Nashville daily patriot. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1855-1857, 1856-04-30

r.
would advise him to beware of the admixture of
politics and religion-to remodel the Great Bat
ID" if it is so panned-to serve up the religion in
one dish and the American" politics 10 the other;
and were l Know Nothing / would oppose that
party management which permits foreigner to
publish between Church and State the bans of a
future matrimonial alliance.
But to his letter. It is not my purpose TO reply
in detail to the many matters therein embraced,
some of which beyond comprehension, some
false in fact of equivoea interpretation and
not few Of questionable propriety. Leaving bis
Interpretations and misrepresentation, whether in.
territorial not as too evident and papable to res
qure notice, will direct attention to some thiDgs,
which, in justice to myself and to others, cannot
permit to pass unanswered although, in order to
DO so appropriately l may have in some instances,
to adopta style uncongenial to my taste.
Mr. Chapman refers to some who, few years
ago, groaned in spirit the political influence of
Romansm and can now afford to help the old man
at Rome to pull bis OK out of the ditch" By which
he means, doubtless, that the Pope is in difficulty,
and that some Protestants now helping him out
Of it. Well, if the Pope needs Protestant help he
cannot surely be such an object Of Protestant fears
as Americans" would have US to believe. But,
whether he needs it or not, am not one CT those
Protestants who grOancd in spirit over ''Romish"
influence. have never entertained a real fear Of
"ROmanism," nor have been engaged in the cree
alton aud extension of false one. Why should |?
Amongst my earliest political "reminiscences is the
repeal by the British Parliament of those disgrace
u disability that held Catholics in a species Of
serfdom, and there appears to me no nober chap,
ter in British history than that which records the
passage of the glorious Reform Bill by which a
free religion triumphed over bigOtry and intOler-
ance. Every year approves that victory more and
to my conscience, and assures me that the
British people acted nobly in granting Catholic
Emancipation, and cit wounds me" to find portion
of the American people condemning class of men
whom the Parliament Of a European Government,
after the fullest investigation, more than quarter
of century ago. declared to be as trustworthy
other citizens When the British people have cast
aside hcir fears of "Romanism" shall AMERICANS
entertain suspicious of Catholic allegiance? When
Britain is removing letters from the human mind
and restraints from the human conscience, shall
americans be exhorted to put them on? When
Europe is advancing shall america retrogrddP
Why should l suspect the patriotism Of the
Catholics? How can doubt their allegiance or
entertain assumptions prejudical to their loyalty
The history Of the country is to me witness, even
in my own day, that the honor Of America is safe
in their hands, on the bench not less than on the
battlefield; and, with that history before me, with
the ever fresh remembrance that the tree OF liberty
in the West received no little protection and sus-
tenance from their fostering care, will, as Prot
estsnt, so far "help the old man at Rome" to
preserve to Catholics the free and full exercise Of
all the rights guaranteed to them by the constitu-
ton and laws. Rather would | surrender my own
elective franchise, and become the subordinate Of
a free people, than to see the beautiful fabric Of
this government marred and weakened by a system
Of contemplate espionage over the faith and con-
sciences of my Catholic fellow. citizens No fears
Of "Rcmanisl" can lead me to infringe on Catholic
rights.
Mr.. Chapman chad INDUCED the thought that
every educated Irishman, favored with the Profess
tant name, would in the trying hour give evidence
to the world
That Autrims men went down the glen,
With haCs and irumpets gay
That p entice boys, amid the noise,
We're foremost in the ray"
In other words, he thought was an 0rangeman
or Apprentice Boy" of the city of Londonderry,
"but time" he says, "has convinced him be is
T. IL.
neither myself nor my ancestors within my knowI-
edge, ever were members of or had any connec-
ton with, either society. They both originated in
the violence OF sectaran strife between Protcstants
and Catholics; and like all societies that blend poll
tics and religion their history is marked by biters
ness OF feeling and, in many instances, by the eff
fusion of blood. The life and soul Of their origin
and maintenance is hostility to the Catholic and
his creed, and it is conceded in Europe that every
member OF them-oi the Orange societies in par.
ticuar-is bound by solemn oath to keep up the
form Of government in Britain, and to
maintain upon the throne a Protestant successor
of William of Orange. Whether the Orange So
cety has any branches agents in this country, I
do not know, but could the fact be ascertained, IL
might account for the views of government and
the fears of "Romanism" which some foreigners
entertain; it might enable to put proper esti-
mate on their ardent Republican professions, and
perhaps we might find in some form Of oath, key
to that love of Professionalism and that hatred Of
the Pope which have SO suddenly come TO signalise
the times
Having an abiding confidence in the religion Of
of the Reformation and in that form Of il which
John Knox was not afraid to proclaim in Scotland,
in defiance Of the thunders Of the Vatican and the
power Of a Catholic court, Insrer considered the
truth Of God requiring secret lodges TO protect it,
and therefore, no fears of Romauism drove me into
oath bound clubs in Europe-mueh less In this
country of free speech and free press. To some
foreigners-oalh bound or otherWise-haters of the
Catholic himself, and hereditary foes Of Romanism
and to some "Americans," who have learned the
institutions aud character Of a free government in
FAR dferen school from that OF the sages OF the
revolution, there may be cause Of trembling and
CONSERVATION on account Of the Pope aud his fol-
lowers; but TO al foreign bora men who love free
dom, aud could maintain their otsa proper self
respect, and TO Americans, who comprehend in all
their fullness, the power, the excellence and the
Of their liberties and their religion, there
has get appeared no necessity for freeHsH in this
country haviHg recourse 10 oaDss, to passwords, 10
darkness, and 10 absoiatiOa, tn d fence Of dsr poll
ties or thar Jaifh.
Mr.. Chapman inquiries what / mean by saying
that 81 have promised 10 take part in the Presh4
Dental canvass" and "presumss il is elector."
Not at all SO far from it, that have repeatedly
refused TO allow nv name to be used in connection