The southern press. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1850-1852, 1850-11-12

OF the Bishop OF Merioneth and Newport are as
signed the counties of Brecknock, Glamorgan,
Comarthan, Pembroke, and Rednor, also the Eng
lish counties of Hereford and Monmouth. In the
western district we create two sees, Clifton and
Plymouth; the first comprehending the countless Of
Gloucester, somerset, and Wilt; the second those
OF Devon, Dorset, and Cornwall. The central
district, from which we have detached the county
OF Salon, will have two episcopal sees. Noting
ham and Birmingham; TO the first we assign the
counties of Motifs, Derby, Leicester, Lincoln, ard
Rutland; to the second, the counties of Stafford,
Bucks, Oxford, and Warwick. In the eastern
district there will be one see, which will take its
name from the town of Northampton, and retain
the present crcumscription Of the district, except
the counties OF Lincoln and Rutland, which we
have assigned to the diocese OF Nottingham.
Thus, in the very aourshing kingdom of Eng
land, there will be one single ecclesiastical pro-
vince, with one archbishop and twelve suhragans,
whosezeai and pastoral labors will, we hope, by
the grace of God, bring new and daily increase to
the power of Catholicism. For this reason we
reserve TO ourselves and successors the right TO d-
VIDE this province into SEVERAL and to increase the
number Of It's bishoprcs as new ones may be re-
CURED, and IN general TO settle their boundaries as
II may appear meet before the Lord. -. ... ..
Meanwhile, we enjon the archbishop and bish-
ops to furnish at stated seasons reports OF the state
of their churches TO our congregation OF the Pro-
paganda, and not 10 omit informing US on all
points concerning the spiritual good other focks.
the congregation OF the Propaganda in all that con-
Germs the affairs Of the church in England. But
IN the sacred gov ernment OF the clergy and peo-
pe and all which concerns the pastoral Office the
archbishop and bishops Of England will enjoy all
the rights and faculties which bishops and arch
| bishops can use, according to the disposition of
the sacred canons and the apostolic constitutions,
and they will likewise be equally bound by all the
obligations to which other Bishops and archbsh-
ops are held by the common discipline oc the
| Catholic church.
/ Their rights and duties will not be in any case
impair ed by any thing that is at present in vigor
whether originating in the former form Of the
English church, or in the subsequent missions in
stltuted in virtue of special constitutions, prlvi-
leges, or customs, now that the same state OF
| things no longer exist. And in order that doubt
may remain, we suppress, in the plentitude Of our
apostolic power, and entirely abrogate, all the OBJ
lgatory and iurdcal force Of the said special con-
stitutions, privileges, and customs, however an
Gent their date.
The archbishop and bishops of England will
thus have the integral power to regulate all that
! belongs to the execution Of the common law, or
which are left to the authority Of bishops by the
general discipline of the church. AS for us, most
assuredy they shall never have to complain that
we do not sustain them by our apostolical au-
thorty, and we shall always be happy to second
their demands in all which appears calculated to
promote the glory Of God and the good Of souls.
In decreeing this restoration of the ordinary HER
| Vi Ill anu tne enjoy
ment of the common law of the church, we have
had principally in view the prosperity and increase
of the Catholic reIig zion in the kingdom OF Eng
land but we have also desired tc crafty the de-
slres Of 80 many Of our reverend brethren govern
ing in England, under the style of Wears apostolic
and also great number of our dear children Of
the Catholic clergy and people. Many of their
ancestors presented the same prayer to our prede-
cessors, who had begun to send Wears apostolic
10 England, where no Catholic bishop could ex-
erclse the common ecclesiastical law In his own
church, and who afterwards multiplied the num-
Der Of Wears apostolic, and of districts, not be-
cause religion was submitted in this country to
one exceptional rule, but rather because they
would prepare the foundation for the future re-
building of the ordinary hierarchy.
This is why we, to whom it has been given by
the grace of God TO accomplish this great work,
declare here that it is not in any manner in our
thoughts intentions that the bishops of England,
provided with the name and rights of ordinary
bishops, should be destitute Of any advantages, Of
whatever nature they may be, which they former
| ly enjoyed under the title Of Wears apostolic. 1t
would be contrary to reason to allow any act Of
ours performed at the earnest prayer of the Eng
| lish Catholics, and for the benefit of religion TO
| turn to theiI damage. Rather we cherish the firm
hope that cor dear children in Christ, whose atcs
| and lnrgesses have never been wanting to sustain
in England religion, and the prelntes who govern
there as Wears, will exercise still larger berality
TO the bishops who are now attached by permanent
bonds to the English church, in order that they
| may not be deprived of temporal aid, which they
| viii require TO ornament their temples and adorn
the divine service, TO support the clergy and the
poor and for other ecclesiastical services. Finally,
lifting the eyes to the Almighty and gracious God
from whom comes our help, we supplicate Him
| with all instance, dissertation, and action OF
grace, to confirm by divine grace all that we have
decreed for the good of the church, and to give OF
His grace to those whose it is to execute these de-
| crees, that they may feed the flock OF God com.
United to their care, and that their zeal may be APP
piled to spread the glory of HIS name.
| And, in order to obtain the most abundant sue
cor of celestial grace finally invoke, as inter
, cessors with God, the holy mother of God, the
! blessed apostles st. Peter and St. Paul, with the
blessed patrons of England, aad especially ST.
Gregory the Great, in order that the so!icude we
have displayed, Notwithstanding the insuffclency
Of our merit, to restore the episcopal sees of Eng
land, which he founded in his days with so much
advantage 10 the church, may likewise rebound to
| the good of the Catholic church. We decree that
this apostolic letter shall never be taxed with sub
reptlce or obreptice, nor be protested for default
either of intention or any defect whatever but al
| ways be valid and firm, and hold good to all in
| tents and purposes, notwithstanding the general
| apostolic edicts which, have emanated from sy-
Modal, provincial, universal councils, the spe-
cia sanctions, well as the rights Of former sees
| IN England, missions apostolic, vlcarages consti-
| tuted in the Pre- gress of time, Notwithstanding
| in one word, all things contrary whatsoever. We
likewise decree that all which may be done to the
contrary by any one, whoever he may be, know
ing or ignorant, in the name of any authority
| whatever, shall be without force. We decree that
copies Of this letter, signed by a notary public,
and sealed with the seal of an ecc sastic, shall
be every where received as the expression of our
| will.
Given at st. Peters, at Rome, under the seal Of
| the Fisherman, the 24th Of September, 1850, and
in the fifth year Of our pontifcate.
A CARDINAL LAMBRUsCHINI.
INDIANA CoNvENTIoN.-Ye sterday the debate
was resumed on the separate submission of the
question Of negro suffrage to direct vote of
! the neoplr An amendment nrovdinU that such