The Vermont transcript. [volume] (St. Albans, Vt.) 1864-1870, 1867-09-27
knOw-n0thlngism and The Frank
lin County Court.

70 he Edaor efhc Transcript
SlR:-Allow me, through the col
umns of your paper, to call the atten-
ton of the citizens of this State 10 the
J lack of recognition by the Franklin
| County Court of n fundamental con-
situtional principle. That principle
is the principle of freedom of con-
science and of perfect equality among
all religious denominations, "A principle .
first introduced on American soil by 7
the Catholics who, under Lord Balt- /
more, settled Maryland, and which, /
when the former British North Ameri- /
can plantations renowned their allie /
glance to the mother country, was laid
at the basis OF the political institutions
Of the new Republic, and has ever
since been embodied in every constitu-
lion.
1t is universe ly known that at the
= opening of every Term of the County
; Court and Of the Supreme Court some
e clergyman, residing in the village or
e city where such court is holding its
= sessions, is invited to ask Heavens
! blessing on the proceedings about to
!, commence. The great principle of the
IS violation Of which ! wish to complain,
naturally demands that in the selec-
1t ton of such chaplain no preference
y should be given 20 any one dcnomina-
D. ton above any other
70 The Catholic congregation in the
10 town OF ST. Albums is more humorous
2, than any other religious body III TINT
NJ town, and about two-hhhs Of the in
habitants belong to it. In the town
~ OF Fairfield the proportions are still
at more in favor of the Catholics. In the
to other towns they are less numerous,
On but everywhere they are found, and
Of hold regularly their meetings for wor-
.1 ship Taken all over the country,
he without distinction of towns, they are
So at least as numerous as any other re-
re hgious body similarly taken. As long
10, as Court OF Justice has been held at
'' St Adams no Catholic clergyman has
ever been invited to act as chaplain to
it. / suggested some time ago to the
nc Sheriff that it would be graceful act
not to perpetuate this unconstitutional
es exclusion of one denomination and to
invite the Catholic minister IN this vii
luge TO olliciate ut the opening of the
u" September term Of the County Court
rs which was then approaching, and Ia.
os now commenced After first concur
ring, or pretending to concur, entirely
with my views, and after promising
= me to act in accordance with them, h,
finally declined to do so, on the plel
Is that the Clerk of the Court and th,
at leading members at the bar wer,
ne strongly ayerse to any Catholic minis
ful ter acting as chaplain to any Cour
"a held here at St Adams.
~ The Chief Judge of the Franklin
by County Court has, when | laid Tn
IT. matter before him, declined to inter
for fere personally, as well as to cause tn
ion Court to interfere, III any way with Al
invitation to be issued by the Shorii
90 in the name Of that Court
Jus No excuse for the insult thus olfere
i've to the Catholics of Franklin County h
ND Judge Wilson and Sheriff Soule. anc
nv. il the said Sheriff does not accuse thel
falsely and labors under no mistak,
as nstigated by the Clerk and the lead
aus ing lawyers IL town, can be found j
at the personal qualities Of the clergyma
who happens to lie at this momcn
parish priest of the St Adams Cathc
, ot lies. The contrary is the case Gu
minister is man deserving and cniol
on ing universal esteem, both within an
without the limits of his congregation
man of the highest chmAc,cr, mo.
ZEN. agreeable manners, and deep nul G,
ible tensiye learning, and who never, nei,l
Ith- er directly nor indirectly, interier,
ner with any matters not puiely Of Il rel
He gious nature
-alk 1t would be only fair and Just if i
tied gitimate pressure were brought to bes
Mt on the Supreme Court, aud on IL
the County Courts, in order that they ma
he make it rule to invite every organ
YER lied religious community existing
SEN the village or city where such Court
Ight held, to furnish in its turn chaplni
ner- Or the State Legislature might be il
our duced to decree such rule for Il
,tus Courts. The House of Represent
to tives has proved itself free from
s.. know-nothingism by selecting as the
arn chaplain during two years the Cathol
,ery minister of Montpelier, and chat at
add time when there was not a sing
nit Catholic among the members Of th
body.
| have the honor to be, sir,
Of your obedient servant,