The true Democrat., 1856-01-29
NO. 16.

other religion, spiritual tyranny will be high or Io10 In the ratio as the intelligence of it's vota- rles IS great or small If the cause exists, the effect will follow, and ,Cittoa it, c l1U, as the natural result of its existence, is of no force whatever, and deceives no one but fools- There are thousands of laws in the world ul,- repealed, but not in fsrce and there are thou sands in force without being enacted by legisa- tive authoriyt. Suppose the Pope claims the ancient power still, and suppose some of his jealous servants claim it for him. What then? The Popes may claim to govern heaven, hell, the earth and the moon. Are Americans to be set by the ears by such old fogy theorists, when we have the facts betore our eyes, that they preach of what they want, and not of what really exists. So the kings of Great Britain, up to the last forty years, used in all their state documents, to style themselves King of Great Britain, France and Ireland;" but l suppose no Frenchman was alarmed at it. The question l is, not what Dr. Brownson says about it. but | it is-has the Pope got the power in the United States about which the Know Nothings are so much scared? Do the American Catholics "render to Ceasar the things that are Ceasar's?' The Know Nothngs seem to be 80 stupid in this matter, that, if they were to witness euery CatIaolic layman in christendom do acts which proved his loyalty to his own government, as against the Pope, they would ShH point Us to "Dr. Brownson's testimony" Although the people right under the Pope's nose refuse to do him reverence, they quote to us Dr. Byovnson, and, with renewed vigor, abuse the Taneys and the handlers-the Hanlys and the Carols of the country. Dr. Brownson, in his time, has been an ultra Quaker, an ultra Presbyterian, and now an ultra-montane Catholic; and what next heaven above knows-but have no doubt he would express the same sentiments he does now about the power of the Pope if his hol- ness could not command money enough to get dinner or control the meanest lazarone in Ma ples
 As said before, the political power of the United States is in the hands of the people, which power is shared by the great interests, agriculture, etc, and the religious communities into which the people are divided. And it is fundamental principle of this government, that every citizen, as a means of pursuing his own happiness, shall have equal facilities with every other citizen to defend his own rights, whether as an individual or as a member of a particular community. But the constitution divides, vir- tually the affairs of men into ta00 great diUisions one consisting of those great principles which experience and nature have taught us are es. sential to the happiness of all which it coutem- plates are nsver to De endangered by being made subjects of political issue before the people, Among these are the right of enjoying religion unmolested, and the right of controlling the policy of the government The other division consists in tue action of the people in the busi- ness of forming this policy.
 For it is true, with regard to the first of these great divisions, that one principle object of our constitution is to secure to the people those great means of happiness which nature and the experience of mankind declare to be i1adispensa- ble to it. Of these, the quiet enjoyment of our duty in worshipping God is the most import ant for our Creator has so constituted us as to make devotion to him an indispensable condi- ton; and for wise purpos eS, best known to him, he has so constituted us that we cannot think alike with regard to the mode of performing this duty. This truth being undoubted, religious freedom is made one of the settled inalienabIe rights guaranted to the people in their consti- tuition. Know Nottingham proposes to render the constitution valueless to one of the great communities of the Union with regard to its rights and privileges in Loth of the above nam- ed great divisions. They make its religion a subject cf politica! issue, and they propose to hamper their constitutional facilities which are the common right of the people, necessary to enable them to enjoy their just share in con- trolling tue policy of the goveynmaent. They are as segment in this great circle of communities which Know Nothings propose to strike out, from the centre to the circumference, from the enlightened Taneys and Gastons to the less distinguished crowd at the other extreme. - Their religioa is to make them odious, and they are to lose the mems of defending and provid- ing for their s0orldly q6airs Through the govern ment Know Nothings confess they aim a. this. 1tis to free the policy of the govern ment of the force which the power of the Cath ohc citizens can bring to bear upon it. This is civil war. SIDNEY.