Daily American organ. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1856, 1856-01-22
Remari Of the Hon. Thomas R. Whit.
ney, delivered in the House OF Repre-.
sentatives, Jan. 10.

4 buutotlNcS, Jdus iOs
Mr. WHITNEY. should be pleased to say
| few words before record my vote
Mr.. HUGHST0N. / object.
Mr.. WHITNEY. With the consent of the House
wish to say few words suggested by the re-
marks of the gentleman from Tennessee Mr..
| Smith in connexion with the debate which took
place in this House on Monday last.
The CLERK. Does the gentleman from New
| York withdraw his objection?
Mr.. HUGHSTON. / do not
Mr.. ENGLISH j think it due to the gentle.
man from New York that he should be heard, and
therefore move that he be permitted to proceed.
The motion was agreed to.
MIR. WHITNEY, (resuming.) Alusion has been
made here TO the fact that gentlemen in this House
who owe their election 10 the par y which also
represent and whose principles l cherish, have
dissented, in the strongest TERMS from one of the
cardinal principles of that party. Gentlemen, sir,
have the undoubted right to express upon this
floor their views and their sentiments upon all po
litica SUBJECTS liable to the scrutiny Of legislation
and interesting to the public.
But, sir, when gentlemen, in their individual ca
paclty, assume to place constructions upon creeds
platforms, or principles of any given parry, conyra.
ry to the letter of that creed, that platform, OF
those principles, they cease to speak for the party
Such, sir, think, is the attitude assumed by the
gentleman from Louisiana. Unless mistake his
championship on behalf of the church militant,
the church political in the United States If such
be the fact, advise him to burnish his armor
point his lance, and set it well in its resi- for he
will find himself called upon to meet in the arena,
stern facts and realities invunerable, upon that
issue--facts, sir, which cannot be misconstrued
like the platform of the party - realities which
cannot be yelled in sophistry. The rule, sir, OF
our House forbids more than Lere allusion to
these fcss at the present time but, sir, at the
proper period, when these subjects shall be fairly
presented for discussion, can assure the gentle
man from Louisiana, and all others who choose to
present the gauntlet upon that issue, that they
shall be met as lien. | desire nov, sir, simply
to aude to cotemporaneous fact of history
connected with question raised by my colleague.
from New York Mr.. KELLY during the debate
which occurred on Monday. I read, Sir from the
published debates of that day question propound-
ed by that gentleman to the gentleman from Ala
bama Mr.. SMITH 1t is this
"I desire to know if the gentleman from Ala
bama win say here in his place, that he has ever
known a Catholic, native-born or foreigner who
has become naturalized citizen, who was opposed
to the institutions of this country?"
In this debate sir we are to deal not with men.
but with measures with systems with principles
and influences; and though il may be necessary at
times, in dealing with these measures and systems,
But, Sir, stand here to answer directly the ques-
ton of the gentleman from New York stand
here to say to him, to this House, and to the
country, that individuals in this country naturaliz
ed Catholics, have presented themselves in hos
tity to the laws Of the country, and those laws
imagine to be part Of its institutions.
But sir, en- passant, dealing with measures,
principles, and systems / would inquire what are
we to expect for Republican liberty from a system
In 81,
from late encyccal letter Of the present Pontitf
of Rome2 1t says:
"Liberty of conscience is an absurd and dan
&c :ous maxim, or rather the rawlings of deirium"
Also, in the same letter
"The liberty of the press is that fatal license OF
which we cannot entertain too great horror"
Sir, if the gentleman from New York Mr. KEEL
LY is one of the true faith, he must endorse the
doctrine of that letter and if does not endorse
that doctrine, he is not prescribed by the eighth
section of the Philadelphia platform.
II is perhaps not generally known, though the
fact is one of history that at the Council of Bish
ops, held in the city of Baltimore in the year 1S49
an ordinance was passed to this effect. 1t is still
extant, in most excellent Latin, and pledge my
self to the House that viii present free transla
ton of it into pure English in the course of the
debates upon this subject. That ordinance pro-
vldes, that the Bishops Of the Romish churches in
this country shall take into their own hands the
temporal effects-the property of their several
churches the law of any State to the contrary not
withstanding. There, sir, is direct attack upon
the institutions of country by the hierarchy of
the Romish, church. But let us look at the prac-
tica effect OF the provisions of that ordinance.
The Bishop of Buffalo, in the State which have
the honor in part to represent, demanded of the
trustees of the ST. Louis church in that city, the
tenure of their property.
The CLERK The gentleman's time has ex-
pred TCries of 'eGo on l" $50 onlnl
Mr. KEITT. trust the House will permit the
gentleman to proceed, and make motion to that
| effect
| The motion was agreed to-
| Mr.. WHITNEY. The Bishop of Buffalo de.
manded of the trustees OF his, diocese to deliver
over the property of that church into his hands
Those trustees, be it understood held that proper
| ty by a law Of the State of New York. They de.
| clined a compliance with the demand, and the
/ Bishop proceeded to coercive measures. He took
| from them their spiritual instructor and guide,
| closed the doors of their church, and held them
in abeysnce. The trustees still refused compliance,
and the Bishop sent to the triple crown of Rome
| for instructions. The result OF that message can
not be forgotten. The Nuncio Bedin came tc
America, and proceeded to Buffalo. / diyest my
/ discourse of all extraneous matter. Bedini, say
proceeded to the city of Buffalo, and entered upon
an examination of the merits of the controversy
the laws of the State at the same time before him
| Mr.. QUITMAN, Gnterruptng) am sorry, Mr.
Clerk, TO have to interrupt the gentleman from
New York, but make this question of order The
House has adopted resolution to limit debate tC
ten minutes, unless longer time be allowed to
member by the unanimous consent of the House
Now | object to the gentleman proceeding in hi
remai ks beyond that limit. | do not wish to see
the time Of the House any longer consumed with
such discussions as we have had here for the last
six weeks If the gentleman from New York viii
permit me, win say one word more. 81 1 object e
the discussion of the issues raised by the gentle
men on the other side about the Church OF Rome