Bedford inquirer and chronicle. [volume] (Bedford, Pa.) 1854-1857, 1857-07-31

or vigorously exert Its c0nstlLntfonal power
in respect to these mattels-yital as they
are, to liberty and existence Of free govern
ment.
II has ever been source of just pride to
the truc American, that his country opened
an asylum for the oppressed of every land.
God forbid that We should be so ungrateful
for his blessings, as to refuse to share them
with the honest and Industrious Of whatever
cline or country; but it is an outrage upon
our hospitality, and violation of interna-
tional law, for the governments of the old
world to ship cargoes of criminals aEd pau
pers on our shores. Our government can
not be too yigilant in guarding our rights
in this respect.
To your fourth ihterrogatory answer:
that / am opposed to the interference Of
Hierarchies in politics. The office of
christian minister Is second to no other III
dignity and responsibility. | would not
detract from his function, or impair the re-
spect due to his character. acknowledge
his right, and as teacher of the people, 1
believe it to be his duty to speak openly
and fcarlessly against social and political
evils, destructive of public morals, and at
war with The interests and happiness of
mankind. In thus publicly speaking, if he
transcends the proprieties of his place and
office, safe CORE ctive is found in the Gen.
sure of an enlightened public. But
Priestly Order, invested by the Laity with
mysterious sacerdotal character-with
pretentons to extraordinary spiritual power
bound together by strong ties, and ac-
knowledging as their head foreign Poten-
tate-tLat such an Order should enter the
field of politics, control our elections and
influence the policy Of our government, is
surely cause for alarm, and should awaken
the jealous vigilance of the American peo-
pie. 1t will probably be denied that any
such hierarc5ial influence is brought to bear
in our elections. We should Judge with
candor, and not condemn without prout.
We see the American people divided on
momentous issue. The principles of hui
man freedom or bondage are brought iu di-
rect conflict. Mans inalienable right to
life and liberty is denied. The doctrine is
openly asserted by those who hold the gov
ernment in their hands, that God created
the mass of mankind to he slaves In the
hear of this great struggle we see the stron-
gest ties severed-the ancient political par
ties Of the country broken, and men of
every nation and faith divided, save one
The votaries of one church alone are united
in political actien. This unity in the midst
of otherwise universal division, is truly
most remarkable. From Maine to Texas
from the Atlantic to the Pacific Occan-iu
every city, town and hamlet--under what
ever circumstances placed, or by whatever
influences surrounded, we find the votaries
OF this church arrayed in political action
on the side of slavery. This cannot arise
from an intelligent assent to the principles
of slavery; because those principles would
reduce ninety nine out of every hundred of
these meu to the condition of slaves
Whence are we to look for the cause of this
unity among so many hundreds of thousands
scattered over SO wide surface! We find
the voturics of the Catholic church as
class, among the least enlightened of our
population, and thus in condition to yield
ready obedience in all things, to an au-
thority which they have been taught to re-
spect as of Gods appointment. The church
of their faith advances high and extraordi-
nary claims. 1t is the only true Apostolic
and Catholic church 1t is infaIlible in
doctrine-miricles continue to be wrought
within Its holy communicates head il the
vlcegerent of God on earth, and successor
to the Apostle 10 wuom was entrusted the
keys of Heaven. 1t is puIe Hierarchy
The Laity have little or no power, all au-
thorIty being concentrated in the Priesthood.
Again l ask, whence this unity in political
action, among the votaries of this church,
when every other denomination OF Christians
Is divideda In seeking for an answer to this
inquiry, all men will look to tho source
where the power resides. When the vota-
rles of the church of Rome, shall exhibit
IN our political contests, the like diversity
of views aud action, that is seen among all
other classes Of our people, then and not
tlll then, will the public mind be relieved
from the suspicion, that hierachal influences
are nlschevously at work in our politics.
1t Is idle to evade the point by labored
efforts IN defence of religious freedom and
the rights of conscience. No assault is
made upon either. The largest liberty
the broadest toleration, is conceded in mat
ters OF religious faith and worship. The
ground of complaint lies here that HE
rarchy, invested with a peculiar sanetity and
powers in the eyes of the Laity, should ex-
ert spiritual influence to control our elcc-
tions, and give to the policy of our Govern
ment direction, adverse to the wishes of q
majority of the people, not within the
sphere of such influence. No intelligent
man will question the fact, that the late
Presidential election was controlled by the
united Catholic vofe. If the adherents of
that church bad been divided in their votes,
as were all the Protestant sects of our
country, the present administration would
never have had an existence. The Slave
Power to-day, would not be master of our
government - pronulgating its abhorent
doctrines through our Judicial tribunals
undermining the sovereignty of the States,
and boldly trampling down the clearest
constitutional rights of the citizen.
1t is also apparent to every intelligent
observer. that the same unity in the Cath.
olic vote is relied upon as the main support
of our opponents in the coming State cleo