New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1856-12-27

Tho question il asked whether Is is not singular
that tho only State in the Union carried BY tho
Know.Nothpgs at the Presidential election, u
Maryland, originally planted by Catholics : 30 far
from being singular, when We take into account tno
history of Maryland il is the most natural thing In
the world. It is true that Maryland was originally
planted BY Catholcs but il il also true that before
many years they fell into decided minority in the
colony. During the civil war in England between
Charles l. and his Parliament, or at least shortly
after, under Cromwell, bitter civil wharf.-the only
instance of religious civil war which tho history
of the United States shords-brOke out between
the Catholics and the Protsstants of Maryland, and
the Proteatants having obtained the upper hand,
threw of the authority Of the Proprietary, on tho
ground that he was Catholic, and disfranchised
their Catholic opponents After the restoration Of
Charles IL the Propi sary Of Maryland regained bic
authority and the Catholics were restored to their
civil rights but at the revolution Of 1857 they again
went to the wall. The Calvert family, though their
pecuniary rights in the colony continued to be recog-
nized, were deprived Of all political control over IL
exclusively on the ground Of their religion; nor
could they regain their original position except By at
last turning Protestants. Attic Same time ssvere
persec cutting code initiated from that Of England and
ireland, was enacted in Maryland-the Catholics,
though by this time they did not amount 10 moro than
twentieth Of the whole population, being - mach
objects of terror, dread and persecution ~ the fes
negroes arc at this day in 20 many Of the Southern
States. Some of the harshest features Of this perse
cutting code were mo lifted after while; butdown to
the period ofthe Revolution the Catholics were still
subject to mortifying disabiities-so much 20 that
the father or grandfather of Charles Carroll, with
other leading Catholics, seriously entertsine1 tho
project of removing 10 the French colony Of Loais-
lana in order to escape the position Of inferof u
which they stood ct home.
Among other fruits of tho declaration Of the
rights Of man which was the basis Of the Ameri-
can Revolution, was the repeal Of the laws
existing at that time in almost al the Colonies
against the exercise of tho Catholic religion. The
Catholics of Maryland regsined their original equal
ity az citizens and, what was not less triumph Of
new ideAs, the Catholics were allowed to open
church in Boston. Bat the seeds Of the old lib
crafty and narrow bigoty remained behind; and, -
the principles on which the Revolution was bsscd-
The natural equality Of all men-have lost their
hold upon The public mind, and haze como 70 30
regarded a. mere rhetorical aoarishes Slavery Ex'
tension and Know-Nothinaism have sprung up 70
Rether. Nor 10 il at al remarkable that Know
NotbiDgism should have found its most numsfoe'
supporters in those communities in which preudics
against the Catholic religion had in former tam"
been most deeply planted. What is more remark
able is to zee the Catholics BY their course on 10
Slavery question, crushing out their own risd" "
trampling on the principles upon which those ns'"
are based.