Daily American organ. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1856, 1856-01-11
speech of Hon. William r.. smith,

Mr.. SMITH, of Alabama, (wnen HE name wa
called said: feel it due TO myself, as nienioo'
Of the American party, thai should mass re-
mark or two in reference TO the speech Oh the non
orabls gentleman from Louisiana, Mr. hUsris,J
aud in reply 10 some other remarks which have
On various occasions fallen from honorable gentle
men In this House, touching some al the principles
of the American party.
Mr. Clerk go far as / am personally concerned,
7 stand fully committed to the country upon near
" every question advocated by that party, and
do not recollect single sentiment or single ex-
preston Of mine upon that subject, which ! would
desire to recall or to modify Sir, will not dodge
the Roman Catholic question, or any other OF the
principles Of that PARTY. expect to live to see
the day when the party with which ] am allied,
coming in contact with the other parties in the
country, in an open and fair discussion of princi-
pies alone distinguished from this lighting OF
shadows, which our adverssries up to this time
have been engaged in, will have an opportunity Of
presenting to the country the true issues of Amer
icanism.
The gentleman from Louisiana seemed to con.
graduate himself that, although there were many
Protestant clergymen in this House, there was no
Roman Catholic priest thank God for that and
hope that, should this republic stand tho isand
years, Roman Catholic priest never win be q
member of Congress. Applause in the galleries. |
And, sir, | hope with equal fervency that no cler-
gyman Of any other denomination, who is now &
member of this House, win interfere, as poti-
clan, with any religious question whatever. | will
go as far rs any man in my opposition to the pro-
scription of any man on account of his religion.
But the gentleman from Louisiana should re.
member that, although there are no Roman Cath
Ole priests in this assembly, there have been Ro-
man Catholic priests in other legislative assem-
bles, in other countries. And ask the gentle
mani ask any member of this House holding
opinions with that gentleman, if they can point me
30 an instance when the Roman Catholic clergy in
any convention, or in any assembly in the world
US legislators, arrayed themselves on the side
of liberty? Renewed applause in the galleries I
When in any country, in the history Of the legis-
lation of the world, were the Roman Catholic cler-
gy arrayed on the side of the people on the great
questions of civil or religious libertys
Mr.. DAVIDSON, Gnterrupting) / viii ask the
gentleman from Alabama whether Stephen Lang
don was not Catholic priest, and whether he did
not present Magma Charta to King John?
A MEMBER. He was not Catholic priest.
Another MEMBER. He was an Archbishop. So
much the worse.
Mr, SMITH, (resuming.) ] do not remember
the name Of the distinguished person who led the
revolution which resulted In the establishment of
Magma Charta. lie may have been Catholic
priest; but, sir, he only interviewed between the
Pope and the King and the gentleman ought to
have remembered that the Pope accommodated
every man who aided in the establishment of Mag
ma Charta. Loud and long continued applause.
say, Mr.. Clerk, that Stephen Langdon may have
been Catholic priest, and no doubt he was, but
Pope; he only interviewed between the King and the
and the gentleman ought to haye remembered
tnat for his agency in working out that great chart
OF liberty he, with every other man who acted
with him, including the King himself, was e1com-
muncated by the Pope; an interdict was laid upon
the charter ITSELF and its great and glorious doc
trines were denounced as heresies! Again, sir, i
ask the gentleman when, in any assembly on the
face OF the earth, was the Roman Catholic clergy
ever found on the side of liberty? When, in any
contest between the people and the tyrant did the
Roman Catholic clergy fail to take sides with the
existing power, whether king, pope, or emperor
Mr.. WRIGHT, of Tennessee I ask the gen
tleman from Alabama if he regards Charles Car
RIB, of Carrolton, as having been q friend to
libertyg
Mr.. SMITH. Certainly would not utter
word against that illustrious name. He stands re-
vered, in my estimation, not far below the Father
OF his Country, lpointing to the picture of Wash
ington. That is an individual case am speak
ing of the Roman Catholic clergy as Legislators. /
trust sir, that shall never be wanting in my vene
ration for any of the illusrious founders of this
Republic and am sure, sir, that no member of
the American party would hesitate moment to
do homage in memory of Charles Carroll, of Car
rollton
MEMBER. But he was not a Catholic priest
at all.
Mr. LETCHER, Tin his seat.) No, but he was
Catholic, which is the same thing
Mr.. SMITH. 1t is no matter whether he was a
priest or not; the American party will be the last
to forget him.
But, sir, when was interrupted by the two or
three questions which have been asked me, was
aoout to revert to that Assembly in France, in
the beginning of the French revolution, when La
fayette and other illustrious lovers of liberty
acting with him, desired to frame constitution
which they hoped would restore the liberties of
France. Where were the Catholic clergy then?
Did they not, in the National Assembly, invaria-
bly, east their votes on the side of the King,
using all their efforts to thwart the liberty party
sometimes retiring from the hall, to produce an
arcy in legislation and always contending for the
clergy and privileges-the Pope and the King ?
might refer, you, sir to other and numerous in |
stances, in the legislative history of nations, to
show the bearing of the Roman Catholic clergy to
that sort of government which is best typifed by |
the monarchical regulations in the Roman Catho- |
lie church-an essential tyranny-its head the
leading tyrant of Christendom. And this brings
me to speak of the great fundamental principles
OF the American party on this subject. 1t is not
the religion of the Roman Catholic--it is his poll
tics say that object to the Roman Catholic,
because spiritually, temporarily, and politically, he
owes an allegiance to the Pope above that which
he acknowledges to the Constitution of the United
States and at the proper time, sir, shall give to
gentlemen of this House the fullest the most
and complete authorities in reference to
the points which here make; and shall defy
them, not to meet my poor arguments, but to dis
pute the authorities.
Now, cir, as to the position of the gentleman |
from Lounsiana, Mr.. EusrIs, / have only this to
say, If the Louisiana Catholics are not Roman |
they do not come within the objection |
raised by the American party.
Mr.. EUSrB II the gentleman win allow me
to interrupt him, viii inform him that the Lou