The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1846-07-02

would be to adjourn
Highly Important from Washing on-NIove-
ments OF the Catholics-Our Mexican Re-
lations.
We promised yesterday, to make some nte-
resting disclosures regarding certain negotiations
that have been for some time pending between
Bishop Hughes and the Cabinet at Washington.
We now hasten to lay them before our readers,
promising that they come from an authentic
source, and that they may be relied upon with
confidence.
Shortly before the meeting of the Catholic
Council at Baltimore, in May last, report was
prevalent that General Taylor had constrained
the Catholic soldiers in the army, eleven hum
dred in number, of force of fifteen hundred,)
to attend the instructions of Presbyterian min
lister. This report became the subject of COM
ment and discussion among the Bishops at the
council and it was proposed, we believe, by
Bishop Hughes, that deputation of the body
should wait upon the President in relation to it,
and at the same time to propose to him TO send
out Bishop Hughes himself with a suite of clergy
OF the second order, to treat with the Mexicans
In due time, after the adjournment ofthe council,
the deputaton waited upon the President at
Washington, and the proposal was made in form
The President was struck with the idea; and
calling his Cabinet together, laid before them
the proposal of the Bishops The demand of
the latter was, that Bishop Hughes should be
sent out, with full powers, in the light ola pleni-
potentiary, to treat ofthe matters in dispute be-
tween our government and that of Mexico. That
he and his suite should be despatched to Vera
Cruz, in United States frigate, and should have
such further conduct to the capital, as ported
tl,a 80
object which the Bishop proposed to effect was to
dissipate the prejudices of the Mexican people
towards the United States, and to dsabuse the
minds of the clergy, and through them, of the
people, Of the error which the military despots of
Mexico have taken pains to disseminate, that the
Americans, should they be allowed to gain the
slightest foothold on Mexican soil, would burn
their churches and overturn the Catholic religion.
The Bishop further hoped, through his influence
Catholic Bishop, and his high office as Minis
ter Plenpotentiary of the United States, effect
renewal of peaceful relations between the two
countries, on terms honorable to both
This proposition entertained and discussed
at Cabinet Council, and it received the approval
of nearly all present, we believe, except Mr..
Polk. He too was favorably inclined towards it,
butwas fearful that such an arrangement would
the country, that might possibly result in scenes
Of bloodshed, like the Philadelphia riots-a conse-
quence which he was DESTROYS to avoid Besides,
the members Of the Cabinet, although in favor of
the plan, were not altogether clear about des-
patching the Bishop in frigate, and with the
pomp he desired The proposition was, therefore,
declined for a time.
The Bishops, who were at this time staying, if
we mistake not, in Georgetown College, thereupon
held another consultation, the result of which
was, that they again waited on the President and
offered to send five chaplains to the army-two
from Georgetown College, two from an establish
ment OF Jesuits at St. Louis and the fifth to be
chosen by these four The Cabinet was again
consulted and an immediate assent given. The
President, in his reply to the Bishops, stated that
there is no law of Congress authorizing the en-
ploynent of chaplains for the army, but that he
would take the responsibility on himself.
The following stipulations were then stated by
the Bishop, the sine qua non of the mission Of
the Jesuits -
That they should be recognized and respected as
clergymen in the army.
intercourse with the Catholic soldiers, while not
ployed on military or camp duty.
3D. That the Protestant soldiers shall be allowed to
converse and have unrestraned intercourse with the
priests, whenever the soldiers choose.
shdtt
can camp army and people. at any and all times except
on the ere Of an engagement phsn their iearing the .ame
ieadto any breach Of military discipline.
These stipulations were accepted by the
President, and the arrangement at once
consummated. In accordance with this arrange
ment, two of the Jesuits, the Rev. Messrs. Neil
roy and Ray, have already proceeded to join the
army, and left New Orleans on the 2lst ult in the
Alabama, for Matamoras.
II will be perceived that these stpulations espe-
cialy the fourth, give those cergymcn unlimited
power To have unrestrained intercourse with
the camp Of the enemy in time of war, is trust
so unusual and extraordinary, that the President
must have had the highest confidence not only in
the venerated clergymen who have been chosen
for the mission, but also in the order to which
they belong. No one who is acquainted with
these gentlemen, can doubt for a moment that
they will fulfil the object Of their mission faith
fully and well, and that the national honor and
the safety of our army, will not be jeopardized
by being entrusted 70 their keeping We are of
the opinion that the President, in sending these
gentlemen with such extraordinary powers, has
pursued wise and judcious course and that
the mission will have the most beneficial results,
when viewed as piece of State policy But we
feel inclined to believe that this announcement
of the conditions of the mission will cause an
awful outbreak OF anti Catholic feeling through
cut the country, and that Mr.. Polk will be bitterly
denounced as having endangered the safety of our
army, by,Rgreeing to stipulation allowing the
chaplains to go from one camp to the other, and
to have unrestrained conversation with the SOL
diers.
We feel assured, for our own part, that the
mission OF these highly respectable clsrrymen