Southern sentinel. [volume] (Plaquemine, Parish of Iberville [La.]) 1848-1858, 1856-02-02
UNITING CHURcH avn sTATE.

UNITING CHURCH AND STATE.
1t will be seen by an article in to-day's paper
that a most singular and unprecedented reso-
lutiou was adopted a few days since in the Le-
gislature, which probably comes as near the
principle of uniting Church and State as any
thing probably that has ever happened in this
country, and cannot fail to create a sensation in
other portions of the Union. No enlighten-
ed mind, understanding the principles of our
Government, can question its reprehensibility.
1t appears that some member of the House
offered a resolution to employ a chaplain 10
open the House daily with prayer, when Mr..
LoCoUL, of st. James, arose and moved as an
amendment to the reso! luton that the chaplain
to be elected should be q Catholic which
amendment was carried and the resolution
adopted by a majority Of twenty-ive-twenty-
seven of those who voted for it being Know
Nothings! OF the twenty-four who voted
against the amendment, nineteen of them were
Democrats!
Which of the two parties now, since the
election is ouer, are most proscriptive upon the
Catholics? Had il not been for Know Moth.
ing votes this resolution to have a Cotholic
Chaplain and none other, would never have
been passed.
The resolution is none the less condemua-
bic, however, and will v%ariously affect the po-
litical future of those who voted for and against
it. 1t would have been equally reprehensible.
if the resolution had said that the Chaplain to
be elected "shouId be a Protestant" There
can be no doubt that every member of the Lee
gislature has the perfect right to support any
religious denomination that he chooses for a
Chaplain, even if it be Mahomedan or Jew, or
any other. 1t is a right guaranteed to him by
the spirit if not by the letter of the Constitu~
ton, as by the institutions under which we live,
and which no body Of men have the legitimate
power to dispossess him.
What could have influenced members in a
course, with reference to the adoption of this
resolution, SO Numerically opposite to all for
mer practice, either in this State or any Of the
other States of the Union, it is difficult to de-
termine. Elsewhere, it will be looked upon as
an act resulting from ignorance and bigotry,
(of Which it is neither,) if not of the verriest
~seFvility and at home, will be equally con-
demned by the enlightened and liberal minded
Of the Catholic persuasion as of the Profess
tant or other seets.
For the passage of this singular resolution
to-as done by the votes of the Ame~
Party-we can account for it in no other
manner than as a practical exposition of prin~
on the part of that party, as some r~etalia-
ton upon its opponents for the Infamous false |
hood SO glaringly asserted during the last cam
vass, that THE oppression of Catholics was a
part of the creed and principle of the Ameri~
can party. Looking at the act in this light,
mitigation Of its reprehensibility may be
anticipated from indulgent minds, while eproof
rs clear as holy writ" is given, that the Ameris
IAN party South feels as great an interest in the
Welfare Of Catholics and Catholicism, as for
other description Of religionists or religious
ai'h-aud must silence forever the canting
who, t9 barry their political ends,
erase the decaIogue itself!
We must admit, however, that we are not
me of those who, to establish a political axiom,
'elieVe it necessary to. take advantage of
Ugh position in making our public duties bend
9 political feeling, and thus give birth to a pre-,
edent which might lead to dangerous results;
nd we trust, whatever may be the occasion,
hat so near a contamination Of "~uniting
and State" may never again occur in
ne history of the State or the Republic.
G'Sinee the above was in type the report of
ne proceedings Of the 31st, in another column,
zas received, in which, it will be seen, the obi
resolution has been erpGngsd.
HON. Geo. EuSffS.