Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1856-01-19


mentality put into your hands by the or J..
ganic law, you accomplish the subversion
Of the latter, is it not as violative of all
obligation and duty as if you circum-
vented it by positive statutory pro-
vision? To give an example: The
President Of the United States is under
the obligations of the constitution, lust
as any voter is. Ii he were to declare
that he would bestow Office upon no one
who is a member of the Roman Catholic
Church, simply because he was a Cath
Ollie, would it not be making a religious
test? Clearly so. How would this be
so? BY determining the qualifications
for office and station according to the re-
ligious convictions of the candidate.-
The same is true of naturalized foreign
ers; yet, in this instance, the circum-
yention Of the constitution would be
without any positive law
In answer to this view Of the question.
it has been said that the voter NAV vote
as he pleases. Within the limitations
imposed by the constitution, State and
Federal, he may vote as ne chooses but
If he votes over and against those limit
atons, he is guilty of legal or moral
wrong. Though no specific penalties
may have been defined, and no legal tri-
bunal instituted to enforce them, vet the
wrong is not the less clear and disastrous.
This argument also implies an absolute
and unqualified right of property in
suffrage If this right exists, why can
not the vote be sold? 1t will be an
swered, because the law prohibits. Tx
actly 50; but This proves that the right
is qualified one-that there are restric-
tons upon its exercise. This is all
} contend for. ! contend that the right Of
suffrage is political or qualified right;
that it must be exercised in conformity
TO the limitations Of the constitution;
and that the Fundamental limitation is,
that it shall not be so used as to make
religious tests. Suffrage is qualified
! political right, given to individuals in
, correlation to public duty and the latter
reacts upon the former
At this point may answer aninquiry
! put by the gentleman from North Caro-
G lima, Mr. Reade. He inquiries "if We
d would vote for any one hostile to civil
/ liberty, and the constitution ?" | answer
q him frankly that would not. But he
n does not put the question fully. Does
s he believe that every member of tho
: Roman Catholic Church IS hostile to
c civil liberty and Che constitution? If so,
4 does he believe them to be thus hostile
to them because If Hcir yeiigtoni If
a he does not believe both Of these propo-
. sitlons, then he cannot shelter himself
. behind his implications If there be any
number Of Roman Catholics in this
, country who are true to the constitution
| and civil liberty, then the Roman Catho-
, lie religion does not make It's votaries
, false to their civil duties and obligations,
and their political prescription must be
y because Of their religious faith. Thus,
, in this event, the gentleman makes re-
! lgious test. Nor will he fare better on
the other horn Of the dilemma. If he
alleges all Roman Catholics 10 be hostile
to civil liberty because Of their religious
creed, he. prOnounces sentence against
the constitution, and takes issue with the
sages and founders Of the republic. The
constitution declares that there is no in
compatibility between republicanism and
the Roman Catholic Religion, and tho
sages of the republic believed that Cath
ollcs might be as loyal citizens as the
followers Of any other faith. If the
gentleman believes this provision in the
constitution to be unwise, he should
strive to amend it in the way provided in
that instrument itself. While it exists
il is the law, and disobedience to il is
the higher law"
pass, now. sir from this branch Of
the inquiry Of my colleague. lie asks
me, also, if | approve Of the Presidents
message. / do approve Of it most en-
phatcally. 1t is bold, wise, and
statesmanlike document, and should com
mend itself to the sanction Of the public
Judgment. In this connection, too.
will say that while | am opposed to the
representation Of my State in the DEM
ocratic nominating convention at Cincin-
natl, if President Pierce is the nominee
Of the Democratic party, will cheer
fully and cordially support him, and
doubt not my State will do so. | think
he has high claims upon tho party; and
il this believe but express the iude-
ment of the people Of South Carolina.
Ny object, Dir. Clerk, was to define
my own position. | will add however,
that believe the Democratic party isto-
day purer and truer to the constitution
than it has been foryears. 1t has passed
through fire and water, and many Of its
impurities have been consumed or washed
away. 1t has the smell Of fire upon It's
garments, and while il moves on in the
historic track Of the founders Of the re-
public, / shall bid il God speed Many
Of the halt, and lame, and blind have
fallenby the way; hal this fate oyertaken
al such, it would have been better
The gentleman from Pennsylvania
Mr. Campbell says that the Democratic
party came into this hall two years ago
upon the crested wave Of popular power;
and he asks where is il now ? lie says
Il is q faoblo and scanty band, clinging
to its broken affairs. Why feeble and
scantyY Because il has been much moro
friendly to the South ATS! .sner to the
constitution than either Of the other par
ties. Clinging, says tho gentleman, to
is broken affairs. Why, sir, to what
else should it cling? While abolition
Elaatician is sweeping over the free
! CONCLUDED on fourth pagc.l