Bradford reporter. [volume] (Towanda, Pa.) 1844-1884, 1857-07-30

political parties of the country broken and men
of every nation and faith divided, save one.
The votaries of one church alone are united in
political action. This unity in the midst of
otherwise universal division, is truly most remar-
able. From Maine to Texas-from the At
lantic to the Pacific Ocean-in every city, town
and hamlet-under whatever circumstances
placed, or by whatever influences surrounded,
we find the votaries of this church arraycd 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 men 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 votaries of the Catholic Church
as q class among the last enlightened of our
population, and thus in q condition to yield
ready obedience, in all things, to an authority
which they have been taught to respect as of
Gods appointment The church of their faith
advances high and extraordinary claims. 1t is
infallible in doctrine-miracles continue to be
wrought within its holy communicates head
is the Apostle to whom was entrusted the
keys of heaven. 1t is pure hierarchy. The
laity have little or no power, all authority
being concentrated in the Priesthood Again
| ask, whence this unity IN political action
among the votaries of this church, when every
other denomination of Christians is divided In
seeking for an answer to this inquiry, all men
will look to the source where the power resides.
When the votaries of the Church of Rome
i shall exhibit in our political contests, the like
diversity Of views and action that is seen among
all other classes of our people, then and not
till then, will the public mind be relieved from
the suspicion that heirarchal influences are
mischievously 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 tol
Grafton, is conceded in matters of religious faith
and worship. The ground of complaint lies
| here-that hierarchy, invested with peculiar
sanctity and powers in the eyes of the Laity,
should exert spiritual influence to control
our elections, and give to the policy of our Gov
erment direction adverse to the wishes of
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
uote. If the adherents of that church had
been divided in their votes as were all the
Protestant sects of our country, the present
administration would never have had an exist
ence. The Slave Power, to day, would not be
master of our goverlmeut-promulgat its
abhorent doctrines through our judicial tri-
bunals-u undermining the sovereignty of the
States, and boldly trampling down the clearest
constitutional rights of the citizen.
1t is also apparent to every intelligent OBJ
server, that the same unity in the Catholic
vote is relied upon as the main support of our
opponents in the coming State election. With
these undeniable fact before us, it be said that
there is no ground for the strong conviction in
the minds of the American people, that hier-
archal Influences not only interfere in our pol
itics but actually control our elections? If the
Protestant sects of our country presented the
same unanlmity in opp0sltiOn to the pro slavery
Democracy, that the Catholic church does in
its support, our opponents would not be slow
or measured in their deuunciation Indeed,
the chiefs and press of that party assail with
gross vtuperation such Protestant Christian
ministers as openly in the face of day, denou-
nee from the sacred desk the crimes of slavery,
and insist upon the sanctity of the marital
and parental relations. In them, it is q
grievOus offence, to proclaim in connection
with slavery the great essential truths of
Christianity-that God is the Creator and
Father of all men-tbat he made of one flesh
all the nations of the earth-that he is no re-
specter of persons, but holds in equal love all
his children and that he will require of every
one the observance of bis righteous law " All
things whatsoever ye would that men should
do to you, do ye even so to them" This al
lance between an ancient and powerful church
and the slave interest of America is the more
remarkable, when we consider the fact that
the early and authoritative teachings of that
Church are in condemnation of slavery. How
long this strange alliance is to continue knew
not. How long it is to be successful is for
the American people to decide.
To your .ftth interrogatory, l answer-that
| am in favor of free schools for the education
ofall classes and am opposed to any exclusion
of the Bible therefrom.
Respectfully yours, \. W1Mor.
To JOHN BRorHERLNE. Esq, Chairman, &c.