State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1831-1836, 1836-04-05
WHOLE NO. gag.
MIR VAN BUREN, AND THE CATH
OT les


OLICS.
Much anxiety having been expressed to
see Mr. Van Buren's Letter to the Pope of
Rome-or, what is the same thing, to MIR
Ccognani, the American Consul at Rome,
to be shown to the Pope--we copy it this
week, and doubt not it will be closely scru-
tnized by the public.
1t seems that Mr. Cicognani-no doubt
MIR Van Buren, had arranged the matter
paid visit to the Pope, and wrote Mr. Van
Buren, on account of it, who, it must be
recollected, was then Secretary of the
State Department at Washington. The
following is Mr. Van Buren's Letter.
WASHINGTON, July 20, 1880.
Your letters of the 18th Of April, and
9th of May, the first anticipating the favor
able sentiments of his Holiness the Pope,
towards the Government and people of the
United States, and the last confirming your
anticipations, have been received at this
department, and submitted to the President;
by whom | am directed to tender his
Holiness, through the same channel an
assurance of the satisfaction which he
derives from this communication of the
frank and liberal opinions entertained by
the Apostolic See towards the Govern
ment and the people, and of the policy
which you likewise state his Holiness has
adopted, and which is so worthy of the
Head of a great and Christian church,
assduously to cultivate, in his intercourse
with foreign nations, the relations of dmity
and good will, and sedulously to abstain
from all interference in their occasional
difficulties with each other, except Uith the
benign UietU Of efecting reconciLidtionS be-
t,Ceen them.
You will accordingly seek en- early
opportunity to make knoiCn to the Pope in
terms and manner best suited to the occasion
the light in irhich the President views the
communication referred to, and likewise
you will assure him that the President
reeiprocates in their full extent, and spirit,
the friendly and liberal sentiments enter
tanned by his Holiness towards the Gov
eminent of the Apostolic see, and the
people of the states, of the Church; and
it is the Presidents wish that you should,
upon the same occasion offer his congratu-
lations to the Holy Father, upon his recent
SUGGESTIONS to the Tiara, not from any
hereditary claim on his part, but from n
preponderatng influence which just
estimation of his talents and private virtues
naturally had upon the enlightened coun-
ellis by which that high distinction was
conferred and which affords the pledge
that his pontifcate will be wise and
benficent one.
You will take care likewise, 10 assure his
Holiness, in reference TO the paternal
solicitude which he expresses in behalf of
the Roman Catholics of the United States,
that all our citizens protesting that rei-
gon, stand upon the same elevated ground
which citizens of all other religious denom-
ipotipnc I'd 70 tho vi rbtc OT
conscience, that of perfect liberty, contra
distinguished from federation; that they
enjoy an entire exemption from coercion in
every possible shape, upon the score of
religious faith, and that they are free in
common with their fellow-citiZens of all
other sects to adhere to, or adopt the creeds
and practice the worship best adapted TO
their reason, or prejudices; and that there
exists perfect unity of faith in the United
States amongst relgionists of all profess
ions, as to the wisdom and policy of that
cardinal feature of all our constitutions and
forms of government, those of the United
States and separate states of the Union,
by which this inestimable right is formally
recognized, and the enjoyment of il invio-
lably secured. NJ. VAN buren,.
Such is the character of MIR Van Buren's
Letter, written expressly for the eye of the
Pope and to win his favor. II is a dis
grace to our National character that any
American in Office should have written
such Letter--and no one but Mr. Van
Buren, would have written such a one.
Its trucking subserviency-its sycophantic
| fawnings the ablect spirit it displays--in
a word the total want of American feeling
and American dignity, with which it is
characterized in every line, mark it as the
production of Mr. Fan Buren,, and of him
only. Let every eye which rests upon
this Letter scan it closely. "HiS Holiness
The Pope"--"HiS Holiness, "--"HOiy Faith
err &c. &c, are pretty expressions for an
American Secretary of State TO use by way
of flattering the Pope of Rome! But
with him dignity was nothing; self-respcct
was nothing--he wished to secure the
good will CT the Pope, and thro' him the
support and votes of the Roman Catholics
| in this country; and to do this, he was
willing to stoop TO fletter, with the fulsome,
sickenng pancgyrc, such rs would de-
grade the character of any American, that
most pussant parsonage! If the people
! look into the matter in time, and act as
they should do, all will be well; but if they
do motif they slumber on, feeling safe, il
will not be long, as things now go, before
our elections and our Government will be
wholly at the mercy of Foreigners, and no
man allowed to doubt the "infallibility of
the Pope" but at the hazard of his life.
Pdtsb'rg Times.
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