The Evansville journal. (Evansville, Ind.) 1834-184?, 1845-02-13
TIE %INQUEsFTIoN.

Prescott, in his History of Ferdinand and
Isabella, enters at some length into a history
of the Inquisition IN Spain. The establish
ment of this tremendous tribunal, ssbrought
as it weresthe whole Christian world at the
feet of the Clergy and subjected to a fiery
persecution all whose religious creed differ
ed from their own.
"The proceedings of this Tribunal were
characterised,7 says Prescott, Shy the most
fragrant injustice and inhumanity to the ac-
cused. Instead of presuming bis innocence
until his guilt had been established, it acted
exactly on fhe opposite principle. Instead
of affording him the protection accorded by
every other ludicature, and especially de-
manded in his forlorn situation. ii used the
most insiduous arts TO circumTent and crush
him. He had no remedy against malice or
mis-aPprehension on the partof his accusers,
or the witnesses against him, who might be
his bitterest enemies; since they were never
Erevealedto nor confronted with the prisoner,
nor subjected TO a cross-examination, which
can best expose error or -wilfnl collision in
the evidence. Even the poor forms of us
tice, recognised ia this court, might be readi-
~ dispensed with, as its proceedings were
impenetrahly shrouded from the public eye,
by the appalling oath of secrecy imposed on
all, whether f~unctionaries, witnesses, OF pris-
oners, who entered within its precincts. The
last and not the least odious feature of the
whole, was the connexion established be-
tween the condemnation Of the accused and
and the interests of bis judges; since the
confscaiions, which were the uniform penal
ties of heresy, were not permitted to flow in
t0ihe royal excheqner. until they had first
discharged the expenses, whether IN the
shape Of salaries or otherwise, incident to
the Holy Office"
The last act of the dismal tragedy was the
Auto de Je, 0, Act of faith, which was inten-
ded, says a Spanish writer, to represent The
@terrors of the Day of Judgment. On this oc-
~casien the p%roudess grandees of the land did
not think it beneath them ITO puton the sa-
bic livery of familiarss of the HOLY Office and
bear alo(t its banners"
EThe most important actors in thesscene
were The unfortunate c~onvicts, who were now
disgorged for the first time iromthe~ dungeons
of The tribunal. They were clad in coarse
wooden garments, styled san benitos, brought
close round the neck and descending like a
frock, down 10 the knees. These were of a
yellow color, embroidered with a scar1etcros
and well garnished with figures ofdevils and
flames of fire, which, typical Of the h%eretic's
destiny hereafter, served 10 make him moro
odious in the eyes of the superstitious multi
tude. The greater part of the sufferers
were condemned to be reconciled, "a term
which signified the Communication of a CAPT
tai sentence, or Imprisonment for life.)-
Those who were to be relaxed were deIiv-
!, cred over, as impeniteht h~eretics, TO the Sc
. cular arm, in order 10 expiate their offence
by The most painful ofdeaths, with the con-
seriousness still more painful, that they were
to leave behind Them names branded with
: infamy, and families involved in irretriegable
: ruin"