The pilot and transcript. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1840-1841, 1840-11-26
40 BIsTsoP ENGLANp
INQUIsIToR GENERAL OF THE U


fNQUISITOR GENERAL OF THE UNI
TED STATES.
One striking feature in the controversy between
us is, that the moment that proposed to discuss
hsw far the further propagation of Romanism In
this eouRtry Is compatible with cur republican
institutions, you virtually declined to reply to
me; thus admitting that your political creed
cannot stand the public scrutiny. You have ad-
mitted the existence ef extensive societies in
Europe, under the control of persons most deci-
dedly hostile to our republican institutions, and
it has been charged that they have been organic
ed for the purpose of propagating Romanism, as
means of subverting the public liberties of this
country; and when propose to discuss this point
with you, you are silent. You understand the
nature of our institutions. You are veTsed in the
history of your own Church. You have studied,
as it is your business to do, the character Of the
American people You admit that yosr Objects
to make proselytes. You admit the existence of
deep-rooted prejudice, and you know that you
cannot so well advance the object of your mis-
sion to this country, as by persuading the Amer
lcan public that, by extending the Catholic reli-
xion, they will promote civil and religious iber-
ty. Yet, when / propose tn discuss this point
with you, you silent. What is more, you
.5enounce me: and all your presses and partisans
unite with you in prescribing me, for daring to
ask YOU to do so. Instead of indicating yosr
principles. and showing that there is nothing in
them incompatible with civil liberty, you de-
nounce me, and raise cry of persecution, be-
cause propose to enter upon a calm and dispas-
sionate discussion OF them Do you not, sir, adj
NIT the truth of the charges against you' Do
you not, by your censure and denunciation of me,
show that you yourself believe that your princi-
pies and purposes cannot bo defended If they
are right, there can be no harm in discussing
them. Instead OF denouncing, you should thank
me for affording you an poitunity of fair
and candid discussion. By your denunciatien of
the proposition, and your silence upon the merits,
you admit that they cannot be defended. You
may refuse to answer; but, as yet, you have not
the power, in this country, to silence discussion,
and thank you for the premature attempt to
consolidate the Church and State. You have
done more to arouse public scrutiny than any
Protestant could have done. Understand me.
make distinction between the great body OF
Catholics, especially OF American Catholics, and
those for whom you act; and do not Judge your
purposes by them. Many of them are good cit
.izens, attached to our institutions, and opposed
to the objects and purposes which | believe yel
l. ,,,I. d III
do Judge the Church of Rome, by its America
dress Judge it as it Is, with all its foreign al
lances, its foreign interests and principles to as
certain its objects; and it is by examining int
this Church, its acknowledged principles, an
recorded history, that we are to see what will /
its bearing upon our republican institutions.
In the Catholic Almanac for 1886, published
this country, on page 80, we read:
ss.The authority ofthe General Councils carrie
with it infallibility, because they represent til
universal Church, which, IN virtue of the prom
Use OF Christ, is infallible. This unerring author
ity relates to all questions of faith, morality an
discipline, so that the Church can propose to he
children only that doctrine which is sound an
consistent with truth, only that morality whic
is pure, only that discipline which is conformabl
to the Inaxims of faith" &
And, in your letter to Mr.. Forsyth, in speal
ing of the Bull of the present Pope on the subjet
of slavery, you say he is fsthe divinely constltu
ed" exponent Of the doctrines and morality Of tn
e:unchanging Church"
In the Encyclieal letter of the present Pop;
published in the Catholic Diary, of New Yorl
dated on the 18th august, 1882, addressed TO til
Patriarchs, primates, Areh-Bishops ard Bishop:
ne dcnounces the liberty of the press as 7erer-tt
be-st.ticientiy ezecrated and detested, and tell
you that ''the subject engaged the closest after
tion of the fathers Of the Council of Trent, an
as remedy to SO great an evil, they propose
that most salutary decree for forming an index /;
and after telling you that he shudders cat th
sight Of the monstrous doctrines or rather rorten
tious srrors which crowd upon us in the shane q
numberless volumes and pamphlets, small Il, siz
but big with evil, which stalk forth in every A;
rection, breathing maledictionwhich we denIore
over the face of the earth," he tells YOU ssn,
means must be here omitted, as the extremity a
the case calls for all our exertions to extermn.t
the fatal pest, which spreads through SO man,
works: NOR CAN THE MATERIALS on
ERROR BE OTHERWISE DESTROYER
THAN BY THE FLAMES, WHICH CON
SUME THE DEPRAvED ELEMENTS OF
THE EVIL
BY some, it has been supposed that the inf,
ence Of our free institutions IS gradually e,
tending itself over. Europe,l and that the fet
tezs Of despotism, which have s. long boun
down The spirit Of liberty within the pale OF L
church are being 1ocsened thereby There Al
some, who argue that it follows, that ii It /
true that the influence Of our example is reg
nerating the mon arches Of the old world, il
preposterous 70 suppose that Popery, which the
Omit to be the bulWsrk OF despotisa akroex