The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1854-01-23
DR.. Bed,ni and his Assailants.


since in Germany with his wife, fell in with an
Austrian who spoke English duently, and ap-
peared a gentlemanly and agreeable CON-
panion. The American shortly afterwards dis
covered that bis new acquaintance was no other
than the celebrated General Haynau; and as
bis name and history were OF that time very
prominently before the public he could not re-
sist the opportunity ofendeavoring to clear up
doubts he had respecting the stories that were
in circulation about the General. So, with
many apologies for his rudeDess, he asked him,
in straightforward way, General, did you
really ever order q lady to be flogged?' Sir"
said the General drawing himself up to bis full
height, Il have pressed the hand of great
many pretty women, and the lips OF few; but,
on my honor, never ever knew of lady being
beaten till after the atrocity had occurred"
There was that in Hay tone which hardly
permitted doubt of his sincerity.
We think the anecdote may be studied pro-
Gtably by many of those who are now accusing
Dr. Bedici of putting to death thirty odd Ital-
ans and faying Ugo Bassi 1t is impossible
that we can ascertain the real facts of the case
They occurred in q distant country, and the
witnesses, both for the prosecution and for the
defence, cannot be heard or examined here.
Hitherto the accusation rests entirely on the
evidence of Gavazzi, whose violent antipathy
to the Church of Rome and general character
ought to lead us to receive his unsupported
assertions with great caution. A cores
pendent in this days paper entirely disbe
lieves the story aud alludes to Bedini having
established bis innocence in an article published
| some time ago in the HERALD. We think it
would be as difficult for him to prove his inno-
cence as for his accusers to prove his guilt; and
| as the law presumes every man to be tree from
| crime until case is made out against him. we
hardly see why he need GO to the trouble Of try
| ing to exculpate himself For our part, we are
| free to confess that rhe charges which have been
made against DR.. Bedini seem to us entirely
| improbable and quite inconsistent with his
| character and calling. AT all events whatever
may be urged in their support, it is clear that
| we have nothing to do with them; AMI that,
| coming here as the representative of temporal
| sovereign, he is entitled to respect and fair
| treatment at our hands. Had he been notori-
| ously stained with crimes of the dye OF those
laid to his charge it might have been ques-
ton whether public sentiment would have JUS
titled the President in receiving him as the en-
voy Of the Pope. But now that he has been re-
ceived and recognized by the head Of our gov
erpment, we owe it to ourselves as people
to forbenr from any acts Of violence towards
him, and to resist the efforts which foreign re-
| tugees are making to organize crusade against
| him.
1t would seem from our correspondents let
| ter that he was invited to act as umpire be-
tween the clergy and laty of the diocess of
Buffalo in the dispute respecting their church
property. He decided. Of course, in favor OF
the clerical litigants, and the laity refused to
be bound by his decision. The Legate OF the
| Pope seems to us very unsuitable person
to fill such an Office and we think DR..
Eedini would have consulted his own character
| and interests better by declining the Office Of
umpire, il it was really spontaneously offered
to him. The courtso justice are the proper
umpires in questions of real property and what
ever free will the disputants at Buffalo may
have exercised in the matter the public at large
will always suspect that their request was not
the real authority under which the Ii gate
acted. 1t is every day becoming more neces-
sary to deal cautiously with these questions Of
Catholic church property. The Catholic Church
now owns in the diocess Of Buffalo property
worth probably some three millions of dollars,
and perhaps four to five millions worth in the
diocess of New York. Under the present sys-
tenn the control Of these large estates is in the
hands of clerical officers appointed by foreign
potentate. Now this is Numerically contrary
to the spirit Of our institutions and the feelings
of our people. We object to grant to any for
eign monarch the power Of controlling so large
stake in this country The proper persons
to control the Catholic church property are the
clergy and laity combined. If either class ought
to be excluded from its control it should be the
former, and not the latter. This sentiment is
steadily gaining ground, and ere long the prob
lem. both as regards Buffalo and New York,
will have to be solved by the Supreme Court of
the United States. Till then all interference
by Legates or other foreign nominees will only
do mischief.
INTERESTING FROM HAvANA.-By the arrival
of the Crescent City we have letters from our
Havana correspondents to the 10Th inst.
The three American seamen who were incar
cerated in the Moro are still in confinement.
The American acting Consul visits them fire.
quently but nothing has yet been done with
regard to them by the Captain-General or the
other authorities. They are probably waiting
for the action of our government
The arrival Of Archbishop Hughes has occa-
stoned considerable religious and social excite
ment on the island. He has received great
deal of attention, of which he is very fond of
talking and making parade The Captain
General called upon him, and the Archbishop
returned his visit He had also ofliciated at