The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1843-11-27

| asr FIG IN BLACKS. sp af
Hst (ARlts)
| r ROME: ai t5s
PAINTED AT THE URBAN COLLEGE,
| - 184O
GREGORY XVI. OF THE Pores Cor THAT NAME)
| For the further remembrance of the case.
Placed at the supreme head of the Apostolate, and
although with no merits of our own contributing
thereto acting vcegerent Of Jesus Christ the son
of God, who in consequence of his very great love
for u.s. having been made man, deigned to die also for
the redemption Of the world think it falls within
the sphere OF our pastoral care, that We strive by
every means in our power to turn away the faithful
from the inhuman traffic in blacks or in any class of
men whatsoever. 1t is true, when the light of the
gospel began first to be diffused those wretched be-
ngs, who at that time were falling in so great num-
bers into the cruellist servude by reason especially
of wars then prevailing, felt their condition to he
most allevated with Christian masters. For inspir-
ed by the Holy Spirit the Apostles taught slaves
themselves on the one hand to obey their masters 10
the flesh, thsy would Christ and to do the will of
| God from the heart; while on the other hand they
directed masters to treat their slaves kindly and to
| render unto them whatsoever is just and fair and
also to forego any threats, well knowing that the
Lord OF these, as we'll as of themselves, is in the
heavens, and that there is with him no respect Of
persons ~ Since, however, true love towards all
was most strongly recommended everywhere by the
law OF the gospel and since Christ our Lord had de-
clared that he would consider done, or refused
unto himself, whatever OF kindness and compassion
should have been extended refused to the lowly
and the needy, ~ it easily resulted therefrom that
Christians not only regarded their slaves especially if
Christians in the light Of brothers, (3) but were also
| more ready to besow freedom on those who might
deserve it, which Gregory Of Nyssa shows was Gus
tom to be done on the celebration in particular Of the
Paschal Rites. (D Nor were there wanting those
who, animated by still more ardent love for their
species, consigned themselves bondage in order to free
others iom many of whom that Apostolic Man.
and also Predecessor Of Ours of most holy memory.
Clement H. testihes that he acquainted with (5)
In process of Time therefore, that the darkness
OF heather superstition has been fully dssipa-
ted and when the manners of less civilized commu-
mites also have been soened down by the gentle in
iuence of Faith working through Love, things hare
at ngh to such pass that for ages back no person,
hare been held in sary among rery many nations of
Christians. There were 1t is true, from time to time
we say 1t to our very great sorrow, Of the very
number of the Faithful, who shamefuy blinded by
the desire of filthy lucre did not hesitate to reduce to
Slavery, in widely separated and remote Lands In
dams, Bucks other orehed individuals or else bu es
tabiishing and gradually charging traffic in those
,rho had been made capiires by Others TO cotenace
| the shameful conduct Of these last Many Roman
Pontifs, II is true, of glorious memory Predeces-
sors OF Ours, did not fall in accordance with their
high ONCE TO censure severely the practices of those
men, as Injurious to their spiritual safety and disgrace
he
clearly saw that this result would follow that unbe
iieving nations should be more and more confirmed
IN their hatred towards our true Religion. The Apos
tohc Letter OF Paul ILL., given May 90, 1887, under
! the Flshermens Seal (St. Peters) to the Cardinal
Arch Bishop of Toledo, has this same object in view
well others in succession still fuller than his
one, given by Urban VIII, on the 22d of April
| $780, to the 4" Collector Jurum," of tie Apostolic
Churches in Portugal in which Letters those indi-
| vduals very severely censured by name rho
dared fy,ed ored,t In elias
srciange, 10 gire oicay The Indians Of the East or Wa
TO separate Hem from their tcres and children 10 despoii
them 81 then property to lead and send them apap 10 other
places, or in amy ,cay 10 dpure them If their freedom 10
retain them in serriitde and also 10 afford 10 those pursuing
the aorc aid line Of conduct adricc aid ror and ass
lance, under amy peisr color atsorer or 10 preach
or teach that his ras ati, 10 aid in any other ,cau
,chaferer HE practices ADORE alluded TO- (G) Those de
crees OF the Ponuf's just mentioned, Benedict XIV
subsequently established and renewed by a new Apos
tolc Letter 10 the clergy Of Brazil, and of certain
other regions, given on the Doth day Of December.
l74l IN which he stroye to arouse the anxious feel
ings Of the Priests themselves towards this end IN
Before this also, another Predecessor of ours sin
earlier than these, Plus II. on the Empire of tie Por
tuguese being sIended in his time 10 Guinea couni,
Of The blacks, gave on the 9Th Oct 1862 letter ad
dressed to the Bishop of Rubi, no was about TO sci
out for those parts IN which he only bestowed upon
that Prelate full powers for exercising his sacred
functions therein, with greater advantage but avail
ing himself of this same opportunity, aDmadverted
severely upon those Christians who were accustomed
10 drag the Mophyie, into si0rey ~ And even in our
own times Plus VII, influenced by the same spirit f
religion and love, his Predecessors zeaIo,,slv IL;
terposed his official influence VI ilh those in power
that the traffic IN blacks night at length entirely cease
among Christians hesc DEGREES and anxious cares
on the part of predecessors have with the bless
ing of God proved of no little avail in protecting the
Indians, and others above ment oned from the cru
city of invaders, and from the cupdlty of Christian
| traders. Not to such an extent, however that this
Holy See congratulate itself on the full success
of its Jealous efforts for the accomplishment of this
end seeing that the trade in blacks, though some
what lessened, is still carried by numerous Chris.
tisns
WE, THEREFORE,, desiring to remove so great
a disgrace this from all the borders of Chrsten
dom, and the whole subject being matureIy weighed
| (some of Our Venerable Brethren the Cardinals of
the Holy Roman Church being also admitted to our
counse) do hereby, treadng in the footsteps Of Our
Predecessors, by vrtne Of our Apostolic Authority
admonish and earnestly adjure in the Lord all faithful
Christians of every condition, that no Of them
DARE for the time TO come 10 harass uniustiv In
dams Blacks any other persons fMis class or 10 de-
spoil them Of their property or 10 reduce them 10 81 rey1
to lend aid taror 10 others mhiie doing such things
to,cdrds them or TO exercise that nh,nan traffic bu mean,
Of uhch The Blacks, as u they icere mol human beings
but the animals IN Uhaierer cau reduced 10 sIp,yu
are ,riihonf ann distinction IN violation of The Los NJ
Justice and humanity bought, Sold and so,nenes rom
demned 10 the endurance Of the most painful iabo~s and
by which, mor orer, through The hope Of gain that oyig-
nay cGered itself 10 The Of siares by means of
his same traffic, discussions also and perpetual hosIes
are as II Uere continually nurt,red in the countries Of
those unfortunate men.
WE, THEN, by virtue of our Apostolic Authority,
censure all The aforesaid practices, utterly unwor-
thy OF the Christian name, and by that same autho
riy, we strictly prohibit and nerdict any Ecclesas
tic or Layman from presuming to uphold under any
prcext or color whatsoever that same traffic in Blacks
as iocfd in its nature, otherwise TO preach
padicms in any oay n'osotpsr publicly on prtroteiy
10 fach [docere in opposition to those things which
we have made the subject Of sdmonition IN this our
Apostolic Letter.
In order moreover that this same Letter BULL of
Ours may the more easily become known unto all,