The Bedford gazette. [volume] (Bedford, Pa.) 1805-current, 1856-04-04

tyranny and oppression should eyer conceive
dislike TO free Institutions. On th- contrary IT
is but natural that he should cling to them with
intenseF devotion than those who have known
no other lot thaisa- home Of freedom.
If feared snote 10 abuse your patience,
could Gil thissl1sat with long. roll OF ilhstri
ops names. and> bSehas catalogue Of noble
deeds Of patriotic devotfop 70 our Repdblic on
the part Of thoSesAgtiose birthplace was abroad.
f Tie theme IS TOO faltto enter upon.
Lastly. | ohjyct most strongly TO that odious
but prominent feature in The creed Of this par
/ ~ the prescriptions Of Catholics on account
Of their religion. This IS an objection which,
every liberal aud enlightened man must have,
( whether religious or irreligious. Indeed il must
/ be Objectionable 10 every one who has ever felt
one Touch Of Christian charity. ] hold that no
man has aaright 10, tRrust himself between an
other and his God. Freedom OF conscience is
ia personal right .ebich comes from on High.
The idtasiS not without force, that in matters
Of religion, every nan NAV have his hands full
n attending to his own soul, without disturbing
I himself about the conscirnceS OF others. This
was the idea that led the good and wise fund
/ ers OF the Rrpublc, n.en Of pufcr day, TO IN
corporate into our system, State and Federal,
+ The glorious feature Of religious liberation. Had
/ Mr. Jefferson never penned another Ilne, the
authorship Of the act Of rtligioDs liberation a
lone would have made bis name immortal.
am by birth and conviction, Protestant,
and had mbibed the preiudiceS of early Protest
ant ASSOCIATION and education; bot ] an, aware
that Catholics belirve as we do, 10 the same
great mystic Trinity, and worship, only with
different forms and ceremonies. al the same
/ great Altar, with equal sincerity, purity and
pgtv. Why then should they not be left un-
disturbed in the practice of their religion accor-
ding 10 the dictates Of their own conscience.
/ But the insane cry is, they must be proscii-
+ hed.-excluded from all Office OF trust or emol-
ument, because they recognize the civil as well
as the ecclesiastical supremacy of the Pope
! that their civil and spiritual obligations are IN
consistent. and hence their presence is danger
Gus TO our Republican system. This idea has
obtained great currency through the kEavery
Of some, and the ignorant credulity of others.
/ Is il true No. il is about as near the truth
as the orb OF Jupiter is to that Of our parth.--
The Roman Pontii Is the temporal Prince Of
the states of the Church, little patchof terIi
! tory near the centre Of Italy. He is The civil
ruler there, like any other poteBtate in the pet
/ ty States OF Europe. As Bishop Of Rome. not
rs Temporal Prince, he is the ecclesiastical
bead ef iae whole Catholic Church Bot lle
t has no more to do with the civil or political
! rights and privileges Of the Catholic citizens Of
! other countries, nor eXerts more authority be-
/ you'd his tiny empire, than the King OF Siam, or
the Supreme Ruler of tie Sandwich Islands,
/ Nor do Catholics recognize his civil authority
! here, any more than the EpiscoPaIians of (r-
gnia recognize that Of Bishop Meade.
These are truths that cannot be coUtrovered.
But if higher authority b. required, those who
still doubt, have only 10 refer to the authorita
tive statements which from time 10 time, have
appeared under the sanction and endorsement
OF the bgbest digntaFirs OF the Church among
whom may b. named Bishop kenrick of Bati-
more and Bishop McGil of Virginia.
Those who lay claim TO historical inioTma-
ton, if they be not satisfied, would refer 10
the parliamentary History of England, which
contains the authoritative declarations OF the
first theoiogians Of that age, and Of AL the high
est Catholic Universities IN the world, ELECTED
during the discussion of Catholic emancipation
! These, the enquirer after truth may read with
profit, along with those intellectual efforts call
ed forth on toe occasion, that grace the bright
est pages Of EngInd's political annals. 1T
/ him read these and feel ashamed to have be-
trayed his ignorance OF the great events Of mod
ern times.
Bot gentlemen, these facts are well known TO
the better informed, and the leaders of this ST.
cret movement. They know full well that
/ there is no class Of citizens more loyal 10 our
institutions than the Catholics, or who fulfill
more faithfully all the duties ofthe clzrn.-
! Nor have they forgotten how freely Were Cath
olic blood and treasure expended il opy early
struggles for Independence. They remember
TOO we'll the heroic deeds on land and on sea,
/ that have canon2ed the name OF 50 many Cath
olic patriots native and foreign. Neither have
they forgotten that il was in Catholic Church
in the city Of Philadelphia, that The father Of
( his county and his Ministers met 10 acknowl-
edge The blessings Of God, and 10 hear from
/ Catholic Minister, thanksgiving for the liberal
aid we had received from Catholic France.
Bet still the cry Of Papa influence is rnug
in the ears of the ignorant and the bigoted,
with no other purpose than that Of making cop
ital. They hope TO obtain toe ascsnGency, and
control the political power Of the country, by
I PLAYING all arts, and practising all devices TO
draw the good as well as the bad, within The
meshes of their order Thus many honest up
right members OF the Protestant denominations
have been seducrd into membership, or won O.
! Yer TO the ranks Of outside sympathiserS ard a
betiorS, by having their religious preudices
adrotlv PLAYED upoa and aroused To such as
these would commend the Latin Maxim, al
! fear The Greeks though bearing presents" For
should this order succeed in IFS crusade against
/ Catholics, it would seek with iufamed spirit Of
intolerance, victims OF prescription in SOME
other religious sects. Nor should they forget
that before our act of religious liberation, II
was a common occurrence in Virginia, for Bap-