The Norfolk Virginian. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 186?-189?, 1896-05-21
AMERICAN CITIZENSHIP
The Rights and Liberties Guaranteed by the
Federal and State Constitutions.
POLITICAL LIBERTY. RELIGIOUS FREEDOM
The Principles Established by tho
Revolutionary Fathers--Dut and
Obligations Arc the samo for ALL
There Should be no War Waged on
Account or Religious Beliefs.

The following letter from the dis
tUnauished citizen of Georgia, Hon.
Patrick Walsh, eS-Untted states Sena-
tor who is esteemed by all classes OF
his fellow citizens, and whose election
to the United States Senate was ad-
vocated by the lamented Bishop Atht-
Gus Greene Haygood, of the NJ H.
Church, WILL be read with interest
The latter was written in response to
a request from a committee OF one or the
College Societies of Georgia, and IL
breathes forth the spirit of true Ameri-
can patriotism. 1t is as follows
Augusta, Ga, April 25 1896.
Messrs. Oscar Palmon and B. F. Gail
lard, Jr., NJ. G. A. College, Dahlonega.
Ga.
Dear Sirs: am in receipt Of your fa-
vor of the 22d. in reference TO an or
ganiZation called the A. p. A., which
is but a rival of the old American or
Know-Nothing party that had ephem-
eral existence prior to 1860. No party
based on intolerance or prescription. re-
ligious or political, is entitled to the re-
spect or confidence of American citi-
zenship or American manhood. This
new Know-Nothing party, in viola
ton Of the Constitution of the United
States of the Union, proposes to make
war on Catholics and, because Of their
religious belief disqualify them from
holding Office. Alexander Stephens,
Robert Toombs Howell Cobb. Herschel
v. johnson and Joseph e. Brown were
the champions of civil and religious lib
erty. They helped to kill the Know
Nothing party in Georgia, and If they
We're alive to-day they would give no
encouragement 10 Apaism. They would
fight 1t as vigorously as they did Know
Nothingism
J. Whenever any citizen permits mall
tnn 20 a1C1tN %. J. q nj s,n6 r,r
heart against any denomination or
Church which has a right to be here
under the Cons tl.ution, he banishes
from himself the very essence of re-
lision or Christianity, which is charity.
2. The Constitution of the United
States and the constitution of Georgia
guarantee to every citizen the free ex-
ercise of religious liberty and the right
to worship God according to conscience.
Article VI. provides that the Constitu-
tion and the laws OF the United States
shall be supreme. All citizens and Of
ficialS, State and Federal, are bound to
support the supreme law.
The Constitution says: mo religious
test shall ever be required as a quail
flea alton to any office or public trust
under the United States
The first article in addition to an
amendment of the Constitution. pro-
posed by Congress and ratified by the
Legislatures of the several States, com
mands that Congress shall make no
law respecting an establishment of re-
ligion, or prohibiting the free exercise
thereof"
So far as I know every State In the
American Union guarantees to every
citizen politicai liberty and religious free
dom. The Constitution of the State of
Georgia, Article l, bill of nights declares
I'm reference ho freedom of consc, ence (:
all men have the natunal and naliena BILE
right ITO worShip God, ca on accordfng ITO
the dictates of hts own conscience and
no human authority should, in any case,
control or tnterferei with such right of
conscience" :
In reference to religious opinions the
CONSTITUTIONS OF Georgia declares further:
NO lrlhabitant of this State shall be mo-
Tested IN person or property or pr ohgbfted
from hoid.ng any public office or trust
on account of hts religious opinions"
8. do not know of any leading men
In either parity in any section of the
Union Who are members or advocates of
the A. p. A.
4. do not know where the headouaa-
ters OF the "A. p. A. are located.
1t would be well for American citizens
to remember tIhait Lord Balt!mare, who
founded the Catholic colony in Maryland
one hundred and forty years before che
Decoration of Independence was issued
declared In favor of religious liberty.
The Cathohc colony of MARYLAND per-
nf9oted the freedom of religious worship
while ltrfe Purbtans of New England
were ihang9ng those who differed wbth
them for alleged practices of wstchcra ft
and denying to others lthe right of reM-
g'9ous worship. 1T would also be we'll
for the btggots and fanattcs whose an
oeators, In all probability, fought 10 keen
thts country under the vassalge of Great
Britain, that Ito Catholic France, whose
chWalric sons shed their blood In the wan.
OF the Revolution, the Umlted STATES ts
largely indebted for bts independence.
AS ITO tine Cath Ollie tolera5Eon. I ouote
from Chambers Encyclopedia On refer
ence 10 the Maryland colony: In March.
1884. party of English gentlemen and
thedr servants and retainers. under the
command of Leonard Calvert. a brother
of Lord Baltimore, landed on the shore
of a river now called ST. Mary's. a
branch of the Potomac. and bought from
the Indians. and but rarely interrupted
together with tfe announcements of toll
erat!on and protection TO all Christians
OF whatever shade OF religious belief. led
10 the rapid and peaceful growth of the
new CClcny. Maryland was among the
first Colonies 10 take an active part In
the war for independence.
There Is no danger to free government
from the CathcMc c1.,,2ens OF ,.h.s coin
try. They are devoted seart and mind.