New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1851-08-20


losing that prestige he possessed, and : now be-
ginning 20 Re looked upon IN / measure as one
who has disappointed the hopes. no, 20 saw eN-
pectauous. that were SO iondly cherished on his
lnau duration
The Mexican Congress. composed OF such
minds az present, Il no; an obstacle IN the way
Of improvement. ls certainly OF no great service.
No unity Of ideas or sentiments Gusts IN the
minds Of lis members. The Chamber OF Pepu-
ties Is COZ posed Of young men whose views are
contracted. asplrans for notouety N their native
villages. They think II great mem, TO defeat
any measure proposed by an opponent. or are con
tlnually proposing something OF tritlng Interes,
that may afford them the pleasure Of making
speech, which perhaps Is never read ~ any one
but then selves As general rule. however,
they coincide with tie views Of the President
The Senate Is composed OF another class, pos
sessing more intellect, but Glsunlted among them
selves. and appear never willing TO agree with
the President or the Chamber on the most trlflng
matter even, without months of delay and useless
discussion.
It was hoped, and many really believed, that
Arista had intellect and energy OF character
enough TO cause all these dlScOrdant elements 10
unite with HIN for the purpose OF resuScltatlng
the Republic. Jealousy, however and the know
ledge. perhaps that he Is but Mexican mortal
alter all, have interviewed. and instead of beng
ruled, they discover they can rule him
The great thing desired by all liberal minds
here, and the first expected from HIM. was the
reduction OF the power of the Church, or the
making that body OF service to the Government.
The intelligent class would have looked upon
with pleasure, oF at least with indifference
The people feel themselves oppressed by the
Church, but none dare SPEAK openly against 1t
/ and IN spite OF The Monitors articles nothing
IN reality to prejudice It's power can be done,
/ so long as no one having influence, wCll-knOwn
/ integrity and power, viii take the initiative and
respous blllty These articles do no immediate
good. as they do not reach the people We, they
echo the secret opinions and sentiments of an
/ classes, and show how far the Indifference OF
/ the people exist toward the clergy.
The injustice OF taking a penny from ihe
Church more than from any other company, OF
individuals, Is not doubted. However they may
have obtained their enormous wealth, II must be
considered as legally and justly theirs, as no OBJ
.oCtiOn has been made against It's accumulation
Ii Is not the taking their money absolutely from
them, II Is SAID, that could be wished, but when
we take into consideration the distress and pos
sibie dissolution Of the Republic for the want of
only few millions. II does not appear unjust 10
change one set of creditors for another, and 10
impose loan on the Church, and when the pre-
sent troubles have passed rehgi0usIy pay them.
/ The country contains ample resources. and pay
ment could be made. forced loan appears the
less unjust when We consider that the Church
make no use of the money that they get, neither
for The Advancement of religion, for the welfare
OF Individuals nor for the general good but on
the contrary they conceal It. so that all or nearly
all that falls into their hands Is SO much with
drawn from circulation. Their property Is un-
improved, and their houses, churches and estates
are generally IN 4 state of allaplda,lon.
The priests are feared but not respected, be
cause they do not live in accordance with the
principles they pretend to profess, but rather lead
an idle, dissolHte life. The people beng more
moral than the priests-yet dommeered over by
them IN their dlstresses- naturally despise them,
and desire to see their power reduced, even
though they would not dare openly at first to and
IN their downfall
Instead of a religious institution Tor the promo
ton of the principles Of Christ, this appears IN
reality 10 be one solely for the purpose OF accu-
mulating money without any benehcent OBJECT
depressing the poor, and interfering with the
general progress OF the human mind.
The churches, IN consequence of their great
wealth, exercise a greater sway than Is compatl-
ble with the advancement Of the people, or the
prosperity and happiness Of the Republic The
priests are generally basey ignorant, and fear the
liberal influence of The present age, cOntendlng
against II because they know they are not intel
leCtual or moral enough TO stem lis torrent,
should Il once obtain a ioOthOd IN this country.
cnce their opposition 10 all improvements, all
change even. fearing, and with justice, their
sway over the minds OF the people and Govern
mcnt Will be lost
On the result Of the Presidential election be-
ing known, the Church trembled with fear. THIS
was well known, and II was supposed measures
would be taken 10 relieve the Government nom
lis immediate necessities by requiring a loan
from the Church 80 that the attention OF the
same could be directed to the internal improve
ment Of the country. and the reform OF thou
sands of abuses OF long eXlsteGce, and 10 the
general happiness. All this It IS sad, could
have been done had Gen Arsta ayalIed himself
oi the prestige he at FIRST enjoyed, and the tear
he Induced III the minds OF the Clergy.
This was not done, and the moment Is now
supposed to have passed, for the present, at least.
The Clergy have discovered a weakness on the
Part OF the Executive, and the consequent force
of their own power
On the other hand, 1t is agreed that the best
OF lntellectS, nor the most conSumate patriotism,
could convince a seli-cOnceted Congress OF the
truth or justice OF anything but OF their own
miserable ideas that loan from the church
would have done no possible good, because, II the
Government had gotenIt, Itwould not have been
applied 10 the payment of the public debt, but
consumed by the horde OF immoral employees,
and would never be repaid
These are the opinions generally and pretty
freely expressed by the most intelligent, and
yery great portion of the Me1lcans
In fne, II NAV be too soon TO expect anything
great But | may say can observe no change
as vet except for the worse. The arrangement
Of the interior debt appears TO be abandoned. No
laws respecting foreign immigration have been
PROPOSED The first payment Of the interest on
the English debt according TO the law OF 3Oth
Nov last due 1T July, ISL has not been made
Notwithstanding the assurances OF Mr. Payno
10 the creditors, and Congress DO not know now
10 provide a revenue The Government IS still
oyerburdened with employees whose industry Is
needed elseW here, who are not half paid, and VINO
doubtless continue the old system OF PlIlage
The Indians are allowed to murder, burn and
plumber on the frontiers, and as II nature even
wished 10 punish them. she has withheld her
bountlful hand and a serious famine Compare
lively speaklng) has dong prevailed causing
much suffering, and diminishing the population.
Yours respectfully, 10.