Staunton spectator, and general advertiser. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 183?-1849, 1841-08-05

.anoiher Case Of .qrresi and Inprisonmenf.-
The following is handed TO us, for publica-
ton, as a copy of letter communicated IN
the Secretary Of State. We have no knowl-
edge of the character Of the author of the let
ter, but are informed by him that he has seen
the Bishop of Detroit in Rome, and vouched
Tor the truth and soberness of his address To
the Governnent.-We are not fully aware Of
the extent of the power Of the Pope over those
who acknowledge their allegiance to him, bur
we had supposed that his supremacy was OH
ly spiritual, and did not profess to extend to
temporal matters, or to the lives and liber,ic.
of American citizens.-We know not 10 wbat
conditions Bishop REESE may have subscribed
as the price of his liberty, but as an American
Citizen, claiming the protection of his Gov
ernment, he is entitled to it, unless he has
been guilty of some crime against the laws
where he is imprisoned. The arrest and i'm .
prlsonment OF Mcleod, under more justiiiable
circumstances for aught that we see.set Enu-
land in blaze. What will Americans ssy
and do lift shall appear that one of their ci,i-
zens has been arrested and incarcerated by a
foreign power, without any violation of civil
or criminal law
10 the Hon. Daniel Webster, Secretary of
Stale.
SIR: IL hasten to make known to the Gov
eminent Of the United States of America. a
fact OF a serious character, and highly inter
estng to the national dignity of the country.
The Bishop of Detroit, Michigan, Mr..
kese, an American citizen, is confined in a
dungeon OF Rome without communication
with any living person, and consequently
without the knowledge of the American Min
lister resident therc-a target for the blacklist
calumnies, and a victim of The most atrocious
prosecutions from his colleagues here in reli.
gious matters, he was summoned 10 Roma
towards the end Of 1888, if l am not mistaken.-
and In 1889, when made his acquaintance
he was confined in Convent under am &C.
clesiastic prosecution. On the process beinr
completed, he was ordered to resign. This
he refused to do; and then he was thrown in
TO dungeon, perhaps of the nquisition,
where three other Bishops are lying. There
he is overwhelmed with suiferinps, and tor
tured to oblige him to resign, and all possible
measures We're taken to prevent him from in
voklng theprotection of the diplomatic agents
OF his own country. A similar case has hap
pened to the Bishop of Philadelphia, MIR.
Conwell. But this prelate, whilst i'm the
same position of Mr.. REESE, was fortunate e.
nough to make his escape from Rome; and,
arrested In Paris, under Charles the Xth, by
order OF the Pope, was set at liberty through
The Intervention of the American Minister.
Thinking that the Government ofthe Uni
ted States are to look upon their citizens under
no religious aspect but merely as free citizens
OF this Union, could scarcely believe but
that, in consequence Of this disclosure, ready
and efcacious steps will be taken to cause
the Papal Government to be called to account
for such scandalous abuse of its spiritual
power.
have the honor to be
Your most obedient servant,
BERNARDIUS CASrELLI.
Washington, d. c., July i3, 1871.