The morning star and Catholic messenger. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1868-1881, 1868-12-13
Is the Freedmen's Bureau Missionary
Bur0au7

Is the Ffeodmen'S Bureau MiSSOnar!
~ Bureau7
We>give below letter recently received
which the public has right to be put il
possession. An applicant for the position
of teacher in the educational department o
the Freedmen's Bureau is met with the In
terrogation, in linsine, If he is y Catholic
This is the second question asked him
and that before an inspection Of testimo;
nials is vouchsafed. The letter, however
which is here appended, speaks, for itself
| NEW ORLEANS, Dec. 2, 1868.
which had with Capt. Pierce, Of the Freed
mems Bureau, Educational Department.
Tuesday morning 1 presented myself as
applicant for position in one of the Blu
reau's schools. l stated that had taught
several years, was resident of the city,
grade certificate which I had received in
the normal schools of the city.
At first he wished to know my nationality;
next, If was a member of the Catholic
Church. On being informed in the affirma-
tive, he declined receiving my testimonials
he would not employ Catholics when he
could lind persons of other denominations /;
he them hesitated, as if he had more to say,
but, looking at him, I said, &c Is it 80, sir ~
Then arose, bowed to him, and told him
"good morning" but he did not answer me.
The first question which presents itself,
on perusing this statement is, whether the
policy here indicated is general in the Blu
reau, or confined to the individual admins
tration of Capt. Pierce. If the latter, we
Oh oil Hx-< do, MT
to set itself right. II, however, this course
is prescribed or justified by the department,
it is highly important that the Catholic
public should know it.
If Catholic citizens are to be distin-
guished against in this country, let that
principle be embodied in the Constitution.
Then immigrants will not be deceived into
coming here by vain hope of equality and
liberty, and the country will not be held up
to the scorn of the world as national
hypocrite, boasting of a universal tolera-
ton which it does not accord, and of q re-
spect for private opinion which is merely
theoretical.
If there is to be o union here of Church
and State, let it be legal marriage, not a
clandestine and unlawful concubinage.
Gen. Howard and his co-religionists may
think the job of amending the Constitution,
SO as to discriminate against Catholics,
rather a serious one, and altogether useless,
too, if jockeyipg will do as well. If they
can boldly and defantly set the spirit of
the Constitution at naught, and achieve
their proscriptive ends with the applause of
a. tho inAi nf
an American public, then why take more
radical measures to effect the same result
at the cost of much more trouble and con-
fusion7 Stolen fruit is even sweeter to
many persons than if honestly obtained.
If they are not caught, however, and e1-
posed in any such attempt, should it be
made, it shall not be our fault. The Cath
Ollie press ought to wake up to the neces-
sity of publishing all these thousand little
dallyings between secular governments of
all kinds, in this country, and Protestant
ISM 1t has been the idea from the begin
ming that enough had been done for Cath
olics in not openly prescribing them in the
National Constitution. Gea. Washington
insisted on recognizing them, before the
law, as on tne Sums iooGihS WIN "ii "'hSA
citizens, and it was permitted. On the
national parchment there was no distinction,
but Catholics were left to the tender mer-
cies of all subordinate forms of govern
ment. In North Carolina, and elsewhere,
they were partially DISTINGUISHED without
any possibility of redress. In various
States aud municipal corporations they
have been, to this day, subjected to onerous
burdens, which they had no interest in car
rying, and prosecuted with fnes disguised
as taxes. 1t is persecution to force man
to support an institution from which he
cannot derive any benefit except by the
violation of his conscience. Yet to-day, in