Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1860-08-28

We submit the following extract from q lei
ter written BY Catholic gentlcmsn Of tlaric.
ia, Georgia, 10 the editors Of the Atlanta Intel
ligencer, believing it to be a true expositc" o!
Catholic feeling throughout the entire eztsI.i
Of our country:
TIE "CATuoLIc ToTE. IT IS said ihst
Mr. Douglas will get nearly or qaitc al! The
Roman Catholic vote of the Country. Nr
Breckenridge has no show in that qua::er, he
being of a wel.known distinguished PreShyic.
rian lineage"
Messrs. Edtors-The above morcsnu I clip
from the "Chronicle and Sentinel of vesler
day Sunday, Sth,) ard request Of you t&e
favor Of short space in your columns TO Cot
tradict the evil effect that such sentiment -
is contained in the above is intended 10 pro-
duce do not propose in this commu"ic4.
ton, to advocate the claims Of either Mr. Brock
inridge or Mr.. Douglas; my only object IS, 10
disSipate the idea that Catholics, when cA-
ercising the franchise, are controlled. more than
any other citizens, BY the religious leanings oI
candidates premise then, that there 10 5.o:
snch Ming IN the tountry Us ne e"Rome@ C:'-
M0lic c0te," perst. The members OF tia, dc
nomination are Just rs free 10 exercise lirr
rights ut the ballot. box as are those ot any
evangelical" sect. There is no tie hirdir"
them to oppose any candidate because OF h:
L" Presbyterian lineage" or GtcaGs- i:r
may be connected with any sect, demon.
! inatiou. religious association which cl!i:rr.
from them on doc,rinal points. Neither are
they, per contra, in anywise bound 10 Snppc::
a candidate who comedies with them in rcii
gious belief Catholics are taught 10 hold the
franchise as glorious privilege. which must
be exercised in just such manner as To thcn
shall seem most available for promUlimg tie
prosperity and best interests OF our beo,ci
country. They do not vote as Catholics, but
as american citizens, bound in cpuscicnce 70
exercise the franchise for the we.h"r" 81
the nation and they are not disposed TO con
cede or abate one jot or title oil those fi"'I:.
which are, in common with their dissenting
brethren. conferred upon them IS cit:zcns.--
They do. and doubtless ever will dii!er t'.i'i
that honesty) among themselves n 70 n;
man and the party to be placed IN power
They have ever done SO and why should they
not? Doubtless Mr. Douglas has many wsr"i
and ardent supporters among them SC 10:
Mr. Breckinridge; but, thank God. very, ser:
few can be found giving in their ADHERENCE to
Abolitionlsm and Black RepublicaniSm lor
there is something III the religion they pio'cSs
which forbids their giving aid or countenance 10
fanaticism md oppression. | have mary
time and oft" met strong and ardent Wing
who were devout adhercnts Of the ihlt! pro
fessed by Lafayette, Charles Carroll Of Carroll
ton, and the venerable Chief Justice Iancy,
but l have never, during my twelve years Q!
political life come in contact with FL aho!'
| ZIONIST who professed Cathoclty in iact,
were person to tell me he was at one and 'i'e
| -. 4 l. .l,t,,> ,ist and nj hnlt
should be compelled to doubt his reTncIty,
But why are we 90 often reminded OF ",'is
| Catholic vote g Why do not editors prOsnoz
ticate the power and influence the Episcopal!
the Methodist, the Presbyterian, or the Bsr,
tist vote, and forteil the course either Of thcuI
will takee Why does the "Chronicle and
Sentinel" (true to its Know Nothing rst'ncs,J
make bold to assure us that ''the Catholic
vote" will be given to Mr. Douglas, because oi
| Mr.. Breckinridge's "Presbytcrlan Lineage -
Is it in its do,agc, in this, the 25th year Of its
existence Is 1t so far gone in second Child
ishncss that it really believes Catholics can he
forced by any human power, TO vote other
wise than shall seem fit to each and every in.
diyidual of the great Catholic body in Anltr-
ca? IT. with all the lights before 1t, and Tie
rebuke administered to its late secret party crsa'
nizaton, it can answer allirlnative':, can only
pity its ignorance of late political events, OF
admire its obstinate persistence IN error But
there is no need Of defending the actious Of the
Catholics Of cur country, either at the bai.ot-
box, on the judicial bench, in the legislative
halls, or on the "ten,ed Geld" In cacE .,
these positions they have given substantial
evidence Of their patriotic devotion and lOrc oi
country. No miserable inuendo coming from
any organ of the debris Of Know Sothingis"'
will effect the object in riew-thc !essealng OF
the Catholic character in the minds Of the
American people. Acting upon the princ'p!::
Of Justice, equality, and the constitution,
every Catholic will take for bis guide III il:a
contest the advice of the great tragic bard
TO thine SELF be true,
And II must follow, az the night The dsy.
Thou canst not then be false 10 any