The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1861-02-06
Richmond. Feb. 4, 1861

M- 4 CARD.-In Yesterdays Dispatch
s tS-s-a several communications appeared-all Of
having. on various occasions, used all ny iniIu-
enee against the Catholics In of those com
tunlcatldns III" following language was used
Mr. Gilmer, few Years ago, in his zeal gainSt
Catholics, prosecuted :, Reverend Father Of our
him imprisoned in the common Jail because he
would not reveal the secrets Of he Confessional"
Now, this assertion, made. is utterly untrue.
II Is as gratuions a ii ma icious. and wanton il
Is cnveuomed. il doubtless had the desired ef-
feet, eoycrlly and irresponsibly circulated on the
ddpp e,ecfion, when there was no opportunity to
apply the antidote of truth to the masked and in
sidious poison: BE it 50.
The facts of the case were simply these:
tatholsc, by the name of John Cronn, was under
trial for his lie. on charge of murder IL the irs
DEGREE; being arraigned for the alleged murder Of
his wife aud unborn infant. The circumstances
and general evidence pressed with rorentous
peril. was his only counsel
1t became necessary 10 Introduce the eXculra-
rdtions OF his wife. To procure this, it rem
dered absolutely necessary Introduce the testi-
mony OF her spiritual adviser. Is the couasei Of the
used call my power and skill'to get at the evi.
denee needed, ia save the life of "a Catholic 4
great part OF the dying dee arations thus
crushed The witness refused to divulge all that
said the jury thus being in possession of the
at al that She said did th ade obratons et
professional @uty iaposiaq 70 Of hoaof,
life of my client was confded to my Keeping. lie
was "a Catholic" and to save him simply dis
charged my duty. This much will do for "A
Catholic should he ever be placed in !. similar
peril aud conide his to me, whether | ex-
anime .'Revd Father or "A Protestant.
As to the assaults made by "A Catholic''
about my having been '.know Nothing will
now say. what did not think proper to express
while i was candidate, because resperf too
highly the understanding and consistency of every
voter to seek his support under protest and eXpIa-
nations personal to myself.
The exp anation Is simply this: | entered the
''order' Ike mGa-ftett IL thc nan. While
was member, |, in common with. believe nine
tentbs of the members in Richmond, and through
out virginia was opposed to, and. IN ne ordey, de-
u0unced, the secrecy test > and the ''reiigions
test This was, however, my indiy dual opinion
which was urged while in the order, aud | am
prepared to meet the consequences Of the act how
ever III -advisedl with the simple remark that
the error. great it may have been. was Il rirue
when compared with any and every secret order
based on The idea of revolutionary and lawless
disruption of the Union To resist oppression and
wrong Is honorable, true and bfivr. To create bv
outside pressure, Hypothetical necessity for
revolution. Is, IN my opinion, far higher crime
tnan to argue that Americans shall rule Ameri-
In relation to the personal allu.ioa made to nv
J have only to say TO the Editor, Lay on. Ne
Duff accepted a nomination, unsolicited ten
dered me by the Douglas men. ] Los a Douglas
candid date and was proud to retire Douglas man
thereby securing the election OF two of the con,
servative candidates; and, bat fol outside bun
Der for tchch tcds in responsible three coaserra
tire ca1didItcs rou!d hare been eefedf If this is
TREASON, let - Catholic aud the Dispatch
The canvass is over. Let by cones rest have
no personal feelings towards any man or party
But whether In the Union or ont of If = -; ~
my first object of solicitude, aud to her fortunes
IN war or In peace, am bound by every tie of
duty and love Asa conservative man above the
passing ciamors of the hour, and beyond the reach
OF Sect0ri0n prescription wspaper philippics
shall stand by the honor of my State under the
wise teachings OF the fathers OF the Republic ra
Their than the phosphoretic glimmering5 Of seosa-
ton articles, the eInascui ted expositons of "A
Catho lic. Respectfully
RICHMOND. Feb. S, 1851 ta sHJf*