Richmond daily Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1842-1861, 1847-05-15
RICHMOND DAILY WING.
Confiscation OF the Church Property
I'm Mexico.


OF the willingness but recently manifested by tho Hera
civ 10 suppy fund. to enable the Mexican Government 10
carry on the war The Union looking beyond the obvious
motive dictates this late and reluctant concession to
the OF their county, the very existence OF which
IA threatened assumes that is zeal for tie mammon
of eousnoss-no, for the welfare OF sous-wheh
inspires and animaics the Catholics of Mexico and
fk,r,fors IL argues, at become matter OF grave
consideration. II the Church continues to oppose peace
md furnish the fuel Of sr-in plain English, If it will not
net as n traitor 10 its Government" whether the immense
revenues of the Church shall be left NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.
they shall be suffered remain at the disposal OF the
N.Y. and be applied to sustain the war against us-"he-
Their Justice and policy do not equally dictate that they
should be squeseed during the continuance OF the
war as legitimate means OF cutting of the cnemy's sup
plies"
Ii any measure upon earth be calculated than
another to eHasperas proud and sensitive peope-it any
can be moro instrumental in rousng the National pride,
and stimulating resistance to the las any can DC dew
sad tho effect of " hch will be certain defer
indefinite period that peace which fleets aud armies are
now engaged in the effort conquer-hen confess We
At loss TO imagine what 1t may be. The Me1icans,
Ike their ancestors OF Old SPAIN bgoted,
ghcncd people, entirely under the subsection OF their priest
hood aud far ready yield them obedience than -
submit any regular form OF Government The Priests hold
the popular impulses in the hollow Of their bandits IN
power to let loose this terrible element o: de-
proper II the design DO bring this to speedy con-
cluson sound policy would dePrecaie any unne-
ccssary evaporation of this formidable body.
What produced the fierce the French inva
zion Of Spain in lsOsi The nobility were unwnrke-
the people unused ams-the soljery undsciplined
rabb.e The formidable legons OF Napoleon scattered
them like chaf before the winds whenever they appeared
in the field What, thon ask, produced that obstinate
resistance which has pareiol in history and which
pprr hey
il stimulated the people Of Sarsgossa resist,
until their city pile OF ruins and OF 700 600 inhabi-
tauts 81 900 left tell the tale Of their he
roism aud their hatred. The Priests superintendent all
advised a-directed all. With the CTucfx his hand
the baSoi1oicd ifar would charge the head OF his flock,
pointing with the emblem Of salvation to the skies, ard
nssuring his ignorant followers that ell who fell in the holy
cause were pre-desined the regions Of eternal
happiness. The pitch % fury which they excited the
fana.ca inhabitants Saragossa is without example the
history OF mankind With the prospect Of Heaven before,
and the Of the galows behind, they fought with the
combined energy OF hope and despair
What, again ask induced the priesthood TO take this
active part far removed from the general duties
OF the pastoral Office The fear that their immense pos
sessions would invaded belief that their power and
their privileges nigh, be euraled the certainty that
change could add either This that caused them
let loose that OF popular wrath, which did
unu had shaken the Imperial Throne Of France into the
dust.
And arc we, with this example before eyes-disre
gading the warning Of hisioy-deaf the voice OF exPe
expected, these enlightened days, i'm
itaie example 20 recent-so memorabe-and dsas-
in its results Forbid reason-forbd Justice
forbid oil the principles Of mans nature, which lead him
eschew strife, where strife be avoided and cult
peace, friendship, and good feeling with his fellow
man.
We have thus far treated this proposition Of pol-
icy" Is it sanctioned by 'Justiee"-in whose as
many crimes have been committed the celebrated Madam
Roland said had been Perpeuaed in the of lib
ery2 Why is the property Of the Church alone be
quosiered Ii the principle be sound ought TO be
made applicable alike all and every Mexican citizen
who may furnish his Government with "tho fuel Of war"
should be subjecod the like summary punishment for his
devotion the country in which lie born and reared
and which he owes by law stronger than human en-
acimens and especially in the hour o: her extremity his
fortune and his life i PATRIOTISM them crime in the
vocabulary Of the Executive Organ We are aware that
strange readings have been given both to the Constitution
and to the Laws OF Nations order justify Of the
remarkable incidents Of this remarkable war; but we had
not supposed that it's authors prepared push their
doctrines quite lar require the citizens OF
Moxico to play the part Of traitors ;her own Government
IN order them against the rBTaciiy OF own
Aud we confde too much the integrity OF tho American
people and those instructive impulses which lead all men
10 love ard defend their native land, above and
against oil others, permit tolerate for moment the
idea that any considerations Of eTpsdeney induce them
10 give their sanction to proposition repugnant to the
feelings as well as 10 the convictions Of mankind
snoi irrelevant to add that the adoption Of the mea
suggested by the Washington Union would be in d.
rec, conflict with the solemn declaration made tho good
people OF Mexico" by General Scott IN the proclamation
addressed them by that officer and which vas doubtless
sent to hm from Washington r that purpose after the ca.
pnaon Of Vera Cruz and he was about TO axe % bis
line Of march lor tho Halls Of the MOntezumas" In az
extraordinary document in which, in imitation Of the Pro-
p'gandi-s Of the French Revolution the people Of Mexico
separated from their gOrerHment If the one were
m collision with the other and had iher our fleets
snd armies AID the oppressed multitude IN throwing III
the yoke imposed upon their unwilling necks by desp5uc
Rucr-in that singular document, the Moxcans are e1-
pfessy told Amer are not your enemies bni tho
'oncmIc', Jor a tune, Of the men. who a YEAR AGO.
mi-govcncd you ani brought on this unnatural war be-
- tween two great Republic. We the friends Of the
peaceful inhabitants Of the country we oceupy-AND
"THE FRIENDS OF YOUR HOLY RELIGION, IT'S
"IEERARCHY AND TrS Prizes rHOOD" wibuis
soetnu assurance staring tho face with what sem
blnee Of POLICY con We now violate by tho conGscnuon
OF ino properly Of ha Church which Ibis insurance has
been given, IN the face Of tho world
rhi'. by 'h' way, n oxp.cs7.1i which exceedingly
p'fhe' Vs. II seoms, according Cen Sc1trs pr1ca,1a-
81
Tl1 at iho power bot that We arc enemies
'foR a fHg" u ihc men, WIN, "a YEAR AGO" ,ysrs
NJ ho head o afars that Rcpuhhc But who ore those
men fatcd's and hs councillors, whI ao now i1 ttc
wnIe Slnt1 Aoua who catered N,ScY by o. mission Of
NJ fuk, BE- now The ruling spirit boo her public councils
How this declaration is o. b. recorciIc5 vIb IA. H c..
p'rng events however we know Perhaps the Wash
inKton Union can cn Rhten us 4!
We consider % duly o return Co the Wb,gs W.
pnn hc hearty thanks of OIL che Wings about here for tho
gallant manner in they have gone through their Int csst
We were not certainly prepared Tor such an exhibition a
power na they have mtde. They are richly enrt,d 4,
i've Rfauude OF the country.
JsIfartoa IErI Obf~rsr
We b)pc shd be able 10 send back .. rotopI ,oe,
thy greeting to our brethren in Kentucky next ADJUST
We hsvs regretted 90 zee much diversity of sentr,op,
the selection 81 candidates oF Congress boz many Of .
Districts ia fhst founi Wing State. Bot wo will mot p,r
IaIt ourselves doubt that harmony ct acton will be 81,
card ib ell Of iben before the struggle on. Is
kcuiucky friends remember Tsylof's ms1m, awe cen
h.. a. I i s.r eli vufIf