The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1843-12-06
THE POPE'S BULL.

| 10 ht Edu0T Of Lhe Jhad1SOntdn- ,ler. .t
Sir: An article which appeared in your paper Of
the 9th ultimo under the signature of Roane, "
introducing your readers the apos'ocal letter OF
Pope Gregory I6th Of the Sd Of December 1889, has
been lying by me for several days awaiting hour
OF leisure to enable me to throw together few OBJ
servations which it suggested, and which, as Caho
lie and subscriber, think have some claim on
your editorial courtesy to give place in your
1 columns iasgSi .,A tcs4gl
My knowledge of the Latin language is too limit
ed to enable me to decide whether the translation of
the original, published by Roane," is faithful
one or not !; but whether faithful or not presume
that is the same as Roane" found prepared to his
hands in other papers. Imay be permitted to say,
however, that the common partisan trick of resort
ing to skilfu of CAPITALS and italics, has often
the effect of imprtng different character to pa
per from that which the author Of it designed, and
causing the casual reader to put construction upon
| it which the plain text would not warrant That
Roane" has thus been imposed upon is evident from
the "vast Importance" he supposes this paper is
likely to have upon the world in general and the
United States in particular. Roane" evidently has
fallen into the superstition that Catholics
are bound in conscience to yield implicit obedience to
Pontfcal DEGREES Of whatsoever character they may
be, and whether they concern their religious civii
conduct. and into gross misconcepton of the OBJ
ect and design of the Apostolical letter alluded to.
do not blame him for falling into such mistakes, for
the history of the past shows how difficult ii rs for
Protesants comprehend the true relations subsist
ing between Catholics and the Chief Pastor OF the
Church Nevertheless, / think that +" Roane" has
rendered il proper, IL not necessary, for Catholics to
avow their own construction of the Papa rescript.
This Bull, or rescrpt or Apostolical letter, or
however else it may be styled first found its way
into the American newspapers some time in the year
1910. Every Catholic Prelate, Priest and Layman,
who read it, understood il as applicable only to the
tr dc in slaves carried on, the coast of Africa,
and, 80 far, intended to cooperate with the Gov
eminent of the United States, which had de-
clared those concerned in that Infamous traf
fc to be guilty Of piracy, by bringing
raj and religious influence TO bear upon such Of
the concerned protested to be members ofhe Cath
olic Church. That this was fair and pralseworihy
object presume neither Roane, nor any other cit
izcn of the United States is disposed TO deny. No
Catholic dreamed that there any thing contained
in tie letter which affected, designed TO affect,
the social relations of the People of the ned States,
or 10 cncroach upon their cip rights or interfere with
the relations master and slave they exist In these
States 1t read, pondered over, and laid aside 10
be forgotten, in truth il was forgotten, until, fol
purposes which shall not characterize, IT has been
resusca,ed and ostentaiiousy paraded in some news
papers in New York and elsewhere, avowedly hostile
To- the numbers of the Catholic church. Had it been
the purpose of the Apostoca Letter to interfere with
the individual rights of The members Of The Church in
this country and had the authority Of the Pope so to
interfere been acknowledged the fruits would have
been long since visible. Bu, where those fruits
It published here nearly four years ago and yet
is it known that of the multitude of Catholic slave
holders in Maryland, the Dhtrict Of Columbia, and
the Southern States, n single one has monumitlej his
slaves in obedience TO this supposed mandate. Or
has one member of the Catholic church, in any par,
the country, been known TO nlly himself with the
abolitionfs,s Not one, not Then what fea-
lure ofihis celebrated paper is il that gives to it "
nfuence vastly important than that trucised by
Imperial Rome and Ctnsnate Rome eren al her great
est point ofeleration" Or"fsr greater than The ,eor
offhs Rero ,rion, the adoption Qfrrin STATE Consti-
fuiions he DeeIIra son Of American Ind peadence"
&c. SCI
But grant for the sake of illustration what we Ut
terly deny-that the Pope's Bull was intended to
command Catholics their slaves free and that
Catholic citizens e the United States acknowledge
their obligation to obey the command. What then
Does Roane" any else to say III It it is
unlopfyi to manumit slaves Surely not for that
is done every month almost in tho heart of the
outb.rn States. Before and during the Revolution
he Quakcrs in Maryland, or at least the majority o.
them, were shareholders. In obedience to a lap ct
their Church enacted some sixty years ago, they oil
manumi'ted their slaves once Did any body ever
complain Of this exercise Of their undoubtd right y
Or il found that the rights or interests of other
Shareholders cncroached upon or rendered less
secure tber.by1 Then why should the submission
Of Catholics TO law Of heir church-supposing il TO
be law--dsturb the peaceful slumbcrs Of RoA me-
or any body else The Bull of the Pope is addressed
TO Catholics only and it's requirements, however they
may be construed concern them alone, and it may he
safely leh to themselves TO deal with it, ~ ~,
In constituting the Papal Bull, the Catholics of this
country have pursued their uniform mode Of arriving
tits true intent and purport. They have read the