The American. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1857-1857, 1857-10-17
THE RELIGIOUS TEsTiyi

In view of the mischiefs which have sprung in
all past ages from the Union of Church and State
the trainers of our Government most wisely deemed
it proper to exclude from our system the combine
ton Of the two. Experience has shown that, with
out any exception, power in the hands of any one
religious sect las been welded for the especial
benefit of the denomination possessing it, to the
exclusion of all others The American party
taking the Constitution as its guide, has de-
termined that in selections for Office as well as in
the exercise OF the elective franchise, there shall
be no religious test but that whatever may be his
religion every shall enjoy equal ponticai
rights In order TO effect this end and to render
the Government purely american, in its elements,
it has declined to make those who recognize any
political allegiance, directly or indirectly, to any
foreign power, the agents of the popular will, and
in doing so il has, as we think, acted most wisely.
1t has been asserted that, in thus excluding from
the administration of the Government all foreign
influence, the party above named has instituted
religious test, 80 far as the Roman Catholic
church is concerned, and, in doing so, has violated
fundamental principle of the Constitution. To
show that this charge is utterly false, and cannot
be sustained with any show Of truth IL is only
necessary to look into the circumstances under
which it is male. d..
The misap ?rehension upon which the above
erroneous allegation is founded, appears TO have
had its origin in the fact that, ut the commence
ment Of the organization of the "American"
party, one Of its leaders in setting forth the pur.
poses for which it instituted instead OF using
general terms as he should have done, designated
particular religious sect, as not entitled to the
support Of its members. In this the leader re-
ferred to, whoever he may have been, made a
most signal blunder,'as regards policy, however
right he may have been with respect to the real
facts Of the case Strange as it may seem the
exponent OF the opinions Of this " dark lantern y
party as it is termed in his determination to make
the sentiments of his political friends fully known,
has subjected them to a most gross misconstruc.
ton by using the name Of the only religious sect
which could, by possibility, be affected, directly
or indirectly, by their political action.
II is fact universally known, that the Church
Of Rome is the only religious community, the
| recognized head Of which not only resides out Of
the United States, but is himself temporal no
tentote, exercising a religious as well as secular
sway. All other denominations are strictly Amer;-
in their organization, and recognize no politi.
cal allegiance to any power except the Constitution
and Laws of the United States of America. Even
the Protestant Episcopal, or Church of England,
as il was called whilst the colonies owed allegiance
TO the British Grown, the wearer Of which was for
the time regarded as the Head of the Church, so
soon as the colonies became free and independent
sovereignties changed its organization SO as to ex.
clude from its regulations and ritual all recognition
of British authority, temporal or spiritual
Had then the framer Of the documentin ones.
ton thought it to omit the name of the Roman
Catholic Church, the mention Of which has given
rise 10 so much difficulty, and to have excluded
from the tenure of Office all rho recognise anppo.
hicai allegiance direct or indirect, 10 any foreign
prince, potsntate or po,oer the whole misappre-
hension would have been avoided, and the object
VI the party made known. II is not for us as
Americans" to interfere with Roman Catholics
~ sne exercise Of their religious duties and far be
"o,'' Us 70 atrogate to ourselves any such right
put not only our privilege but orr solemn
dufy not TO place sovereign power in the hands of
those who may deem themselves hound 70 ohev
an authority which they regard as psramoun, IN
'nst Of the Constitution and laws Of our country