Lynchburg daily Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1852-1861, 1853-08-31
National Honors 10 AN Emt,sary of
80 R0nme.

We alluded last week TO q current statement
to the effect tina, an u. States ~stcampships OF
ihe northern Lakes had been placed al ih'
disposal of Archbishop Hughes Of n. y. and q
Monsignor Bedini.sn Envoy from his Holiness
the Pope OF Rome. In the remarks which
were Submitted with that statement, nothing
was said, We thought. that would not meet Tie
appreciation at least of every Protestant Cit
isen OF the State. No positive charge was
made against the observation-disclosures we had
not believed that he would venture so far in
doing violence to the spirit OF our Institutions &
the sentiments of the American people. as 10
single out, for political or any other effect. the
Emissaries Of the Romish Church as recipients
of those high hunors with which he had been
entrusted. We suspected lhele was an error IN
theis,stement-ilat Capt. Bigelow had probably
rendered the ciyiliies Of his ship without au
thoriiy. or without due premeditatton. Inc
precedents Of the Lord Bishop in. York. We
knew and the people knew, rs associated with
an attempted Wind lcalion OF a Tuscan tyranl,i in
perpetrsi,ng an act Of unprovoked cruelty that
outraged christianity and shocked the civilized
world. And how could The American people
do him official honor 7 We knew M. Bedini
also-but only, as has been said as an eeclesi.
aslical Envoy from Rome, charged, while on
his way us Papal Snncio to Brazil, to spend a
few months in the United States, visit the sew
eral dioceses Of the Roman Catholic church
anl report the same to the Pope. We did mol
know, what Father Gasszzi has since reveal.
ed that he came among Us wearing the scarlet
bonors of n legal murderer. We did not know
that he was one Of those who, in alliance with
the C~aligulas oi Austria mud Naples, actively
assisted in 40 in crushing beneath the Jugger.
nsut of the Romi.h Hierarchy, the germ Of
Italian liberty-ll,e humble privileges OF
thought and of religion. Bot such appears
TO be the fact. And yet what arc We told p
What do ne hear from the democratic press
in This city What do we hear from those
who a lew years ago. IN resistance to Il edini
and his colleagues IN blood would have arrayed
our Union under the banners of the patriots,
Kossoth and Mazzini Capt Bigelow seems
TO Lave done this without authority from the
administration but We are willing to ndnit
that the administration approves of his coursel'
DO you believe that The American pcople-
particularly those Who feel no sympathy for
tyrants or their tools. approve it Do you
believe it IS approved 10y those who wodld re.
sist the fatal propaganda of Romanism .
And ca" it be approved by those who a shorl
time since would have suspended diplomatic
relations with the Court of Austria f? Who
offered daily indignities 10 her representative
here, and uttered such terrible anathernas be
cause Mr.. Fillmore acknowledged the outra.
geous indignities offered. On account of Con
cha's crueIties, to the Spanish Consul in New
Orleansl
But the Republican palliates the affair on
the ground that Bedini was honored, mol as
the special messenger of the Pope to the
Catholic Church of the United States, but
as the Ambassador of the Roman States
tn our government. lfsach were the case, it
might be a palliatlon, but not a justification.
Our government is ander no obligation To re.
cognise by such special distinctions any diplo
matte agent whatever. In the exerc Use of a
wise discretion, it may thus honor the Ambas
sador of a government of kindred sympa,hies,
or 10 open, as was done AT the instance Of Con.
gress towards the Turkish Ambassador the
wonders of our progress TO the view, and for
the imitation Of a stranger people. What sym,
patty exists between the Government of the
United States and that Of the Papal Domin
ionsf Is there any other than ours on earth to
which Rome looks with more constant dread as
the fountain of religious liberty--as the source
OF an muacculating stream Of heyes;es that ma
one day burs, loose and overwnelm the super
stitlons and hoary Temples of he, powerf
There is lar less innate hostility between III,
character of the governments of the United
States and OF Austria. In the latter, religion.
opinion, as here. is moi the dictate of a ihron.
But yet, let us suppose that Mr.. Fillmor,
had dared to prefer such honors to Baror
Hulseman, the late Austrian Minister. as bsy,