The Shasta courier., 1856-03-01
The K. N. Religious Test, Nut for
Know Noihings TO Crack.

lnimical 10 persons Of foreign birth. rs well
as of the Roman Catholic faith. In this they all
agree as party on the slavery question there
is not the same unanimiiy of feeling. In The
North, as party they side with the Aboliiionisis
in the South. they ignore the Abolition doctrine
and are generally rabid pro-slavery men. Sill
they call themselves national men, notwith-
standing one platform is in direct opposition TO
the other, on this test question. We say test
their own acts in national conventions have
made it SO. But TO HE extracts:
Mr.. SMITH, of Alabama. (when his uume was
calied,) said: feel it due to myself, as a nlem-
Der OF the American party, that ! silould make
remark or two IN reference to the speech of the
Honorable gentleman from Louisiana. Mr.. Eus-
Tis, and in reply to some other remarks which
have on various occasions fallen from honorable
gentlemen III this House. touching some oI The
principles OF the American party.
Mr.. Clerk, so far as am personally concern.
ed, stand fully committed 10 The country upon
nearly every question advocated by that party
aud do not recolect single sentiment or ii
single expression of mine. upon THAI subject
which womid desire 10 recall to modify
Sir, ! VIII not dodge the Roman Catholic ques
'''' W ''uNa VI tbC bl tudl parry
expect 10 live to the day when the parry
~i;h which am allied. coming IN couiac wi h
other parties IN The country in az open and tair
iIscussion OF principles alone, distinguished
from this lighting OF shadows. which our adver-
sailes up 10 this time have been engaged in,
VIII have an opportunity Of presenting to The
country the true issues Of Amcrcani>m.
The gentleman ircm Lousiana seemed TO
congratulate himself that, although there We're
mary Protestant clergymen in This House. there
were 10 Roman Catholic priests | thank God
Tor that; and hope that. should this Republic
stand for thousand years. Roman Catholic
priest never will be "A member of Congress.
lAppiause III the galleries And, sir. | hope
with equal iervency that no clergyman OF any
other denomination, who is now ii member of
this House, will interfere politician with
any religious question whatever. | will go as
lar as any man III my opposition 10 the proscrip-
ton OF any man on account oi lis religion
But the gentleman from Louisiana should re-
member that although there are Roman
Catholic priests in this assembly there have been
Roman Catholic priests i'll other legislative as
sembles, III other countries. And | ask the
gentlemgn-f ask any member of this House.
holding opinions with that gentleman if they can
polut me to an Instance when the Roman Cath
ole clergy, IN any convention. or in any assem-
bly, in The world, as legislators, ever arrayed
applause in Ihe galleries.] When in any conn
try, in the history of the legislation of the world
were the Roman Catholic clergy arrayed on The
side OF The people on the great questions of civil
or religions liberty
Mr.. DAVIDSON, (interrupting) will ask
the gentleman from Alabama whether Stephen
Lanedon was not Catholic priest. and wheth-
er he did not present Magma Chara 10 King
joint Member. He was not Catholic
A n
bishop. So much the worse.
Mr. SMITH. (resuming.) | do no, remember
the name OF the distinguished person who led
the revolution which resulted in The establish
ment of Magma Charta.
Again, sir / ask the gentleman when, in any
assembly on the face of the earth, the Ro-
man Catholic clergy ever found on the side of
liberty When, III any contest between the
people and the tyrant, did the Roman Catholic
clergy fail to take sides with the existing pow
er, whether king. pope. or emperor
Mr.. WRIGHT, OF Tennessee. Task the gem
teman from Alabama if he regards Charles Carr
rol, of Carrollion, as having been friend 10
liberty7
Mr. SMITH. Certainly would not utter
word against that illustrious name He stands
revered. in my estimation, not far below the
father Of his country pointing to the picture of
Washington. That is an individual case.
A Member. But lis not Catholic priest,
at all.
MIR. LETCEER, lin his seat No, but he
was a Catholic which is the same thing.
Mr. SMITH. 1t is no matter whether he was
priest or not the American party will be the
last TO forget him.
Now, sir as TO the position of the gentleman
from Louisiana, Mr.. Eusiis, have only this
to say, if the Louisiana Catholics are not Roman
Catholics, they do not come within the obJec-
ton raised by the American party.
Mr. Eus,is If Tie gentleman viii allow me
TO interrupt him, | will inform him that the
Louisiana Catholics, are Roman Catholics. Eve
ry Catholic is Roman Catholic. There is but
one denomination-there is but one word known
to thai church, and that is Roman Catholic
Mr. SMITH. Then my opinion is very dis
iincry known TO the gentleman from Louisiana
Mr. KELLY Let me ask the gentleman a
question: | desire to know if the gentleman
from Alabama will say here in his place, that
he has ever known Catholic. naiive-born or
foreigner, who has become naturalized cit-
zen, who was opposed to the institutions OF this
country
Mr. SMITH | will not say that have. l
have had but very little intercourse with the
catholics. | live III portion OF country where
there are very few Roman Calhoics but. sir,
doue in the past tliey will do in the future, If
ever they get the power. Why, sir. during the
Reign of error in France-ihe bloody days II
The Jacobins-were there not Roman Catholic
priests who Joined themselves 10 the Jacobns--
who renunuced their religion, and. strippir Z
off their robes kneeed before the JacobIn al-
lars and swore There was no God but REASON I"
Mr. KELLY. And let me ask the gentleman
from Alabama ii there were uoi cler2ymen Of
Protestant denominations who did precisely tine
same thins7
Mr.. SMITH. | hope some OF these genile-
men who have many questions to ask will, ~
proper time. take the opportunity to furnish
to me and 10 the House single instance IN
which the Roman Catholic clergy, in coniro-
versy between tie King and people, have been
found on the side of the peoplel
Mr.. FLORENCE. l will give the gentlemsn
an instance now. Did not Fuiler Murphy head
the rebels, they were called, against the
forces of the King and did lie not preach elo-
quenily, and fight bravely. in favor of Irish