Lewisburg chronicle. [volume] (Lewisburg, Pa.) 1850-1859, 1856-02-22

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The torments inflicted by Spanish inqui-
sitors we're humane, contrasted with the
cruelties of the converts. To them there
was at least a speedy end. BY the force
of their very violence they were brief, and
under sharp bodily pain the soul was Of
ten exalted to almost serapbic grandeur.
In the convent, soul and body are racked
by ingenious contrivances, until the one
becomes exhausted of sensibility, and the
other of nervous energy and the lively,
romantic girl, pure from her mothers
hearth, is transformed into a soulless
thing; with affections dead at the root,
with the mind broken at its springs a
passive living corpse in the hands of the
priestly ghouls, who have made her this.
We will not insult you by adducing proof
that all this, and more, is true. You can
read, and you have read, and you have
thought too, about this matter until you
need no statement of evidence to determine
your Judgment The book of Miss Bunk
ley, if there were no other, is abundantly
sufficient. 1t is q plain statement Of facts,
which bears the stamp of truth so certain
ly that no unprejudiced reader can read it
and doubt its perfect faithfulness. 1t cor
roborates all 'h>e "a . should reasonably in
fer, had We no positive testimony it is
corroborated by the official reports Of Ca
tholic authorities, and by many other wit
uesses, who, like herself, have been so
happy as to escape from the coils of priest
ly art and the barbarity of priestly lust.
We have nothing in bar of all this but
the simple denial Of the parties accused Of
this horrible wickedness.
Shall these dreadful places remain
among US, and shall they be imperia in
inperio, sovereign estates of the priests,
within which there shall be no law but
their own will? This is the question for
you to decide. God made man the protec-
tor of woman, and there is no obligation
laid upon him by his Creator which an
American is SO ready to fulfil. Yet here
in America there are hundreds of women
inveigled into places where they are un-
protected by the law. Their very names
are changed, and thus the register Of their
baptism is virtually effaced. They have
ceased to live to society. They are no
longer components of it. Walls and bars
prevent escape. They are en.oL.oed; shut
in from all aid, from sympathy, from pro-
lection Of law, the foul work Of prostratiug
the will and perverting the morals is be-
gun. Day after day, with persevering
art, it is continued Hounds do not so
ramorsely pursue the hare as the priests
and accomplice nuns hunt down and worry
out the wretched victim, lured from her
fathers house by willy agents of these
dens of silent, unrestricted wickedness.
What will you do about it All this
monstrous wickedness is powerless to re-
sist the expression of your will. We would
not have you interfere with religious rights
or even superstitions; We would have you
vindicate the sovereignty Of your laws and
bring every woman in the land under
their protection. We would have you
reanneE converts to the United States !;
and not suffer independent Pashalics to be
established here, within the domains Of
which Oriental despotism may lord at
pleasure over helpless women. We would
let the law into the inmost chamber of that
ecclesiastical web, and thrust it between
the bottle spiders and their prey. The
way is easy and sure.
Let public meetings be called immedi-
diately, to consider this subject. Let Pc
titions be drawn up and circulated, de-
manding the necessary legislation. These
will be signed by almost all to whom they
are presented, and q wonderful energy will
suddenly be infused into our Legislators.
We would recommend the formation,
throughout the country, Of "a league for
the protection of woman," which should
ascertain the sense of the community and
secure the expression Of it.
All this would be Unnecessary if We had
in the Legislatures of the country "men
with bones in them" 1t would only be
necessary for one to move for committee
to inquire whether any legislation is re-
uuired for the better protection of women.
The committee once raised, there would be
no difficulty in devising and procuring
proper laws, provided the committee should
be men fit for the times.
The thing must and will be done. We
earnestly counsel all with whom our words
have any influence, to vote hereafter for
no candidate for the Legislature who will
not pledge himself to the abatement of the
nuisance the removal of the shame, the
disgrace of converts, as they now are.
Call the meetings. Circulate the petit
tions. Institute the league for the pro-
lection of women. Who will begin r