Fremont journal. [volume] (Fremont, Sandusky County [Ohio]) 1853-1866, 1863-11-20
Archbishop Purcell Promounces Aeafns
SInvery.

4
Mozart Hall was nearly filled, last night BY a
highly intelligent assembly, drawn thither by
/ an announcement Of lecture, 10 be delivered
by the Archbishop Of the Catholic diocese. =
The subject OF the lecture was not announced,
but y was surmised from the persistent slanders,
which had been uttered against the Archbishop,
because Of bis firm and fearless refusal 10 sup
port the late Democratic candidate for Governor,
that his remarks might in some manner relate
to the position he had assumed in the political
crisis. Archbishop Purcell modesily, yet point
edlyl answered his accusers, and with open and
manly candor vindicated his right and duty to
vote as his conscience diciated. He followed
the defense with an unreserved declaration Of
his opposition to the division Of the country,
under any circumstances, and closed by record
ing his belief that slavery is an unchristian evil
opposed TO the Just freedom Of mankind, and 10
the growth and glory Of a Republican country.
His lecture was a model Of unreserved candor,
and his hearers frequently interrupted him with
applause, SO loud and prolonged that it seemed
almost unanimous.
The Archbishop said he had voted against the
Democratic ticket not because he desired TO
wound the Democrats Of his acquaintance, nor
because he desired to prOptiate the their oppo-
nents, but because he feared that if Vallandig-
ham was elected, the attempted withdrawal Of
Ohio soldiers in the field with Rosecrans would
ensue, and that the State Of Ohio would be tossed
with revolutionary opposition 10 the war policy.
he feared that raids would be invited, the par
allel OF Quantrills barbarous and inhuman in
yasion OF Kansas. "This may all have been
iancy, SAID the speaker, "but it was my honest
opinion, and who in Gods name, could ask me
to vote for the inauguration of such anarchy and
such atrocity" [Applause.]
We cannot have a divided empire. rIm-
mense applause.1 Mr. Pugh said to him, the
other day, that the Southern people would con-
sent to permit our steamboats, to traverse the
Mississippi River, but that they would never
trade with us, and that it would be vain for US
to endeavor TO make them strike hands with rs
as OF old. He (Archbishop P. } could see no ar
guinent in this. The question was one of right
not ofexpediency, and for one, he was deier-
mined to work for and pray for the right, until,
with Gods blessing. it was established in all its
beneicence. [Applause1
He had heard there was dread among many
laboring men, that if slaves were liberated. thew
would come to our Northern cities and displace
thousands of honest, hard-working white men
For himself he did not anticipate any such re.
suit. In his opinion, it was impossible. He
had always wished to see every man, no matter
what his color, free. Prolonged applause. j.
The Catholic Church has ever been the friend
of human freedom. Itwas Chrits mission to set
men tree andc hristian people disregarded his
precepts and example, when they seek to up
hold or perpetuate involuntary human seryi-
tude. Applause.
cardinal WIseman, whom he regarded as pos-
sessing the loftiest intellectual endowments, and
many of the distinguished Catholic magnates Of
Europe, looked upon the slavery Of any race
with the greatest disfavOr. Montalambert had
stood before an audience of great Catholics and
declared that man who holds human beings
black or white, in bondage, was the enemy of
freedom and tyrant at heart. The denuncia-
tion was received with unanimous plaudits; not
one of that distinguished Catholic assembly but
responded with undsguised approval. Zap
plause.l
He concluded by saying that he hoped, now
that the excitement was over, that his friends
would all concede that he had performed his
plain duty. He had conceived the plain course
he had adopted to be such, and tearlessly he had
performed it. No man could do less than fol-
low the dictates of his conscience, if he hopes to
win the approval of his Heavenly Master and
Guide.-CfR. Com, 3D.