The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1852-03-20
AFFAIRS IN THE CITY.


Circular NJ Bishop Hughes
10 TBE CLERGY AND LAIyY or THB DIOCESE OF NEW
Y6RK.
DEARLY BELOVED BRETHREN--I have been adj
dressed, orally and in writing, by many individuals
DESTROYS Of knowing whether, IN my opinion, 1t
would be expedient to forward petitions to the Le
gisature Of this State in relation to the project OF
law now before that body regarding the mode of
preserving religious and charitable Catholic pro-
Rerty i'm this State. II would be impossible for me
70 give a special and detailed answer to each of
those who have sought to know my opinion on this
subject l will, therefore, give a general reply
through public medium, which hope will be suf
fsient.
do not deem it necessary TO multiply petitions in
regard TO the matter in question Our fellow citizens
Of different denominations appeal, from time, to timc
70 the civil authority OF the State for such cnactments
as may enable them to secure their religious and
charitable property in accordance with their own
peculiar wishes and rules of discipline The Catho-
hes have never crossed their path on such occa-
SONS with any remonstrance or interference what
ever and. although they have the right to remon-
strate against the passage OF any law, it would
hardly be in accordance with the courtesies of good
neighborhood for them to exercise it in regard
in matter which affects Catholics alone. So far
as am informed, they have not interfered in the
matter, and have no apprehension that the Legis-
laturc of the State, if there be nothing in re-
quest inconsistent with their obligations, will be
leee liberal towards than towards any other pOl-
ton Of their. constituents. And, for my own part
should prefer that the bill should be rejected on
ats own dement's than that it should seem to have
been carried by any amount OF petitions The
object OF the bill is to invest the Catholic Arch
Bishop Of New York and his successors, or any
other bishop minister in the State to hold in trust
property which has been created or set apart for
religious or charitable uses 1t has been alleged
that by such an act the Legislature would recogns
ecclesiastical officers. But this the Legislature ha
done and over again. BY the laws Of the State
the Catholic Bishop of New York aud his successor
are recognized in one act as ca 06ici0 President
the Board Of Trustees of ST. Patrick's Cathedral
In another act the Catholic Bishop of New York 70
tho time being, and the Mayor Of Brooklyn for the
time being. are CT o1fcio members in administern
the trust of the Late Cornelius Heavy, entitled tn,
Brooklyn Benevolent Society. Again, it has been
objected that such trust would confer the bshopa
dangerous amount Of power, which might be abused.
In regard to this objection, the fact is that the law
would only diminish and regulate power which
! the Catholic bishops have already to extent
which is more than agreeable to themselves The
bishops Of New York. Albany, and Buffalo are now
legally the owners in fee simple of nearly oil the
religious and charitable property existing within their
respective ecclesiastical jurisdictions. The Catho-
lies for whose benefit this property is held have no
approximations ms regards its security but the bishops
themselves feel il as an oppression 10 be the owners
in fee simple, Of such amount of property and it
would be an additional security to the people, as well
az relief TO The prclates, others circumstance
~ they are, If some general law were passed, by
Whc ~ might be transmitted in trust to their sue
.ees without the necessity of providing against
contingencies which result from the uncertainties of
life, and of last wills and tcstaments. IF some person
should imagine that this could be accomplished by
local trustees to be elected from time to time, is
usually the case among Protestant denominations,
answer is, that if we entitled to religious
equality before the law we should be allowed to hold
and manage religious and charitable propertyin
conformity with ecclesiastical discipline and
net that of our neighbOrs.
Under these circumstances, the enactment of the
law, which is now under the consideration Of the
to the whole Catholic body in the State of New
York. Neither would it infringe, in my opinion on
the rights Of our fellow citizens Of other denomina
tions. Snch an enactment has already been passed
by several State Legislatures ] may mention
those OF Pennsylvania, Maryland, Illinois, and Ken
lucky.
1t is net little strange that while Professionals,
so far as am aware have not interfered to prevent
the passage, or at least the impartial consideration
of the bill now before the Legislature of New York.
certain persons Of Buffalo and Rochester, calling them
selves Catholics, have forwarded to Albany their
special rcmonstranee. This is another reason in
my opinion, why we should not enter on the course
Of multitudinous petitioning. The very crcum-
stances of the case will make il apparent to the Lee
gislatnre that all Catholics in the State of New
York, who are worthy of the name, desire and would
feeNgraeful for the passage of such law, although
they should not deem it more than they have right
to obtain As for the pretended Catholics of Buffalo
and Rochester, know them well. They are under
the misguidance of few obscure cheftains Of fac
ton, whose consequence in their wards or town
ships would be annihilated if they did not propagate
the idea among dupes more Ignorant than themselves,
and their venerable Bishop special and particular
rogue. These chieftains may number in all about
eighteen. Their dupes are know not how many.
they call themselves Catholics, but then the faith
has departed from them, except as q shadowy re-
membrance, which makes towards of them still; 80
that they have not the courage openly to declare
themselves Protestants. The Church would gain by
their forsakng her, and their adhesion to any Pro-
testant sect would be acquisition not much to be
beasted Of. Whatever rights the laws have secured
to them are not to be intertered with by any new
law which should be passed for the protection of the
rights of the great body of true Catholics through
ont the State of New York. That their remon-
STRANGE abounds with fasehood am morally certain,
although have not seen its contents, but know
them 70 well, have many Of their letters, prov
ing that they hesitate at no fasehood which may
serve their malignant purposes.
II is hardly possible that the enlightened Legisa-
tnre Of New York can be at all imposed upon by
such fractions of faction and it would be confer
we were TO deem their remonstrance important
enough to be counteracted by the petitions to which
it would be no difficult matter to have appended the
names of hundreds Of thousands, who are really
what they call themselves, sincere members Of the
Catholic church.
There certainly could be no harm in forwarding
petitions is not unusual in such cases. but for my
own part do not think it necessary. We have no
to doubt the justice and the liberaty of the
Legislature in our regard, more than in regard to
any other denomination.
remain your faithful friend and servant in Christ,
t JOHN, Archbishop Of New York
New York, March is, 1852.
Public Prosecution Of the Art Union.
NEW YORK SUPREME COURT.
Nc D<nnIx At ~. IL