Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1870-06-01
Protestant FrcedOm Defended.


Bingham, Of Ohio, had hisiorcnsic fire famed
into a flame in the House debate the other day,
when Mr. Brooks of New York came down upon
him for opposing the motion to restore the mis-
sion to Rome. Said the Ohio member
regret very much that the gentleman from
Now York Mr.. Brooks, has seen fit in re.
plying to the objection made to the proposed
to imputo to this side Of the
House any disposition to prosecute Rome on
account Of purely religious notions entertain
ed by the Sec Of the Popal States. That was
unworthy Of the gentleman, and he would
have done well TO inform the House, instead OF
making such an appeal as that to passion or to
prejudice, instead Of making any such bid as
that for the vote Of any religious sect IN
America, Several members, " That is it ex-
actly,'l 10 have told the House and the coun-
try what the occasion is for other representa-
ton in Rome than that which is already pro-
vded for in this bill The bill appropriates
for consul at Rome, and thus answers at
once the gentemans suggestion that there is
any intention in the bill to strike 81 people
on account Of their religious tencts. The
syllabus recently uttered by the head Of the
Romish church, is declaration Of principles
which ! venture to say the gentleman from
New York dare not endorse and 20 home
among his people. IL is au attempt TO ietter
the freedom of conscience il is an attempt to
fetter the freedom of speech; it is an attempt
to strike down the rising antagonism against
every despotism on the face Of the earth, in
the form of representative governments, the
foremost among which is America the child
and hope of oarths old age.
Talk TO me at this time of day about Rome
being the patron Of science aud the mother Of
arts Why sir there is at this day more of
that genius which makes even marble itself
wear the divine beauty Of liie more Of that.
power to-day IN living America than ever
was dreamed of in Rome, living or dead.
IGrowing excitement Why, then, talk at
this time of day abont identifying that little
with "a resident minister from the
United States? Do not the gentlemen know
that the foremost of all men, reared in the
faith Of the church Of Rome land | admit
that she has bred many great and noble men
who knew how to make humanity itself beau
tifu by the sacrifice Of martydom) uttered a
word while under the ban Of Charles V, Leo
X and Henry VIII, which speaks to-day all
over Christendom. | refer to the Augustine
monk who found out for himself and repeated
to mankind the great central fact which 10
day possesses the enlightened mind Of the 18th
century that no mitred head may, in the
grace Of God or of divine right, interpose its
dark shadow between man and his Maker.
+ Excitement Under the omnipotent power
of that utterance every tryant, whether in
Rome or out of it, holds to-day the reins Of
power with a tremulous and unsteady hand
and the day is not far distant when the very
throne of his power shall turn to dust and
ashes before the consuming breath Of the en-
lighteuei public opinion of the civilized world,
which declares for free governments, free
churches, free schools free bible. and free
men, Sensation