The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1848-09-15
REMARKS OF MIR. BADGER,
OF NORTH CAROLINA,
ON THE MISSION TO ROME.
In SENATE, MARCH, lS4S.


In SENATE, MARCH, l64S.
The President of the United States in his message of tn
7h of December l647 recommended Congress estab
lshment of mission TO Rome in the following words:
1.-The Secretary of State has submitted an estimate Il
deiray the expense OF opening diplomatic relations with tn
gess in these States well just regard CON
nercal Interests, have in my opinion rendered such
In pursuance of this recommendation the House of Rep
reseratves introduced into bill, to supply deficiencies
the appropriations for the service of the fiscal year endne
the 30th OF June, lo4o an appropriation TO deay thu
expense of charge dafiaires at Rome. This bill bens
under consideration in the Senate, Mr. Benton moved tC
strike out that appropriation, and to insert instead
appropriation for " Minister Plenipotentiary."
| THURSDAY, March I6, 1S4S.
The question being upon agreeing to the amendment pro-
posed by Mr.. Benton
Mr.. BADGER said
have myself been unable any necessity for esab
fishing either chargeshlp full mission to the Papa
States The President, in his recommends the
establishment of such mission for two first,
Of what he calls {" interesting political
progress Rome and secondly, because attention to the
commerce of the country requires it, Now, with regard
the latter viewor than seventy years, if have
any with the Papal States, have found it
adequately protected without having been under the
sty of establishing such mission Sir, the of
the United States with the Papa States must be very small
indeed In fact it small that 1t has been the
subject of distinct statement far as am aware, any
that have had from any Of the departments OF
the government in regard our intercourse with foreign
nations and the exports of the United States the whole
of Italy including the Papa States scarcely amount to
million of dollars year We have in the Papal States
three consuls The probability that the whole
of the commercial intercourse of the United States with
these States does reach hundred thousand dollars
year and it seems to me, that far the commercial
of the United States concerned, it would be
paying the largest insurance that has been known
mercia Dealings if incur the expense either of full
mission chargeshp for the purpose of aording
incidental benefit protection exceeding
hundred thousand dollars year, already under the
charge of three American consus. 1t to obvious
that this consideration has very little weight
But what lis the other assigned by the President
The interesting political which have taken place
the Papa States under the direction Of the present Pope In
what possible mode ask do these political events make
necessary that should send minister Rome? How
connected with these events What influence it
expected that minister exercise these events
or the parties connected with them in what way will
this mission politically considered be of service to this
country the Papa Staes What is the character of
these political which in progress Rome
Nothing has taken place. which in the least embraces any
alteration the of government that has always OBJ
tanned in those States The Pope the abso-
Lutte master of his people that all his predecessors in time
have BEEN He has surrendered Of the absolute
powers which adorn and strengthen the tiara which he
He has erected barriers against the abuse of
those powers either by himself or by his successors lie
stands autocrat, possessed OF, and exercising
supreme authority all his Subjects who absolutely
dependent him for every privilege they enoyfo every
right which they exerciseor every relaxation which has
been extended them from the rigid severity of former
days. He nothing the world, in comparison with his
predecessors, but good and kind Of his subjects
emphatcaIly VaSSal5 mas no pOllt-
cal REFORM he has made surrender of any of the princ
Piles of arbitrary power he has not evnced any disposition
abrdge the limits Of his authority in the slightest degree
The authority of that scepre which he yields
is the same unreasonable and unqucsioned dominion
which has been exercised by his predecessors Now,
what earth induce at this time to establish this
mission the Papal Satcs? Do expect to sustain his
Holiness in pursuing the course which he has adopted
Do intend to extend to him countenance and
port Why, in that point of view, think 1t may be Sc
ousy questioned whether do not greatly ovcr-estimae
the position which occupy, and whether his Holiness
will consider himself at all obliged by our countenance and
support
try There to be protected none, least,
has always been amply protected by the consus Of
the United States the Papal dOmnions There is no.
thing in the present political condition of Rome which
makes such mission Of the slightest Importance to us
to her. considered in regard to those political relations
which may subsist between and her two independ
ent States Well that being SO, not the United States
now commencing, in the establishment OF this misson
system which have been heretofore entire strangers
Is not this mission, the of it which have presented
merely religious mission on the part OF the United States
to tho first bishop of Europe? Certainly 1t Is, SIR Al
though his Holiness not only the first bishop-the uni
versa head of the Roman Catholic chuchbut annexes to
that the character of secular prince, 1t must always be
recolleced that the Papa States but the appanage
uched his episcopal see for the purpose OF giving sup
port and dignity his religious character and Office is
spiritual ruler that he exercises his influence over his
domnions. AS secular prince, simply and merely, he
would be nobody 1t ia his Holiness that governs. ia
the universal bishop" tina. rules in the Papa States His
councillors the principal bishops priests and deacons
of cbristendom His ministers priests. Hs ambassa
doris are priests The whole machinery CONTROL and drec
ton of his government stamp as being every respect
a spiritual dominion. (See Note l-Appendix) Now
admit that that consideration would furnish reason why
the proposed mission should he established, if there
were any great interests of the people of this country to be
protected any great object connected with their welfare
to be achieved by it. But far aware, there
no such considerations of policy to be urged in this
This is simply the sending forth of mission from the
United States to the first Roman Catholic bishop in the
world
To such mission, sir, |, for one am opposed wish
for our Roman Catholic citizens of this country, precisely
all enjoy, the absolute and unqualified possession
of all our religious rights. They may make themselves de-
pendent upon believe themselves be dependent upon
and be bound in spiritual submission TO- any head of their
church they please, here elsewhere but rely upon IT,
the establishment of this mission will be considered by the
great Protestant interests of this country under
taken for the purpose of giving new character to that par
tcuar church. of which the sovereign Ponu the head
1t will be regarded placing him, and his church in this
country upon different footing from that which is
cuped by other religious denominations and will be felt
throughout the of this land, that the government Of
the United States has instituted, reference to this pac-
uar church. proceeding entirely dssonant from Its past
policy and that has departed In no small degree, from
the principles of universal oleraon and that interview
ton in religious matters which the constitution has prescr
bed When we look SIR the small amount of the commerce
of the United States with the Papa States when we con-
slider the absence Of everything like an effort on the part OF
his Holiness the Pope introduce the principles OF tree
government the Papal States the idea will force itself on
the minds Of all that not for the thousands OF for
egn Roman Catholic in the United States the efforts
of his Holiness ameoratc the condlton OF his subjects
would have with less sympathy and the commerce OF
the United States with the Papa States would have attract
ed less soctude from the occupant OF the he House
1 A.