put down, by a 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