Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1852-1859, 1853-02-22
Letter from Archbishop Hughes on .'tl
MadiaiO !,

In connection with this case we quote the sub
Joined remarks from the pen of Archbishop Hughes.
me writer speaks dlspasslonately, and is entitled
TO be heard diSpasSionately. What follows, con
ssts simply of extracts from paper by the Arch
bishop, contributed to the Freeman's Journal,
New York, in which another topic is discussed in
the same calm and dignified tone. With respect
to the facts asserted below, they open to nves
hgation; the argument IS submitted to the intell-
eence of the reader. The writer refers to "Madiai
meeting" in New York:
"The charge alleged in tile preamble of the re-
solutions adopted at TINT meeting, and on which
the resolutions themselves are founded, is that for
no other crime except that of possessing and read
ing their Bible the Madiai, husband and wife,
were tried, convicted and incarcezated by the gov
eminent of Tuscany. If This charge be the truth,
the whole truth and nothing but the truth, am
quite free and willing to denounce the proceedings
OF the government of Tuscany as oppressive, rn-
just and cruel. Such an act would be disgrace
TO any government, catholic or protestant But
must beg leave to say that do not believeth truth
of the charge. regard it falsehood, and
have no doubt that it will turn out be If this
should prove TO be the case, the proceedings at
Metropolitan Hall will reflect but little credit on
those who sanctioned aud took part in them.
"Observe, do not doubt the truth of the state
ment that the Madiai possessed and read their
Bible,' but do doubt and deny that for this and
this alone, they were tried and condemned to prlS-
on. must observe at the same time that have
no knowledge of the circumstances of the case,
except what has come unde, the notice of every
one who has read the newspapers of the day con-
corning it. l have come to this conclusion on
grounds of probability, which 10 my mind are not
less strong in their aggregate than positive and dl
rect testimony. ...'
"First there is no law in Tuscany against 'pos-
sessing and reading the Bible Second. Even if
there was such law, it is impossible that the
Madiai should have been convicted under it, mas
much as, in their very prison, they are allowed to
possess and read their Bible II is not probable
that any country would, punish an offender for
Pn1 nd vat oil M In It,rtf, he
penalty, in the commission of the same. For in
stance, in our own courts men are convicted Of
forgery are not allowed to carly the trade in
the stale prison.
candid mind that the Madai are not condemned
solely for the crime of possessing and reading
their Bible And if they are not condemned solely
for this, it follows thatthe proceedings at Meropo
Titan Hall are founded ON obvious falSehood. This
circumstance, however, was not thought worthy
of consideration, and the truth would have been
rather detrment than an advantage 10 the pur.
pose of the meeting. The impression intended to
be made by the speakers on that occasion was that
the government of Tuscany, the Jesuits, the Pope,
and the members of The Catholic Church through
out the world have mortal dread of the Bible
This would be strange indeed.
"To them the book, the New Testament at east,
was originally given in manuscript by its inspired
authors. They have been its witnesses aud its
guardians from the beginning. 1t has been recog-
missed an used by them as, in SO far as it goes, q
duplicate on parchment of the doctrines which
our Savior had inscribed with pencil of divine
fire in characters of living faith on the heart of
the church. The art of printing facilitated its
diffusion, and the church availed herself with ca
gerness of that art for the purpose of multiplying
copies of the Holy Scriptures. Numerous editions
of the Bible were published in the principal Ian
guages OF Europe under the patronage of Popes,
Cardinals and Bishops, long before Protesta ntism
came into being.
"'rhe Italians were well acquainted with the
Bible i'll their own beautiful language before
Martain Luther was born The first Italian edition
was published in Venice, in the year 147l, and
different cities of Italy anterior to the date of the
Protestant translation, which was published. not
IN Italy, hut in Geneva, in the year 1862. In the
very year of our American Independence the
Archbishop Of Florence brought out another trans
lation, for which he received the special thanks
OF Pope Plus vi. In our own country, the Catho-
lies have published not less than twenty twenty
five editions of the Holy Scripture, of every size,
from the folio down to the octave, many of which
are Stereotypcd Is it not surprising then that our
Protestant neighber will persist i'll suppoSing that
we are afraid of our own original and hereditary
documents that have never been out of our pos
session.
The Bishop closes as follows:
"l have offered these remarks, not in any spirit
OF controversy, but in the spirit Of peace and OF
truth. There are Moments when every citizen
who feels that he say something, promotive OF
the welfare of his countrymen and of advantage
to his country, is authorized TO give public utter
ance TO his sentiments, how humble soever he M ay
be. With such feeling offer the foregoing Ic-
Elections to the consideration of my fellow-citi-
zens for what they are worth-no more.
"+ JOHN, ArchpShop of New York.