Southern sentinel. [volume] (Plaquemine, Parish of Iberville [La.]) 1848-1858, 1856-08-16
NUMBER. O..

and the banner OF an open pr
ganization, such as the old Wing and
Democratic parties, triumphantly flung to
the breeze. The great body of the party
breathed freer aftrr this, their hearts grew
lighter and their hopes brighter; and the
good result is manifested in the enthusi-
asm in favor of the Americanparty which
is now everywhere apparent, reaction
which, in our opinion, will lead to the
most triumphant results.
Religious federation to an eminent de-
gree, is one of the leading recognizable
characteristics of the American people,
and not less SO of that portion which con-
stitute the American party. The reason
Of this is evident. With the exception OF
few localities, the children of American
| parents are reared in no pariculaf rell-
gious faith, consequently, asa body, no
particular religious sect has any control
over their private or political actidns' nor
do they, for the same reason, eistefta'n
prejudice against any particular lpersua-
sion. It is tile grossest absurdit$ 70 say
that the American people the A'saerlcan
people if you please which compose fne~
American party) care one jot or title
about the spread or supremacy Of any,
particuIar sect which has an existence
upon the soil of our country. SO long as
| it refrains from meddling with or polit-
cal affairs; and we are aware OF no
church doing this at present. save those
of Beecher and Parker, and few others
of the same character at the North. We
admit, however, as the question has been
nut 10 us, that there are few protestant
localities where unprincipled denagogues
use the same course Of argument TO Ia
Vor the sns'---a--..-c canse which is used
here by unprincipled demagogues 10 s..-
jure it. Both are equally wrong and con-
demnable.
We have proceeded with these remarks ale
ready to too great length-we will not be
SO presnmptuous as to call them reply to
Mr. Wales letter-and must rather skip over
what other points that we shall notice.
We would ask the gentleman, how is it, if
: the present American platform Is proscriptive
against Catholics, that Kenneth Rayner aud
others, noted for their strong anti-Catholc sem
timents, should have refused to support the
platform and actually withdrew from the Con-
venton that created itl
We would ask the gentleman, how is it he
could battle so manfulIy and brilliantly for the
American party ard It's platform of 1855, when
existed that "odious' 9Th article, and when his
own name was associated with national posi-
ton, and be displeased with the platform Of
/ 1856, which its bitterest enemies admit is far
more national in its character than the former?
We would ask the gentleman, if he had res
ceiyed the nomination Of the American party
for Congress instead Of being defeated, and
had been elected over Mr.. Davidson, (which
we have no doubt.he thought he could be,1
would he have been true TO the party which
placed him in such a national position, or would
ne as now De TeeTutG IH tEaC 10AEHtaLlAH
ne the latter, we think The American party has
good cause to congratulate itself that il was
defeated
| We do not, however, get ut the real cause
| Iof Mr.. Wales back somerset till near the
close Of his lengthy letter. If he was eon-
trolled by anything but principle, says the
writer, ii coming to his present conclusion, The
instinct Of sey,interest would drive him to his
present position. This assertion il made from
the fact that he has, be says, been lately uni
ted in marriage in this parish 10 Catholic
wife, and thus, protestant reared though be
De, le comes under the ban Of Chat raw head
and bloody bones to The iast!) the Blue Book.
Ar. Wales wants no stumbling block n the
road Of his ambition. We feel as confident,
however, as that we are brBathing, that ttle
gentleman uoud hare had 5ltsl as good q
chance ID get mo 1te CqBinet af III. Fillmore
soith .CalHolic pie d aDita0at oaet Was
there anything ever more absurd tban the fofsg
going declaration Of The writer2 There
hundreds IN This State protestant resp !" y
have Catholic wives, and WHO afe he ssesp
ana able advocates oF the Arpesean parry
we are onrseIf precisely the sane y. as
NJ Wales viii refefeps u Catholic VIE
s. 5. atSIs s, So pIs that sge, as well S.