The daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1848-1851, 1850-05-20
slavery and the cntholic Chvrcb.

slavery and the Catholic Church.
The Bulletin Of last week comments in highest
terms the lecture Of Rev. Mr.. Cummings. recently
delivered az the Tabernacle, NewYork. We, too
have readis and join in the encomiums bestowed on
il BY our contemporary Ills a calm rational exami-
nation Oh the question, showing how the Catholic
Church has, in all ages considered the subject and
in what manner it has acted in regard to it.
The learned divine first speaks Of the existence
of slavery in the Patriarchal age subsequently, of
its recognition by the Mosaic Code. AT the time
of the origin of Christianity, slavery in its crueest
form existed in all the regions Of ancient civilization
The Catholic Church, ladies' and gentlemen,
had to speak in reference to this question of slavery
from the time Of her first appearance in the world.
Il Pagan Greece and Rome swarmed with white
islaves, beyond what we, who enjoy the light Of
Christian civilization, believe possible. 1t must
be remembered that those nations lived in state Of
all but continuous warfare with the nations that
surrounded them, and that all those who were not
killed upon the battle field OF made to celebrate the
triumph OF their conquerors by gadatorial conflicts
renamed in bondage, with all their families The
city OF Athens, possessing 10000 free citizens,
counted over AZ, 900 slaves. Cicero tells us that in
Rome, shortly before she became an empire, there
were scarcely 1000 holders of property, though the
population amounted to 100000. Under the en-
/ pre- things grew worse. The historian Tacitus
i
| death IN one house, in virtue of barbarous law,
enacting that when Roman citizen was murdered
In his dwelling all his slaves should be killed like
wise, al circumstance which illustrates at once the
number and the hopeless condition of the bonds
men. A motion made before the Roman
Senate to prescribe particular garment for bonds
men, but it was lost, "lest the slaves should count
their numbers" The poet Lucan, alluding to this
state Of things places in the mouth of Caesar this
remarkable expression, "the human race lives only
for the benefit of few men (" an expression
| worthy to be used by heather tyrant, and to be
recorded by heather bard. These historical facts
and many others that could be adduced, justify the
assertion that when Christianity came into the
world, it was covered with slaves"
| The Catholic Church has acted on the principle,
Render unto Cesar the things that are Caesars"
and which ST. Paul carried out in his restoration Of
| the slave to his master The Church has sought
| in all ages the amelioraton and equalization of
men, but she has always respected the order of
society. She teaches obedience to the slave for the
love of God and babe the master be merciful for
fear of his justice. She does not attempt to re-
move one evil by inficting greater. 1t is by
moral suasion alone that she has sought to inter
ere with its existence, and not by bringing to bear
the Christian Code Of positive justice.
He denies the axiom that men are created free
and equal. He shows that this is not the case
in any sense. He ridicules those philanthro-
pists, both in England and this country who
are so clamorous against slavery, but who at the
same time watch with much anxiety the cotton
market, and sweeten their threats, made hoarse by
their abolition zeal, with slave grown sugar.
After arguing the subject one Of abstract
morals he takes up the constitutional bearing and
| in mastery manner concentrates the Southern
argument.
| There is nothing in the Constitution opposed to
the principles and practice of the Church. 1t
contains only such provisions as were essential to
the formation of the Union, and these must be car
red out in good faith. If any change is ever to be
made it must be by the action of the Southern
States, not by compulson of the Federal Govern
ment.
"The only plan which seems to me a practical
one for the abolition Of slavery is the improvement
| of their moral faculties first, and then of their
minds in their present condition. This must be
| done not by agitation. 1t must be done by the
authority of the slave States themselves in con-
| stitutenal manner. Let the grossest abuses be
corrected first and laws Of each State regard to
slaves be enforced. Let those who are friends to
the black man do what they can by words and ex-
ample to protect him, and to obtain for him the
privileges which the law allows him. If thew want
TO unite in societies for that purpose, let them
OF the community to back them, and then petition
the State Legislatures for the removal of any
clause which may seem tyrannical. Almost every
great event in the country will then assist them
The. addition Of new territory will assist them,
even, for it will spread the slaves over larger
area. There is no reason to believe that the in
crease Of territory without the importation of
slaves, will multiply them any faster"
The practical application exhortation with
which he concludes is full of wit pathos and high
est eloquence. We close with brief extract, and
again urge our readers to procure copy. Its great
length alone prevents its publication in the Cres-
cent. Though we have never heard of Mr.. Cum
mings before, we will bet he is an Irshman-not
simply from the illusions to Ireland-but the style
is Irish all over; and by that we intend to pay the
highest compliment in our power-for certainly in
eloquence the Irish bear the palm alone"
we must love our Southern brethren, and thew
US and arrange our family difficulties as brethren
should. This republic is harp, of which the fed
eral compact is the golden frame and the sovereign
States are the chords Of silver Joined harmo-
niously together with restraint but the law Re-
lax one OF these chords, or subject it TO UNEQUAL
tension, and the others will be untuned by the dis
cordant sound Of one. Take away a string and
you destroy the harmony OF the whole instrument
Much applause) This young republic again, is
like beautiful machine, invented by some of her
ingenious sons. Her State charters are like so |
many wheels, one indenting the other, and all |
turned by the large wheel of the Federal Constitu-
ton. Strong, in good working order, is this ma
chine; patent has been taken out for her her |
wheels are well oiled, and she has 90. the steam
pretty fairly up. Who proposes now to stop one
OF the wheels, to take one or more of them out?
Ii such an attempt be made, perhaps the machine
will get out OF order and stop; but it is far more
likely that the impudent adveniurer who attempts
such thing, will be knocked on the head BY the
crank, or scaded with hot water from the boiler,
daughter and cheers.) THIS young America of |.
ours is a mountain maid whose beauty is of the
healthy and sun-burnt order. She was brought
INTO the society Of nations when she was thirteen,
but now she is thirty, each State counting for
year. She has laid out herportion to good advan.
tage, and she wants for herself and her growing
family all the property she has. The West is her
farm, the East her Market the North her worlxsbon
and the South her garden. She wants for her
family, New England to go to school in, Ohio and
Wisconsin TO practice agriculture, Kentucky TO
hunt in, the Carolinas to provide sugar for her
table and cotton for her clothes, California to GET
plenty Of gold, and New York to take care Of it,
and put i out to good purposes when she has got it
The CATHEDRAL OF SARAGossA-Destructio
By Lightning Private letters give startling ae-
count Of the total destruction of the beautiful ca
thedral of Saragossa, (SpainD by lightning.