Letter from Robert G. Allison of Charlotte to David L. Swain, February 25, 1856
Charlotte, N.C.,
Feb. 25, 1856
My Dear Sir:
My attention has been called by the Editor of the N.C. Whig, a political
newspaper published in this town, to a notice which was first announced in the
Hillsborough Recorder, and afterwards copied into the Raleigh Register, stating
that a committee of the Students appointed for that purpose, had elected Arch-Bishop
Hughes, of New
York, to deliver the valedictory sermon before the graduating class at
the University of N.C., during the approaching commencement in June. I
would not presume to inform you whose historical researches have been so
various, extensive, and profound, that your ancestors, and mine, fled from
religious persecution in the Eastern Hemisphere to enjoy the sacred immunity of
humbly worshipping the Supreme Ruler of the Universe, according to the dictates
of their own enlightened consciences, untrammeled by the persecution of cowled
priests, or despotic hierarchs. Nor need I inform you, that Catholic rulers have
in all ages of the world, since their existence, been on the side of despotism,
and therefore opposed to popular government, that they rule their subjects with
a rod of iron, that the Catholic; or, as her members call her,
"Mother Church," is, in fact, a great political hierarchy, in
which the temporal absorbs the spiritual power; and that Brownson, of "Brownson's Review," the
avowed organ of Archbishop Hughes, has published to the world, that the territory of
the United States
belongs to the Pope of Rome
by right of discovery and conquest, and that he is determined to have it. I have
merely mentioned these truths on account of their important bearing in relation
to the case now before us which has induced me to trouble you with this
communication. Now, it cannot have escaped your observation, that the University of N.C. was founded, reared, cherished, and advanced to
her present unexampled height of prosperity and renown, by Protestant influence alone.
What, think you, will the sons of the venerable sires who founded our University, and who now have Protestant sons under her tutelage say when,
instead of the peaceful doctrines of Christianity, which have hitherto been
promulgated from her beautiful Chapel consecrated to Religion, Literature, and
Science, they shall hear on the day of Commencement, the ominous thunder of the
Vatican reverberating throughout
its aisles. Depend upon it, they will leave you, and take away their sons. A
number of gentlemen who are now, and still desire to be, devoted friends of the
University, have requested me to write to you, and thus ascertain
the facts of the case. Alternating, with tremulous anxiety, between hope and
fear, they are awaiting the result. They most respectfully request you to reply
to some considerable length, explaining your views fully and satisfactorily on
this most important subject. Should Arch-Bishop Hughes deliver the valedictory sermon to
the graduating class on the day of Commencement, in next June, I think the
entire Protestant influence will drop from you; and our University,
the beloved "Alma Mater" of us all, like some beautiful
aromatic flower, which in the morning flourisheth and groweth up; but in the
evening is cut down and withereth, would fade from earth; or what is worse sink
into Catholicism. But your friends have yet full confidence in you; for
they feel assured that you yourself are a Protestant; and that you have no views to conceal
on this vital question: but will firmly meet the crisis, should it come.
And I feel the more encouraged to make this appeal to you now, because when, in
April 1854, having read a statement in one of the Raleigh newspapers that Arch-Bishop
Hughes had been elected to deliver the valedictory sermon before the
graduating class, I addressed you on the subject by letter, you, promptly, with
great civility and kindness, answered my letter, informing me that "the statement was founded upon entire
misapprehension," and that Arch-Bishop Hughes was not expected there
for any purpose. I do hope that the present report may prove to be
"founded upon entire misapprehension." I conclude with the
most sincere wishes for your health and happiness and for the welfare and still
increasing prosperity of the University, which gratifying
consummation will, I have no doubt be fully realized, through your wise,
parental, and truly efficient supervision.
Present my best respects to the other members of the Faculty.
Yours, most respectfully,
Robert G.
Allison