Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1841-1853, 1848-03-23

Churches houses, converts curates, dwell
lings, furniture jewels, precious yes-
sells, &c. ..................... o., OOO, 900
Floating capital with other funds, and the
capital required to produce the sum an
nually received in aims. .......... $1,000 900
Total ................ $50 ,000, 900
An estimate entirely too small; for Gomez Farms
sets down the total value at $1,000 000 which is,
doubtless, nearer the mark. No one. however, pre-
tends 10 know the value of the coin, jewels, and
naments belonging to the various churches, which
have been accommodating ever since the establishment
of the Catholic religion, and their real estate has been
constantly increasing In amount and value. They
own many Of the finest houses in the city Of Mexico
and other cities (the rents of which must be enor-
mOus) besides valuable real estates all the re-
public. Almost every person leaves bequest in his
will for for his soul, which constitute an in
cumbrance upon the estate; and thus nearly all the
estates of small proprietors are mortgaged TO the
church. The property held by the church in mort
main is held at S50,OO0,00O.
Gomez Farias Is the only man who has persevered
in the movement for the confscation of the church
property He attempted it in 1884; but was put
down by a revolution He attempted IT again in
IS47, and has again been ruled of power. One of
The best men IN the country we hope he may live to
the power of the church subseryent the power
of the people.
To give some idea of the wealth and magnfcence
of the church, we extract from the recent book of
Hon. Waddy Thompson, Mexico, the following
pictorial description of the interior of the Cathedral
of the city of Mexico. MIR. Thompson says:
The Cathedral, which occupies the site of the
great idol temple of Montezuma, is five hundred feet
long by four hundred and twenty wide, (larger than
the capitol of the United States) Like all other
churches in Mexico it is built in the Gothic style.
The walls of several feet thickness made of IN
hewn stone and lime Upon entering it one is apt to
recall the wild pictures of the Arabian Nights 1t
flo ypalt 0f vyax lectp
there.
1.-The clergy of Mexico do not, for obvious reasons
desire that their wealth should be made known to its
full extent they are therefore, not disposed to give
very full information upon the subject, to exhibit
their gold and silver vessels, vases, precious stones
and other forms CT wealth. Quite enough is exhibited
strike the behOlder with wonder. The first object
that presents itself entering the cathedral Is the
altar, the centre Of the building. II is made Of
highly wrought and polished silver, and covered with
profusion of ornaments of pure gold; each side
of this altar runs balustrade, or enclosing space
of about eight feet wide aud eighty hundred .ee
long. The balustrades about four feet high, and
four inches thick in the largest part; the hand rail
from six to eight inches wide. Upon the top of this
hand rail, ut the distance of six eight feet apart
are human images, beautifully wrought, and about a
foot high. All of these, the baustrade, hand-ral,
and images, made of compound of gold, silver,
and copper-more valuable than silver. | was told
that offer had been made 10 take this balusrade,
and replace it with another exactly the size and
workmanship of pure silver, and to give half mil
lion Of dollars besides. There is much more Of the
same baustrade IN other parts of the church. should
think, in all of it, not less than 800 feet.
As you walk through the building either side,
there different apartments, all filed from the floor
to the ceiling, with paintings, statues, vases, huge
candlesticks, waters, and thousand other articles,
made of gold and silver. This, too, is only the every
day display of articles of least value; the most costly
slowed away in chests and closets. What must 1t
be when all these brought out, with the immense
quantities of precious stones which the church is
known to possess And this is only of the churches
Of the city of Mexico where there between sixty
and eighty others, and some of them possessing little
less wealth than the Cathedral, and it must also be
remembered that all the other large cities, such as
Puebla, Guaduajara, Guanajua,o Zacatecas, Duran
90 and San Luis Potos have each proportionate
number Of equally gorgeous establishments. ltwoud
be the widest and most random conjecture to attempt
estimate of the amount of precious metals thus
Withdrawn from the useful purposes of the currency
Of the world and wasted in these barbarc ornaments,
incompatible with good taste they with the
humility which the most striking feature in the
character of the Founder of religion whose chosen
instruments were the lowly and humble; and who
himself regarded the highest evidence of his divine
mission, the fact that " to the poor the gospel was
preached"
81 do not doubt that there is enough of the precious
metals in the different churches Of Mexico TO relieve
sensbly the the currency OF the world,
which has resulted from the diminished production of
the mines and the increased quantity which has been
appropriated to purposes of luxury, with surplus
left to pay the cost of much tasteful decorations
In architecture and statuary of mahogany and mar
ble"
Such is the description and such the opinions of the
Hon. Waddy Thompson, late United States Minister
Mexico. We have only to say, that if the admin
stration then, should put all these church treasures
under the law of military contributions" it would
be vast relief to Mr.. Secretary Walker, and those
loans and treasury notes, TO say nothing OF the hu-
mainly and christianity, OF profanity, whatever
else you may choose to call il; of breaking up, de-
molishing, exnguishing and eradicatng that oigar-
chy of the hierarchy.
The purpose of the administration, we believe to
be, TO the clergy of Mexico to terms but it
mains to be whether this threat will not have
directly the contrary effect. We hope the admins
tration may not be deceived in this particular.
AS further evidence that the Mexican clergy alb
sorb the fat of the land, and tten upon the sweat OIL
the people, subjoin of the salaries of the
church bishops, &C., estimated In lSO2, and they
have rather increased than diminished since that time
Notwithstanding the exhaustng civil wars that have
wasted the Of the nation and the people a
large and debarred the development of the resources
of the country, 10 the destruction of the progress
that had commenced under the slow motions Of the
Viceroys Of Old Spain:
ANNUAL SALARIES.
Archbishop Of Mexico ................. S130,00(
The Bishop Of Puebla ................. I1O,OO(
" Valladolid .............. l00,00(
Guadalajara ............. 9O,OOt
Durango ............ $4,000