The western Democrat. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1852-1870, 1856-05-27
VOLUME 4.
( NUMBER as.

"12th section" the only southern splinter in
the Known othing platform, repudiated and
discarded by the National Convention of
Know Nothings at Philadelphia, in Feb
ruary last? 1t has been asserted, because
Millard Fillmore could not walk on to the
platform with that plank in it, and, this we
think it probable, was one of the reasons
for throwing it out. IT, however, Catholics
err in their religious faith and must be put
down, let the Protestants, who number
twenty to one, carry on the war against
them. Let Church fight against Church
if there must be fight on religious subjects.
Uniting Church and State matters, and in
volving the political parties of the Country
with religious subjects, is altogether wrong.
1t has proved to be the bane and destruc-
ton of society and government, wherever
civil and religious matters have become
blended, from the earliest to the latest
periods of history. Why should Know
Nothings agitate this subject! Why should
they endeavor to build up subject on
which they can have no political action
You are forbidden to act by the Constitu-
ton of the United States. The Constitu-
ton says, that Congress shall make no law
respecting the establishment of religion, or
prohibiting the free exercise thereof" Take
this case: Suppose a President having
sworn in Know-Nothing couA ellis that he
will appoint no Roman Catholic to Office, is
elected. He takes an oath to support the
Constitution of the United States. That
Constitution says, that mo religious test
shall ever be required as a qualification to
any Office or public trust under the United
States" Suppose, then, man is presented
for office; does he not have to inquire, un-
der his first oath. if the man is Catholic (!
If he is, then he must refuse him on that
account. If he does so refuse him, he
violates his last oath, because he then swore
he would make ''no religious test" Is COM
ment necessary!
The new Elector held the President re-
sponsible for the troubles in Kansas; but
he did not undertake to show in what man
ner the President became responsible
When he undertakes such task, it will be
to show that the President is to blame for
arraylng himself against the freesoilers, and
refusing to allow them to run rough-shod
over the Constitution, law, justice, equal
and southern rights, to establish abolition
ism and bastard government in Kansas.
There are those who are so much opposed
to ''slavery agitation" that they deem it
best to let abolitionism have its own way,
for the sake of peace and quiet; and Mr.
Dargan may be among those who thus think;
, but there are others who hold altogether 6
different opinion. The Elector also charged
President Pierce with the responsibility o.
the present difficulty with England. Hi:
memory here again was so conveniently obi
vious as to cause him to forget to state tha
to Mr.. Fillmore's administration is due the
origin of the difficulty. The Clayton Bull
wer treaty was such bungling piece O.
work, that the English construe it one way
and our Government another way; and the
external relations of the country generally
were left by the Fillmore Cabinet in confu
sion and embarrassment. President Pierce
has been constantly engaged with the set
tlement of disputes; but his Inheritance o.
| litigation was so great, that he has not YET
! quite relieved the estate of the inheritance
The insolence of England he has rebukec
by demand of apology and redress thai
will not be denied. BY insisting on the ri
| gid performance of treaty stipulations, he
has compelled Great Britain to relax hel
grasp of aggression i'll Central America
and has vindicated the sanctity of treaty
which, though the single diplomatic achieve
ment (bungling, as it was) of the late Whie
administration, was by them abandoned tc
the contempt and insult of our adversary
President Pierce has also honorably anG
satisfactorily closed several irritating anC
alarming disputes. He has reconciled the
conflicting claims of the Fisheries, by
tages to the people Of this country. He
has adjusted disagreeable difficulty with
France, i'll a manner that strengthened the
relations of good understanding and amity
| between the two nations. He has enforced
ample apology and restitution to an Ameri
| can citizen who, in the distant East, was de-
spoiled of his property and insulted in hi.
person. From Spain he has extorted in
demnity for certain wrongs, and promise
of redress of other grievances. BY al
attitude of firm but courteous remonstrance
he has driven Denmark to an abandonment
of its absurd pretensiOns to levy tribute OF
the commerce of the Baltic. By wise ant
vigorous policy, he has kept the country
clear of the complications of the Easter
war, at the same time that he has compeIle,
respectful observance of our neutra
rights. The great principle of the inviola
bility of neutral commerce. he has esta
blished on the impregnable basis of acknow
lodged public law. In short. while Presi
dent Pierce has extorted indemnity for ol,
wrongs and outstanding claims, he has OK