The morning star and Catholic messenger. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1868-1881, 1876-08-27
Discussion in the Senate on tbs School Amendment
to the Censtitusion.


Shortly before the adjournment of Congress
there was An animated discussion, in the SEN
ate, on the proposed amendment to tie Consti-
tuition prohibiting States from appropriating
money raised for the Poblc Schools to the sup
port of seotarian schools. Morton, Edmunds
| and other Radical leaders distinguished them
selves by their virulent attacks on the Catho-
lie Church, Mr.. Edmunds going 80 far as to
have read the Pope's Syllabus of 1864. The
discussion progressed thus:
Mr.. Stevenson (Dem XIV aaid as a rnan,har
of the Committee on the Judiciary he did not
concur in this proposed Constitutional amend
ment. be saw no necessity for it. While he
lmPugns no mars motive, discussion at the
end OF long session of Congress was in bad
taste, and did no good. He was not Catholic.
Dut Protestant from head to foot. He then
referred to the teachings of Mr.. Jefferson in re-
gard to religious liberty, and said if he could
have heard the argument of the Senator from
Vermont be would have told him that he knew
nothing about free government Kentucky did |
not want Vermont to tell her what her taxes |
should be, what her politics should be- and |
least OF all what her religion should b., No
man could mistake the object of the debate
All saw where it came from, but be hOped the
people in this nineteenth century would see
thronRh 1t. There was no necessity to 90 TO
the Pope of Rome to scare the people of these
thlrty'seVeu States into the belief that they,
way. VA
Mr.. Bogy Dem, MOI said this discussion
was most slngu lar one for the American Sem
ate lie almost imagined that the Senate had
been transferred into an Ecumenicsl Council
lat Rome all the members were Cardinals) with
Inc lntalli6le Senator from Vermont (Mr. Ed
munds) as Pope. That Senator was convinoad
d MS own infallibility. He did as he pleased
De reported from the Judiciary Committee
NJ \ aSS ne pleased, and kept back what be
n this country. The "nigger was dead The
bloody shirt no longer enraged the mad b1II
20 another animal was to be brought forward :
'oDe of RomS SloaI arena sb hi, TIE PopeTthe old
ttack In the coming campaign. Laughter ! :
+ ms friend from Vermont (Mr. EdnundsJ 3
a Eeen homan Catholic and rose to the 8
apal chair he would be the most tyrannicai
'ope that ever swayed the sceptre Of the Ro- c
IAN Catholic Church. 1t was in him great
1ughter tyranny and illiberality were apart
nd part of his nature. Who in this country
Ias IN favor of arraying Church against Statef 1
20 one. Inc encyclical letter of the Pope "
'hic9 the Senator from Vermont had read o.
as Tor the purpose of arousing feeling against L
40 principles 1t contained. When the Pope of c.
.ome spoke, he spcke as bishop of a cbnroh o.
nd told all the people that human society was b
+ God, that IN an himself was of God and that OF
II human Governments must understand that III
icy moved and performed all of their fuuct- ="
ns under the S1PreDe Being that there was OF
Divine Power TO which Governments 1ika to
ack to paGaEsm. He commented at come "
myth on the language of the Substitute u
assoc by the Senate Committee on the Judi | pi
aTyt and said it most have bet drawn by the q
Elk to the committee or by the Senator from 90
-rmont (Mr. EGmunds) after be bad his din u
II. he took his psn to prepare this after he ~
ID taken something else. He spoke Of the "
,nstituticnnl poweT of Conorc.s and aronaJ of
at the whole question of education should be co
It to the States. :,
Sir Morton read from the Encyclical of the Co
,pe and said he had u o COMMENT to make on Oh
Gu language as that Nc
dir. Eaton (Dem., Comm argued that the AZ =
lole school question should be left with the or
ates. Connecticut could take care of her
N schools. Let the Senator from Indiana
II. MOrton) take care Of his own State, and th