The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1848-12-02

perately urged The effect of this has been, that !
this principle Of aurcular confession, as far at |
least as Catholic authority can prove 1t, is
of divine origin, and that the Protestants In
the middle ages, shed blood and committed
the atrocities we have referred to, to no pur-
pose. Is proof needed of thisl We speak
not as Catholic or a Protestant; nor as a
sectanan of any kind. We speak as man enter
tanning liberal views towards rellglonsts of every
sect-even towards the pagans Of the East. We
care not Of what religion man may be. His re-
hgion is matter between himself and his Creator,
with which we have nothing to do. The proof OF
the probable final settlement of this vexed ques-
ton is furnished by the descendants of the very
men who inflicted those TEXTURES in the name of
religion, and IN defence of their opinions that
aurcular confession is not of divine origin; for 1t
is positive fact that the Puseyite branch of the
Episcopal church in this State, at our very doors,
are about to introduce it INTO their church. The
movement has not yet been publicly commenced;
but In 81 ort TIM there will appear four able and
powerfully written sermons from the pen Of one
of our Episcopal bishops, urging Its introduction
into their church.
What will be the next point on which the Ca
tholics and the Protestants will agreel They are
approaching each other rapidly, every day; and
were ii not we apprehend for temporal reasons,
they would shake hands and be reconciled at once.
Apostolic succession, however, is IN the way car
rying with it the offices of the church. When the
church, of every denomination, shall be stripped
OF all its outward pageantry, as It will be by the
good sense of the people; when ministers of ali
denominations shall not have such comfortable
situations as they now hold; when, in fulilment of
what is imposed on them by the recognized Head
OF their Church, they shall take up their cross and
follow him, the few remaining principles that are
at issue between the rival churches will be re-
conciled, and then there will be less bigotry less
intolerance, and more charity in the world-even
toward atheists--than are now extant.
national CONVENTIONS the public are
aware, we have, Tor long time past, taken ground
against what we termed national conventions of
politicians, for the nomination of candidates for
the Presidency and Vice Presidency, to be sup
ported by the people. We have, on several occa.
sons, pointed out the evils that have resulted from
'hem--one of the principal of which was the vir-
tua denial of the right of the people to select their
public servants.
This is an 'abolilonism" that we are in favor
OF, and have for a long time, favored Our Fou-
iIltuu VI the xFtONnc, we perceive, JOINS
us IN advocating this ism; and It is, perhaps the
only one on which the two journals have ever
agreed. This we look upon as a happy omen.
The new hat, boots and brooches which Mr..
Greeley has received from the contributions of his
friends, who wish him to make decent appear
arce In Congress, have we should Judge, created as
great revolution in his intellect as they have in his
person. Clean clothes, although the texture may
not be the finest, have wonderful influence on
the human system. We hope our friends willhand
IN their subscriptions as fast as they can few
more shirts and half dozen pocket handker
chiefs are still wanting to complete Mr. Greeleys
wardrobe before he takes his seat Be quick, gen.
tlemen; who knows that they may not have the
effect of making him abandon Fourerlsm, COM
munism, or some other of the radical, ultra and
dangerous doctrines which he so seduously en-
beavers to introduce into the United States!
FLoeeNG IN THE NAvY.-We Perceive that an
efforl is being made by Mr.. Haynes, to obtain sig
natures 70 petitions praying CUugrros abolish
the cat ninetals in the navy and that several of
the most prominent men of the land are giving
him their influence.
There can be no question that fogging Is dis
grace to our navy, and derogatory to our national
peanng Fl ON our institutions Of Learning on shore,
because 1t has been reduced to moral certainty
that there is more efficacy in moral force, in con-
trolling the human mind, than there is in corpo-
real punishment. This, however, Is not the only
objection that can be urged against that barbarous
punishment IN our navy. An American citizen
ought not to be deprived Of his manhood because
he undertakes to fight for the flag of his country.
lslo To- olal L.
dignity and self-respect, then there would be
no lmproprety In treating them as we
would horse or an OK. But the American
sailor is man-an intelligent man-an Amerl-
can. How, we would ask, does man of
this description feel, after undergoing barbarous
punishment of this kind! His spirit must break
under it, He can no longer look his fellows
straight in the face. He carries with him marks
of his degradation that never can lie effaced and
as long as he lives, he is changed man to what
he was before. But 1t may be said that the sailor
can escape punishment by attending to the disci-
pine laid down for his guidance. That Is all very
good; but we are fallible, and liable to err If
sailor once is he to be degraded forever after
wards! There would be no justice in It, There
fore we sympathize with this movement, and we
hope that Congress will give Its attention to the
subject, at the earliest practicable moment and
abolish by law this punishment.
MExIco.-We hear of nothing but revolutions
and rumors of revolutions, from this country
They come upon us in perfect avalanche. That
country is, indeed, state of transition, the end
of which can predict, unless it be the ul.i-
mate incorporation Of every inch of Its territory
with the United States. 1t Is great cauldron of
SOUP boiling The more fat falls into the fire,
the greater the blaze, and the more violently the
condiments agitated. Wait awhile.
SAILING OF THE U. S. MAIL STEAMERS PANAMA
AND FALcoN.-These two fine steamers left yester-
day, for their respective destinations-the former