The Wyandot pioneer. (Upper Sandusky, Ohio) 1853-1868, 1856-10-09
Is Fremont a Catholic +!

Is Fremont a Catholic
, From the New York Evangelist, Sept. IL
! NOT FOR PARTY, BUT FOR TRUTH.
It is not our business to enter into the
strife of politics. That is not our voca-
tior, and we have religiously abstained
from such contests. Nor shall we depart
from this line of propriety. But we are
sometimes appealed to for information as
to matters of fact, by readers who imag-
inc that we may have special means ol
knowing the truth. In such case we
are willing to tell what we know-not fol
the sake of party, but Of Truth. This we
may do without sacrificing our neutral
and independent character. If we can
help to correct an error, or to disabuse the
public mind of a false impression, we are
doing service to right-minded men ol
all parties. We do not urge our readers
to vote one way or the other, but we do
wish them to vote intelligently.
1t is we'll known that one of the can
didates for the Presidency has been eharg-
: ed with being Roman Catholic. To
this story we never gave the slightest i'm.
portance, considering it as one of those
bald falsehoods which are fabricated fo,
party purpose, and which would drop
into oblivion and be despised as soon as
lit mad served its object. But as the or
iginators Of the story cling to it with great
pertinacity, thinking it a very effective
weapon to excite odium and prejudice
some good men have thought it worth
, while to set the matter at once and for.
ever at rest. Clergymen Of this city
have been applied to by members Of theil
churches, and by letters from abroad, to
make personal inquiry, since the public
would have entire confidence in THEN
statements, knowing they were not likely
to be deceived themselves, and that they
: could have no motive to misstate the fact
Thus appealed to, number of clergy
men. though very reluctant 10 do anything
which could bring their names before the
public in connection with any politica
, question. called on Col. Fremont for the
. purpose of a frank conversation in regard
to his religious profession and belief
This they did--not for their own personal
satisfacti on--for not one of them had e
, doubt about the matter--but simply tina
they might be able to satisfy others by ar
assurance from his own lips. Among
those who went were Rev. DIR. Dewitt
of the Dutch Reformed church /; Profes
sors Henry B. Smith and r. D. Hitchcock
Of the Union Theological Seminary Rev
David B. Coe, Secretary of the Home
S Missionary Society, and one of the edit
e ors of this paper. They were received
e with great cordiality, and Col. Fremon
responded very frankly and cheerfully tt
S their inquiries.
When it was remarked that some of ou
! good people were disturbed about his re
ligion, he replied, smiling, that he wa
glad his opponents were willing to admit
4 at least, that he had some religious feel
ing-that he was not wholly indiferen
to Christianity. One of the ministers in
e quired if the account of his early reli
gious education and of his joining thu
: Episcopal church, as given in Bigelow'.
"Life of Fremont" was correct? He re
piled that it was; and added, in a few
! words, that he had been born and edu
: Gated in the Episcopal Church that h
had been confirmed as member of tha
), church, and had never had shadow of
0 thought of leaving it.
When allusion was made to the persis
q tent assertions that he was Catholi.,, h,
= replied that he could not imagine hov
such story took its rise, for that, in fact
he hardly beer inside Of a Catholic churcl
}, more than halfa dozen times in his life
e end then upon occasions of public inter
: est or curiosity.
All this was said very quietly, and will
: no apparent desire to obtrude his religion
e or to make capital out of it, but to stat
y the simple fact of his religious education
u and belief. No one could listen to thi
g frank, yet modest statement, without feel
L ing it was perfectly ingenious and that
: with no bigotry towards others, he wa
: sincerely attached to the religion in whic
he had been educated by pious mother
V From the New York Times.
IS Biting Flles!-Mr. BE-. Cooks Afdavi
! about his Interview with Fremont.
t. STATEMENT.
/, A few weeks ago, while engaged in
. conversation with Mr.. r. w. Potter,
asked him how he could console ntiousl
n vote for Col. Fremont, who was beyon
4. all doubt Roman Catholic. He reptile
TO that HCol. Fremont was not Catholi.
p. and whoever said he was, lied" re
h. piled, swell, Potter, if you will prove
s. me that he is not, l will forfeit thousan
dollars, or vote for him at the comm
C. election" ''What proof do you want
Is he asked. | answered 81 wiW take Co