Fayetteville observer. [volume] (Fayetteville, Tenn.) 1850-1966, 1856-02-14

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of the Constitution; and that thefnn-
damental limitation is, that it shall
not be so used as to make religious
tests. Suffrage is aqoalified polite
al right, given to individuals in cor
relation to public duty, and the lat
ter reacts upon the former.
At this point / may answer an
inquiry put by the gentleman from
North Carolina (Mr. Ready He in.
quires, "if We would vote for any one
hostile to civil liberty and the Con-
stitution?" ! answer him frankly that
would not. But be does not put
the question fully. Does he believe
that every member of the Catholic
Church is hostile to civil liberty and
the Constitution? If so. does he be-
lieve them to be thus hostile to them
because of their religion? If he does
not believe both ofthese propositions,
then he cannot shelter himself behind
his implication. If there be any
number of Roman Catholics in this
country who are true to the Consti-
tuition and civil liberty, then the Ro-
man Catholic religion does not make
its votaries false to their civil duties
and obligations, and their political
prescription must be because of their
religious faith. Thus, in this event,
the gentleman makes religious test.
Nor will he fare better on the other
horn Of the dilemma. If he alleg-
es all Roman Catholics to be hostile
to civil liberty because of their reli-
gious creed, he pronounces sentence
against the Constitution. and takes
issue with the sages and founders Of
the Republic. The Constitution de-
clares that there is no Incompatible
ty between Republicanism and the
Roman Catholic religion, and the sa-
ges of the republic believed that
Catholics might be as loyal citizens
as the followers ofany other faith
If the gentleman believes this pro-
vision in the Constitution to be uu-
wise, he should strive to amend it in
the way provided in that instrument
itself. While it exists, it is the
law, and obedience to it is the 'high-
er law"
My object, Mr.. Clerk, was to define
my own position. / will add, however,
that / believe the Democratic party
is to day purer and truer to the Con-
stitution than it has been for years.
1t has passed through fire and water,
and many of tsimpurities have been
consumed or washed away. 1t has
The smell Of ERE upon its garments,
and while it moves on in the historic
track of the Republic, | shall bid it
God speed! Many of the halt, and
lame, and blind, have fallen by the
way; had this fate overtaken all such,
it would have been better.
The gentleman from Pennsylvania
(Mr. CampbelD says that the Demo
cratic party came into this hall two
years ago upon the crested wave Of
popular power; and he asks where is
it now? lie says it is a feeble and
scanty band, clinging to its broken al
tars. Why feeble and scanty? Be.
cause it has been much more friendly
to the South and truer to the Con.
stitution than either Of the other
parties. Clinging, says the gentle.
man, to its broken affairs! Why, sir
to what else should it cling? While
abolition fanaticism is sweeping over
the free states, Frustrating the guar.
antees of the Constitution, and tear
ing down the remaining pillars of our
republican edifice, where should the
Democratic party be but within the
sacred precincts. fighting down the
foe? While the lust Of Northern
domination and Free Soil propaganda
ism is driving the chariot Of sectional
lower over the remains Of the Con
stitution, to what should the Demo
cratic party cling but to those affairs
reared by the founders Of the repub-
lie? fit be true to the Constitu-
ton, and steadfast in the faith of the
fathers, letit bind itself to the horns
of the altar; and as the angel descend
ed to rescue the son of the patriarch
even from the uplifted knife, SO may
the genius of the land stoop down to
rescue it from the cleaning danger
of the fusion cohorts!
- AN ACCESSION.
FRANK C. DUNNNGToN, Esq, Of the