Mountain Democrat. [volume] (Placerville, El Dorado Co., Cal.) 1854-1860, 1859-07-30
HON. MILTON s. LATHAM,
LETTER FROM WILD FRESHMAN"


ErIroIS DEHncRAr Did Won know self.
atvied "d>pcni|nt or neutral journal. really ~l--or,
rather, have y"i not invariably found II butterfly OPP
posed t. Democracy and the Democratic party
The reason is obvious. Democrats are neither AFRAID
nor ashamed t"express an nIin,on-th"r opponents
are bvIh and lind il Convenient, under the garb 81
neutrality, u do that crertiy which they have not
the manlncsS IL do Openly. There are several "t
these YudSi.ncuiral Journals in this State. The
mcanest, most false and c"wardly Of the sueaknS
tribe is undoubtedly their leader. the Sacramento
Eni"n. II is conducted with little dignity and less
ability. Its SelCSuiicicucy is the only thing orgi'
unanimous enough tn take direct in any
thing. Il has just intellect enough To distort, to
ni>rcprcscnt, I" maliRn. 1t is enthusiastic only
when it is wrong when it exposes its inward
malice. Its ridiculous dignity never assumes
such dimrnN"ns AZ when it is making fool Of IL
rsif-s"me'h"g il does frequently Its politics,
p"rsoSl.rly its profound philosophical articles on
,HindIrI 1"hnSI"n, Of the Nationals Wright, Of the
,IiervI C.ti-rS. and I" You. Dan. With lis bgOtry
and AGSurdit! have u deal in this letter.
d is some t""r weeks since read that insulting
and lying article about Catholics as jurors. copied
from bgotcd EnYlish Tory paper, BY the Ghion !;
aud the still more Insulting. lying. insidious com.
Incnts and comparisons thereon by the EnioHs edl-
tor The fIulnesG Of the original lie and the bastard
ly parallel, made my cheeks Jingle with shame that
here, IN Republican America. men could be found
mean enough IL echo the sentiments aud pandcr To
the worst vices "t English Tories. l thought then
tuht Ihh/" NHSHt eultOT WOulu raise STORM uDOut
his ears he little drcampt of. thought then there
were, the Inivn must think now there are, Irish
Roman CnhOlics-for the poisonous shaft was aimed
at them enough in California with sufficient spirit
and intelligence 10 hurl back the lie and the insult
and the taunt with rcdOubled force at the head Of
the Titus Oates Of the Union.
But, Mcssrs. Editors, it there we're not a single
Roman Catholic cOuniryman of mine in California,
| would feel it my duty, as far in me lay, to ar
rest the progress and question the correctness Of
such sentiments and assertions, even though II in
terfcrcs with the fmi0s psychological inquiries;
because, conceive il To be gross and wanton in
suit to every lrShman, no matter what his religious
opinions may be, I" say that majority of his c0un.
trymen are untitled to act in the responsible posi-
ton of jurors.-that they may take q solemn oath
but do not feel bound BY its Sanctity; that they
have no de@ OF truth. only ~ 1t is dealt out by
Priest.
ana not Roman Catholic. lam. by birth, cdu
CATION and belief moderate Protestant Episcopal
iian; therefore, perhaps. will be the more readily
believed when assert that that article from that
Liverpool journal, contains assertions utterly un
founded IN fact. l have had very general opportu
mites Of attending Courts Of law in Ireland, in.
deed, from the time was quite boy was almost
as fond Of attending the Court the Thcater In
that time never saw Catholic whose testimony
was doubted or nIpeached any more than that OF u
Protestant have seen Catholics as witnesses, US
Grand Jurors and Petty Jurors; have known them
an every relation Of life and in every position, from
tne highest Earl to the poorest peasant and u that
class OF people may say are distinguished for the
SupcESUtIOuS bdCCeuuesS bucl
tach to an oath, This IL tie fast, / am aware of
tue WHY soPhlstry Of the SchooImen and Of the re-
ported teachings Of the Jesuits. Perhaps, though
thls NOT Oatholcistn, any more than that is Pro-
testantsin which great number Of our Theologians
teach indeed there is larger amount oi Protest
True, was taught in my yon!h 10 believe TINT IL
is part Of the Catholic dnctrRe that Priest can ab.
solve man frem the guilt Of false oath When I
became man could not find the certain results of
such teachings. Not finding the effect began to
doubt the existence Of the cause. The Roman
Catholic religion teaches, was taught to believe.
many errors in Christian doctrine. but that it en-.
eourages perjury Discrimination, dishonesty, false.
hood. as its calUmniatnrs preach, do not believe.
There is always y similarity between q people aud
their religion. Surely whatever may be the traits,
the faults, the feelings of Catholic nations these
not they. Society could not exist under such q
system Of Touching. 1t could not help but be dis
organized reduced and dissolved into its original
element.
am willing to acknowledge, nav willing to Bla.
ION over the whole State that there have been