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i , -
DEBATE
ojtT THE TIIIRTr-SECOJVD ARTICLE.
Mr. Bbtav said, young as I am com
;fafed with thoe who surround me, and
rrlrctafit as I may be to address this
Copmiftee, I feel Mr. Chairman, a con
Jcibusncs. that sifence on this all impor
tant subject, aflectingalike the honor'and
prosperity of North Carolina, as well as
the character, and reputation of her citi
zens, would be truly criminal indeed. I
feel a great veneration and respect for
our good old Constitution, under which
we have so long, and happily lived, and
believe me' Sir, I would have been unwil
lii to have touched, or impaired any
feature of that sacred compact of our lib
erties and rights, save the one now under
disruion ; and I may truly say, that
thi affection has been much heightened
and increased, by witnessing the grejit
veneration and respect which the old cit
izens of my county, (Carteret entertain
ed for this bond of union, and declara
tion of their rights, and the painful re
luctance and unwillingness, which thev
evinced, to have one single feature of that
matchless instrument altered or impair
ed. In my humble judgment, in the ex-
jstence oi this feeling, ami the great re
pugnance t innovation and change, the
cautious prudence in seeking after some
thing new, and the great tenacity 'with
which we h'oldoir to the well tried" work'
of our fathers, as well asour great res
pecjt for their dear bought experience and
unsullied honesty and integrity, will be
found the surest guaranty for the perpe
1uity or our liberty and independence.'
Our old Constitution was the work, and
production of no ordinary men they liv
ed "ijn the times that 'tried men's souls,"
thej cam fresh from the raging Revolu
tion wilh the full consciousness of the
value of our liberties and rights they
felt the necessity of preserving them in
violate, and manfully went to work, to
effect thisi great and patriotic object. I
tieed not say that the world has sellom
seen an assemblage of men, more distin
guished for their talents, their patriotism,
the Jiurity of their reputation, and the
nerving nonesty and integrity of their
characters, than thoiewho composed the
Congress of Halifax, and by whom our
Constitution was formed ; and as humili
ating as the reflection mav be to the pre
sent generation, and to whatever name
less motive it mav be attributed. T veri v
believe, that not one-third of the people
of Noith Carol in Would h.lVP hppn litniwl
fcillifng to have committed the destinies of
-ur good old State, and the formation of
an emireiy new Constitution, to an un
limited Convention. Nay Sir, in these
times of trouble and distrust, there would
not be found on this floor ten 'advocates,
in favour of the exercise of thisunlimi
ted power, and of the surrender on the
pait'ofthe people of that sovereignty,
hich is always least to be feared, when
Confihfd to its appropriate and legiti
mate! Sphere. I will not stop to enquire
whence arises this melancholy state of
affairs, but will only remark, that to my
mindjitaflbrds one of the strongest aru
JTirnts, why the ancient and well estab
lished order of things ghould be as little
up'pf, as the necesfeity of our situation,
"dthe cliungein our political condition.
can poss.ble re-.iuire. Our State, rich in
alent and worth as she j in her exhaust
less mineral productions and internal re
sources has hertufore been little ap
preciated ; and to me, Sir, when abroad,
it wnl a matter of pride, and. self-congra-tulatton
to hear her commended lor those
monument! of wisdom, taste, ami refine
ment her old Constitution, and her in
mitable statue of Washington. Buta'.as!
h"w sjmilar is their melancho'y fate! The
"and ;oXpmrer has stripped the former of
fair proportions, its just, and liberal
exercise of power, and many of its wise.
"d wholesome regulations; whilst the
liUss and unmerciful clement, h.-.
Mruck the -living marble" of the latter,
Uuinbi and speecltles, disrobed it of its
":tchles mantle, despoiled it of its beau
'eoukisymmHtry, and left it a melancholy
T .over which -emus, in its glooiny des
Hl' 'MJ truly exclaiin,sve ne'er
nH look upori iu like again." Hut Sir,
. a,gratlyir,5 reHect.on, aml an apt
!J "auon of the v.lue'and congeniality
I "tutioM, thfat this gJeat and
eur7h,y revolution in public scnti
Ut' ba effected, not byilie bayo-
- Our,
1
et and sword, but by the constitutional
xerc'ue of the free, "and uncontrolled o
J'inions, of a majority of our felluw-cit-'7-ens.
JVe are fold by the gentleman from
VVWen. (Mr. Kd wards.) that a great and
extraordinary excitement pervades our
State, upon this subject ; and I may be
permitted to remark, that the greater that
jxcilement becomes, the more cool, de
liberate, and determined, should be our
discussions here. JXe should regard it as
a sacrc.d dutyvinstead of adding fuel to
he flame, coinponere tantai lites,
Tt is not my intention to discuss the
much vexed question, amonjr writers on
public anl political law. Hunv far a free
government, has the riht and power to
interfere in matters of'Rel iwion." nr tn
charge the framers of our 'Constitution,
with an arrogant and unwarranted as
sumption of power, in the adontinn nftliP
wuuwaiuus ami intolerant Article, the a-
i . , ----- ,
mendment of which forms the subject
matter of this crave and exr itin
Suflicicnt for me it is. that thev have ev.
erciscd this power, anl that among all
the wise and prudent regulations for our
peace, happiness and security which that
instrument contains, this alone forms, a
solitary exception, a id affords the only
engine, with which the nrocrintive di"-
mon of bigotry, fanaticism and prejudice
may wreaK us vengeance upon a portion
of the free, equal and inoffensive citizens
of our country, and glut its insatiable ap
petite, upon the consciences of the fol
lowers of the living God I When I read
that provision which proclaims that no
person who shall deny the beinj of God,
or the truth of the Fr'otntunt Religion, or
the divine authority either of the old, or
new Testament, or who hnll Jwtd Ihligi
ovs prjnriptes, incompatible wilh the free
dom and safety of the State,' shall be ca
pable upholding any office,, or place of
trust, or profit, in The civil department,
within this State," 1 pronounce an ana.
thema a political excommunication far
more terrible and graiing to the ears of
a freeman, than were the thunders of
ine Vatican" in by-gone days, to the
blind and ignorant devotee, at the shr.ne
of Papa! power and supremacy. A.aii st
whom is this mighty excitement diiected?
It is useless, Sir, to disguise tie fact
it is against the Uoman Catholics ! Thev
are openly and loudly denounced, as ile
nying the truth of the Protestant Religion,
and holding Religious principles incom
patible with the freedom and safety of the
State. Wh o are those who profess the
Protestant Religion, and what are the
tests of Protestantism? What is the
Protestant religion, and what tribunal is
to determine its orthodox character ?
Why-Sir, the Shaking Quaker who, in the
hotiest credulity of his heart, believes
that (what appears to us fantastic caners
and grotesque antics, are pleasing in the
sight of God, is firmly convinced that his
religious opinions' constitute the perfec
tion of Protestantism : and the host of
dissenters, aud schismatics, who have
strayed from from the great sheepfold of
ine more standard sects, with equal pro
priety and right, lay claim to the same
purity, because at last, it is a mere mat
ter of opinion. I would respectfully ask
if the Presbyterian, Episcopal, Methodist,
Haptist &c. be the Protestant Religion ?
I tear that in seeking for some standard
of faith, that these will be found to differ
from each other more essentially, than
does the Catholic from them all, and that
this great Protestant family will be dis
covered to be so divided against itself,
as tone unable of themselves, to conform
to any uniform standard, or rule, which,
in the plenitude of its power, it mav pre
scribe for others. I What are the truths of
the Protestant Religion ? A belief in the
Trinity, in the divine authenticity of the
Old and New Testaments, the sanctify
ing influences of the holy Buchari.t, Bap
tism, &c. These Sir, constitute the stan
dard and fundamental truths of the Pro
testant religion, and form the leadiri"-articles
of what is denominated the Protes
tant faith. If it be admitted that these
are the truths of the Protestant religion,'
the Catholic does not den) At -he religi
ously believes them all, but he is to be
exclude! from office, because in the plen
itude of his faith he believes more his
faith does not stop .short at the right place
it is too latitudinarian, for the free
dom and safety of the State." The ab
surdity to which this train of reasoning
will lead us, conclusively hews the utter
inutility of retaining this Article, and the
cruel system of legislation, which holds
oat to the unwary and ignorant, a snare
to trap the conscience and to lull the
credulous into a deceitful security. It
may be remarked, that if it be a' mere
brutum fulmen if the Catholic can huld
"uiwiuisiaiiuiug irs existence, and
he is not excluded by its practical opera
tion, why alter, or amend it ? Sir, if such
be its practical effect why retain it? Why
do its advocates hold on to it with such
determined pertinacity, and evince so
much reluctance to part with it ? If it
has no effect, it is an useless encumbrance
to the Constitution, and in the mind of
many gives doubt and uneertaintv t.. iKm
construction of that instrument, which
auove an omerg, should be certain, and
wen ueuneu. jjut Sir, I believe that it
are the plam f fair dellghtlm peace unwarpM br par,r rage, to live
TUESnlY, AUGUST? 23,
was intended to exclude tire Roman Cath-
ol ics from the enjoy meut of office, and
such is the generally received iminim
throughout jhe Slate $"and this construc
tion instead of diminishing the prnscrip
tiyj odiousness of its character raises in
high and bold relief its tyranny and op-
ircssion, -ana exinDits to the Iraeral and
unprejudiced mind, the groundless fears
and misconceptions oftur forefathers on
on the subject of religious freedom. This
article in its judicial construction m.iv
have failed to answer its p'.irpose, but as
nasoeen truly remarked, more remains to
i i . . . .
oe oone ; lor thoug-ii thev are Frpe hv ih
law, they are not so in practice. Public
opinion erects itself into an inquisition,
and exercises its office with as much fan
aticism, as fans the flame of an autodefe.
The certain proscription of the law. is to
my mind far less odious, and more tole
rable, than that of vindictive public opin
toji-r-the one is silent and despotic in its
'Operation, whilst the other, fed and sus
tained by the bitter prejudices and pas.
sions of our nature, is deaf to the voice
of reason and justice, and but too seldom
fails in seeking to assert ami sustain the
principle for which it contends, to over
whelm in one common ruin the antago
nist principles ot its feeble and persecu
ted victim, and the fair character and re
putation of him, who is intimately con
nected therewithi Upon this subject the
people have labored under a gross delu-
neaven ami earll, have been mv-
e.l o alarm .he,r r,,rs ami ci,c their
tllT.YT1 -!! f?l3
statements of the Roman Catholic ,lr.
trines, hae been spread far and wide
the ignorant and credulous have been
threatened with a subversion of their re
ligion the Press, tjie demagogue, and
the fanatic have lent their mightv aid to
produce this widespread error and p-ej-udice,
and it has been proclaimed from
the Pulpit, the Muster and Elpctinneer.
ing grounds, that the dogmas of the Ro
man Catholic Church, are renlete. wilh
treason and conspiracy against the gov
ernment of these Uniied States.! How
miserable and contemptible must be that
cause, in the minds of all honorable men,
which requires for its support, a resort
to an expedient so degrading to our na
ture, and so revolting to every christian
feeling. Sir, if the Catholic were some
monster in human shape, a foe to virtue,
and at enmity with God and man, human
language could not bestow nnn him mnre
despicable epithets, or clothe him with
more hideous deformity than that which
the spirit of wild and" senseless bigotry
and fanaticism, has invested him with.
What know the mass of the people of the
true doctrines of the Roman Catholic
Church ? What know thev of the cha
racter and commission of Pope Gregory
the Seventeenth ? Do they know, that
for ages before Protestantism w.U rnn.
ceived of, this venerable and Apostolic
Church, dispensed the light of divine
truth to a benighted and sinful world ?
Do they know, that it is founded upon
the Prophets and Apostles, Jesus Christ
himseif, being the chief corner Stone ?"
Do they know that it is one of the oldest,
am) most venerable Christian churches of
which we have any authentic account,
tracing its descent, and driving its au
thenticity from the Apostles themselves ?
Do ihey know that it implicitly believes,
in the divine authenticity of the Old and
New Testaments, and that this is the
Rock, upon which it is built? The Cath
olic believes that Christianity existed be
fore the Old Testament, and that the
new Revelation has come down to us in
its purity through the traditions' of the
Fathers these traditions too, he has in
corporated in his Religious faith. And I
would ask, if these traditions are not en
titled to our faith, what evidence have
ire, ot tne divine authenticity of the Old
and New Testament ? With what wea
pons could we combat the infidel notion,
that these sacred books are Knnri.u.t in
their divine character, and are the pro
ductions of mere mortal men, unaided by
inspiration from above? Sir, when the
Protestant demolishes the Christian cha
racter of the Roman Catholic Church, he
destroys his own hopes of salvation here
after he cuts up by the very roots, the
saving faith tipon which he stands he
reviles and abjures the same sacred Tri
nity, and Holy Ordinances, which in his I
own Church, he professes to worship and i
ve ue rejects ine same Bible, which is
the standard of their common faith, and
deriving, as he must, his only authentic
knowledge or Revelation and a hereafter,
through this venerable church, he admits
their truth and authenticity, whilst he re
fuses to recognize her sacred and chris
tian character. The Catholic believes in
a future state of Towards and punish-
" " oc i iiucous win ue saver!
and the wicked lost, and that those who
are not entirely estranged from God, will
for a time, occupy jn intermediate state,
which is denominated, Purgatory. With
a saving faith like this, he has a right to
believe his to be the true and Apostolic
Church : and in so dofag, he does not in
terfere with the reliffious nrivilee of
others, but merely entertains that belief.
wnicn every rrotestant gect triumphantly
claims for their own. The CathAlIr ,
charged with advocating th heretical
Animnn (ttaf tL. D r ii'i .
j,.u.u.., , ujje B iniauiDie j tou
as an abstract assertion, is false. If the I
doctrines of the Catholic ChSrch conform
o the sacred word of God, and the tra
ditions of the Fathers, all who believe
that those sacred sources of divine truth
are exempt from error, must likewise,
admit the infaMibility of the Church: anil
ne wno administers in holy thin"-.' in
strict conformity to this divine law, mu
necessarily in his acts partake of infa'li
bility. This is a doctrine which the most
puritanical of the Protestant sects cannot
deny, and instead iof being a reproach
nna ground ot persecution to the Catho
lic, it holds up in bold relief hi rifh in
the sacred scriptures, and his be! iof that
a conformity to the divine rnmmsnfU
t- . . -
merein contained, will ensure eternal
.i - '
ife. And I would ask Sir.' to whom U
the Catholic responsible for his faith ? f
it to his God, or to the Protestant ? Who
invested the latter with the. nowr nn.l
authority, to tamper with, and contmul
the conscience of the Catholic ? Who
made him a iude of the error. ml u
risies of the Catholic faith ? Alas ! Sir.
the verv system of persecution and mi.
prcssion, which is so loudlv chn
on the, Catholics, is practised in a form
uy tne 1'rotestants, ten times more tv.
rannical and despotic ; because in a "nv.
ernment constituted like th is. k nervor-
sion and deception of the nublicioninion.
jamounts to the vilest and most proscrip-
charily f .hat Gospel, wh'icl, itu, a,l
vont. prclain,el pLce and , will ,
a" m.nkin.1 ? Where i, th.", Christian
n ve lyranny. u here sir, is the blessed
spirit of theekness, forgiveness and love,
which is so beauteously illustrated in the
life and doctrines nf tl An r itt thn
------- -' m . l IWll tV U I 111 Ult
world ? Where is to be found that gol
den rule of doing unto others, as we
would have others to do unto us r The
Protestant, in his blind and headlong ea
gerness and zeal to proscribe the dor.
trines of the Catholic Church and its E
vangelical character, cannot have forgot
ten that the Bible and its saving trulhs
form the text buok of their common faith
and hope.
I would ask you, Mr. Chairman, if the
mass of the people in your section of the
State have any just and true noiions and
conceptions of the character of the Pope?
Have not bigotry, fanaticism and preju
dice, there too, dressed him up in the
garb of a fiend an enemy and revilep of
the Protestant Religion, anil a foe to re
ligious freedom and the rights of man f
Do they know that he is a good old man
ther great shepherd alike of the Civil and
Religious rights of his people, dispensing
to them the wholesome and salutary re
gulations of Church and State, and as
venerable' for his years, as he i estimable
for his piety and learning. It is said
that the Catholic owes an allegiance to
the Pope which is in conflict with his al
legiance to the Government, and therefore
incompatible with the freqdom and safety
oi ine Mate. J his declaration, Sir, is
more specious and attractive, than true
for it is erroneous in fact, and those wljp
know any thing of our Republican form
of Government and its happy Institutions,
must at one glance, see the utter absurdi
ty and futility of such an assertion. The
allegiance due to the Pope is not of a civil
character, but is merel y a spiritual abedi
ence 'm matters purely Ecclesiastical, and
does not detract from, or come in collision
with that obligation of subjects to Govern
ment, which, as citizens, it is their bouu
den duty to render. The same sniritti:il
dominion is exercised by the Prot-stanu,
Bishops and Elders, and the same spirit
ual obedience and snhmieiinn -.. oo...i
l.
ot the members of the respective Piotes-
idi v,nurcnes,' and yet, Sir, none of these
have ever entertained the opinion, that in
uiu! iiKnowieciging their supremacy in
the dispensation of matters purely spiritual
and cclesiastical, the duty and allegiance
due to; the Government Vrom them, as
faithful, citizens, were in the least impair
ed or dispensed with. This doctrine,
wiucn, on this side of the Atlantic, is
fraught with so much injustice to the
Catholic, becomes a more grave and jm
rious charge in the Kingdom of Great
Britain where, from the peculiar charac
ter of her Institutions, its tyranny and
oppression. is mot sorelv felt: and npr.
haps, Sir, the assertion of its existence
,?rc.' ! n,ade wilhout reference to the
,ss,m,lantJr in thc cx and political ' In-
stitutions of the two countries.
In England, there is an union of Church
and Siale, and the King is recognized b
law as the supreme head of both; and the
Catholics acknowledge the Pope as the
suprem head of their Church. Here,
Sir, is an obvious conflict for supremacy,
which is repudiated as belonging either to
the King or the Pope, by subjects of the
same realm, according to their different
Religious persuasions or predilections
the Protestant Episcopalian claiming it
lrthe King, and the Catholic for "the
Pope., So intimate is this connection in
England, between the Proteslant Episco
palian Church and the State, that the
King, upon his coronation, when asked
by Archbi&hop or Bishop "Will you to
the. utmost of your power maintain the
laws of God, the true profession of the
Gospel, and the Protestant Reformed Re
ligion, established by law? And ill you
prtiervc to the Buhops and Clergy of
like brother,
(his Rilm,and to the Churches rommitted
to iheir charge, all such rights and privi
leges as by law do and shall appertain un
to them, or any of hiMii?" is bound to
answer on oath All- this I promise to
do." And moreover, he is compelled to
repeat and subscribe the declaration
against Popery, according to the statute
of Charles. And this, Sir, is not all
the Catholic, before he is permitted to en
joy office, was required to pass through
the. fiery ordeal of the Corporation and
Test Acts; which may safely be pronoun
ced as amounting to an odious and tyran
nical proscription. They demanded of
him a violation of the rights of conscience
and a repudiation of some of the fa vir Jti
and long-cherished doctrines of his
Church: they required him to receive th
Sacrament of the Lord's Supper, accord
ing to the rites of the Church of
and they enjoined upon him the absolute
' - i" . I . . I
necessity ol taking the oath of alle.ri.mro
ration against transubstant at on. Here
en, fcir, ,s th, test of his allegiance, and
he creation of that xmpenumin imperio,
- . - - .
which brought down upon the devoted
head of the unfortunate Catholic all the
pains and penalties of a vremunire. In
accepting office, he must acknowledge
the king as the head of the Church, and
thereby repudiate the Pone: he mutt re.
ceive the holy Eucharist from the hand
of th ose whom conscience taught him
to believe "had no authority," and in a
manner totally repugnant to his long-che
-;.in.i - : .. r l . . . 1 "
i i r- . . . n
viihi auwicii inc; iiini m
cc-ience, he must deny the doctrine of
transubstantiation. The Catholic in En
gland does deny this supremacy of the
King, arid therefore may be said to refuse
to acknowledge an unqualified alteoianrr-
but in this free and happy country, where
no connection between Church and State
exists, and there is no Religion establish
ed by law, the charge becomes a slander
I . a
upon his religious character, aud is un
lounded m truth and fact. If our Protes
tant friends would turn their attention to
their own denominations, they would find
more to regret and less to criminate in
the Catholic Church, than their over
wrought and phrenzied zeal will permit
them to believe. Why do those things
which we ought not to do. and leave mi
done t hose things which ought to be done?
I would not have it believed, Mr. Chair
man, that while I -advocate the unrestrict
ed rights ol conscience, and the abroga
tion of all civil disqualifications on ac
count of religious opinions, that I enter
tain any unfriendly feeiings, or could be
guilty of the slightest disicspect to anv
Protestant denomination for I perceive
that God is no respecter of person, and
the divine Author of our Religion came
to bring the glad tiding of salvation"
alike to the Jew and the Gentile." I the
persecution of the Catholic lor conscience
ake required of us in the Bible or h our
faith? .Or are we not, like the Pub "ican,
conscious of our own self-righteousness,
and glad that we are not, like (to us) that
sinful and perverse denomination?
Whence arises the diversity in our faith
the dissention in our religious opinions
the great variety of our Sects and the
want of conformity among ourselves to any
uniform standard of orthodoxy? May it
not be found in the uncontrolled exercise
and freedom of conscience and opinion
in the untrammelled adoption of a rea
sonable a,nd popular construction of the
Bib!e, and in the svant of unity, in ad
hering to that excellent Catholic rule of
ndernng all disputed and doubtful points
oi lann and interpretation, to a Council
of the great, the learned and the pious.
And yet. Sir, we who have no common
and uniform standard of faith, require of
the Rinnan Catholic, before he can be
permitted to enjoy office, that Jic must
not deny the truth of the Protestant Re
ligion! This tyranny and despotism of
opinion may well have flourished during
the existence of the dark ages, but in all
coming time, it will hardly be credited,
that in the enlightened period of the nine
teenth century, there could have been
found bigotry, fanaticism and prejudice
enough to have cherished aud supported
so intolerant a doctrine.
Honorable gentlemen on this floor are
prepared to recount the bloody deeds, the
cruel martyrdoms, and horrible persecu
tions which the. Catholics in their infuri
ated zeal, and bigotry, have inflicted on
the. Protestants. Is this, sir, a fair and le
gitimate argument ? Have we met toge
ther here, to administer the law of retaU
iation ? Why do gentlemen, who on other
occasions shout their patriotic pan, that
all men are by nature free and enual . iiml
that in this boasted land of libertv, it is
a natural and unalienable ri-ht'to worh o
Almighty God according . e
Almighty God accortling to the dictates
oi our own conscience, refuse now to give
a practical illustration of the sincerity of
their declaration ? Have the Protestants
been guilty of no excesses? I will not
condescend, Mr. Chairman, to expose the
hideous frailty, thc cruel persecutions,'
and moral depravity of eiihcr sect, rh bye-
gone days, for the purpose of weighing
them in golden bal.uices to ascertain on
which side the scale of guilt will prepon
derated. It arguo a want of Chrihtian
charity, to visit thu sius of thutr forefa-
5f
VOLTJJIE XXXVI.
ths upon the Roman Catholics of these
Lotted States. As well might you de
clare avar of extermination agatnsVthe
!es?endants of the poor ajJfnrable
Jmvs, because their Jorefalhers in the
blindness of their infatuation and relent-
les'nerReciiti no. miinlu . I .1.- I .l ' "
of tile world ! Why, preach this crusade
agatnst the Catholic Church ? Why take
upott ourselves the awful respbnsibilitr
of denouncing this ancient Religious sect
What if this be the true Apostolic Church,
against which the Saviour oftheMworld
has-declared, the rate of hell K?1I
prevl ?. Persecution, sir, never did ef
fect Jhe object for which it
it seldom fails to create a stfon-and
powerful sympathy in favor of its victim,
and instead of crushing its unlixnn ...k
ject m its infuriated fangs, it give addi,
wu.. power and activity to its pro
gress If th is snirir i rmrmitf.J
! v.nil. !nrft!,,KU iu- L ..... V.
i :. r . "
wmm h d.l .1 . . . "f
, - v. iiiiici iictv. vvneii nm i j
that I e did not believe that the RevoTut a
ofl6U8, had done any essential pod!2
tor, sr, , from that ha sprang the bigoted
intolerance, which I am sorry to say ha
descended to this generation, and ii to
plainly manifested on tbis floor.
If the Catholic is excluded from the of
hces fcf honor and emolument, is there
any justice or honesty in subjecting him
to theitaxes and drudgery of the Govern
ment ), To my mind, the exclusion front,
the one. am! il . r
1 "t cidtnon oi me ot ner. it
- a. villi ii r inn nt in. . i r
poor celutled be
. . - c
descnat position in our community, our
Protejjant zeal might be manifested in
more fjrict conformity to the charity ot
the GHpel, by sending to them the Mis
sionary heralds of thc, Cross, to call them
back fm the errors of their ways, to
lead tl em to pure fountains of living wa
ter," imd to beseech them to abjure ths
heresi( of their " mother Church" For
if the. . Church be no of God it cannot
prospe it will fa without the aid and
persecution of man ; but if it be of God,
persecution becomes impiety and profani.
ty, bemuse he has declared thathe will be
with it even unto the end of the world."
Common charity, Mr. Chairman, should
induce us to believe the contrary, but it
is mucU to be feared. rhf K;
of malignant jealousy and sectarian riyal-
iv. nas rainer prompted and engendered
this, uncharitable and senseless persecu
tion ofur Catholic brethren, than an ho
nest desire to promote the cause of the
GospeUnd the dissemination of its divine
truths.,. Why do I savsn? Kr....
h J J , - -w. . , Oil,
a course of conduct. U ;
with thr religious doctrines of the Protest
ant fait , does not accord with the chari-
taoie deposition and fender com'missera
tion wh ch thev evince tvenfnrfh Hth...
and thole who'denv the txisirnr nf anJ
ami is in implied' admission of the weak
ness, tsmibility and want of truth of their
own fai Ji. The first settlement. Af4M.
country, were produced; and the broad
foundat;ons ' of this frreat II
laid, bthis same spirit of religious per.
secutioh towards our forefathers, whicK
the bigo ted zealots of this day, nay sir,
of this four, are now evincing against the
Komail catholics. It was a rmiarerl hi-iL
right, ih be born in a land of Civil ind
Religious freedom the
imes v'ere invited to th
oppressid. where each man might sit
down under his own vine and figt-ree" and
worship ' Aloiiirhtv God rmr.r,ni,
dictates of his own conscience. Restraint
upon conscience, and civil disqualificati
ons in consequence thereof, weredenoun
r.eu as violations of the great fundamental
rights of .man taxation without the en
joyment of its concomitant civil rights,
was prorCounceil odious and oppressive
our Pulpits, Legislative Halls, and po
pular Afsemblies, rang in tones trum
pet tongted,"againit this violent invasion
upon our civil and religious rights, until
this noble and indignant spirit, no longer
controlled by the fear of such oppressive
power, produced our great and mighty Re
volution. Then, sir, we fel t our own weak
ness & inability 'to breast the storm,' and
thought tt then no heresy to seek the aid
of a Catholic King the current of popu
lar goodwill and affection ran strong in
favor of our Catholic brethren of France,
and the dominant political party of our
country, yen after the attainment of In
dependence, was openly and loudly char,
ged with being tinder French influence.-
It was not even whispered then, sir, that
our Catholic friends and allies entertain,
ed religious principles incompatible witfi
the freedom and safety of the Country,
and the charge then, would have been
deemed base and treasonable ingratitude
LYi 1 . T ru h' llrtUnC and hi
' establishment of civil and reli
woo periled his life, his fortune and hit
gious freedom on this side of the Atlantic?
Need I, sir, mention to this Convention,
theame of Lafayette and vfith him, his
associates in decdf noble daring, in be
half of, that sacred cause, Ruchambeau,
Pulakr, De .Kalb and others, the Catho.
lie defendOs and supporters ot civil and
religious liberty, whose gallant exertions
in our Revolutionary struggle, to main
tain these inalienable right of man. give
ihe lie to .the assertion that their religion
is dangerou to thc cause of freedom.
Our country ciifnot too often rtrainfcei
"f" i
Mi