The true Democrat., 1857-01-13
From the Pittsburg Catholic. Religious Liberty.


 We have read with great satisfaction Judge DiacK's address on this subject, delivered at the commencement of Pennsylvania College, on the 17th of September last. We trust the sound principles so clearly laid down and so eloquent ly enforced by this eminent iurst will make a profound impression on the Alumni of said Col lege and on the rising generation, coming as they do from so high quarter We shall lay before our readers some elegant extracts which ought to be treasured up in the public mind and reserved for reference whenever our public shall be endangered by such storm of bigotry and prescription as she has, thanks to an loverrulng providence, lately survived.
 We habtually," says Judge Black, fuse certain words and phrases imported from the other side of the water, which are caculat ed to miscad us. One of these IS the word tolera- ton, as applied to matters of faith It implies that we derive whatever religious freedom we have from the concessions of the government; that the king in monarchy, and the majority of the people in republic permit those who differ from them to live unmoested. This notion s wholly untrue. It Is not political privilege, but a natural, absolute and indefea- sible right which human government may pro- tect, but cannot withhold. If we are permit. ted to enjoy it, our thanks are due, not to any popular majority, but to Him who gave Us being.
 ''Deus nobis hec otia fecit."
 Speaking of the exalted views of the foun- ders of American liberty, the learned Judge says:
 "Ther theory was one of absolute and un- tameable freedom-a freedom as broad and general as the casing air. It was their aim to take away every possible pretence which could be made by any human being, to erect himself Into tribunal for the purpose of deciding mat ters supposed to be at issue between his fellow creatures and their God. They thought they had succeeded in guarding the rights of consc- ence 50 that no majority would ever invade them. They gave bisotry no possible chance Of thrustlng herself into civil affairs without doing so in flat rebellio ion to the constitution. One sect shall have no advantages what ever over another. You shall not reward the l true believers by giving them all the public en- ployments, and punish heretics by total ex- cluslon. There shall be no religious test, as | qualification for office. Make what other test you lease. Exclude man, if you like, for | his political sentiments, or his moral conduct. for his wealth or his poverty, for his youth or hls age; make war on him for the color of his
 
 | nose. But let him alone about his religion; that is consecrated ground; that is point on which | the constitution has refused to trust you with one particle of power; and wisely too, for mor- tai men are not to be trusted with so much DOW CT; they have never had it without grossly | abusing 1t * Among them (the colonial ruers) there were three immortal names that will be venerated as long as the earth contains one frlend of human liberty. These were Ce- clhus Calvret, William Penn, and Roger Will Ilams Catholic, Quaker, and a Baptist There was no .prlnce or statesman all Europe that was worthy to stOop flown and unoose the latchet oi their shoes. Theirs was the greatest improvement In the science of government that was ever made. It was a new era of peace on earth and good will to man, let it be celebrated on the harps of angels. You may talk of other compromses; but the greatest compromise of all was that by which fighting sects agreed to lSarm and cease their barbarous hostility.- The great men have named were not only our beneiactorS, but the profoundest gratitude Is due 10 theH memory from the whole human race. Their example has shamed the ciyi- zed world, if not into freedom, at least into peace.
 Lord Baltimore was in some respects for. tunate man. He was especially haupy in ha,. lnSa father to lay out his great work, and son oi rare ability to carry 1t on. To have been the author ot the first statute that ever was passed to secure entire freedom of Conscience slves him the enviable place in the worlds hstory His high qualities of mind and heart made hm worthy O. that pre- eminent dstjnc- ton, as single incident will show. A suc. ceSstul rebellion organized by those whom he had sheltered from the persecution of one an- other, deprived him for a time of his power and the irst thing they did was to persecuta the church to which he himself belonged. When h. recovered hS authority he must have been tempted 10 retaatc. But with greatness of mnd which never deserted him and with a hde!lty to his own convictions which uotbino could shake he recognized his government upon its former basis of equal protection to all That America should LOW give up the proud position she occupies in the front oi the worlds great march, and skulk back like q recreaht into the rear, Is thought which can not enter an American mind without causing plush oi lnsupportable shame. She stands pledged to the principle in the face of the word-she has solemnlv devoted herself to ifs champ plonship--SIe has deliberately promised It, not only to her own people, but to all others who should fly to her for protection and if she breaks her faith, it will he such pertidy as never backened the brow of any nation before"
 These noble sentiments bcspeak a true Ame- rlcan; and are worthy of the head and heart of Judge Black, who is an honor not only to the bench but to his country in whose councils. we trust he shall always occupy a place. In this Spiehdld address we are sorry that we have to correct the distinguished author on one single polnt winch, no doubt, is all error quite u, inten uohaI on hiS part. After having remarked that persecution does not always belong to the iy norant and deprave4, but sometimes to the h'ndIleSt natures, he proceeds to give the following unfortunate illustration of his no. sitioh: F
 thlnk no one can read the writings of St r'ahc's Aavler without being touched by the deep tone oi hls personal piety; vet he was the author oi that dlabollcal invention the Shan. ish lnquistior." '-o 'p"''-
 ne inqnIsitlon existed long before St Fran. o's Xavier was born; and he had no more to ao ,v With It than the Hon. Judge Black himself we are very certain that the distinguished and nigh minded Judge would be the last man ;n .he world to wrong any one, much less ina il. iuStr'ous Xavier, the great modern Apostle praised by Sir James M'Intosh and adm;red generally by Protestants. With the excenti,n nat of lapsus penne, we commend this beauti- lul address not only to all Catholics, but to all our honorabie Protestant adversaries as well as our noble and liberal Protestant friends.
 A TRIP ACROSS THE PLA1Ns-Bott1e ,,;tl Indtans.-We learn from Robert DrummonI who is now resident of our city, the follownr interesting facts concerning his recent trip across the Plalns:-A party of seven men, command ed by Levi Hutton, from Western Missouri started from Salt Lake for California, on the first of October last They afterwards enlisted in the train three persons, which made their party ten. They met with no moestation from the Indians until the night of the 18th, when they encamped near the Humboldt river. about II o'clock F. NJ. Our watch Capt Hutton) i'm. mediately gave the alarm by saying we were surrounded by Indians. They were abont ,ixtv