The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1854-10-11

w MAoKrs and ID. 9. PKAKoE
THE ALLEGIANCE OF CATHOLICs-THE TEMP ORAL
POWER OF THE POPE
No man who acknowledges allegiance any foreign poen
power, who holds himself under obligations to
obey the edcts of any such potentae power shall be
my placed in any post Office under the American gov
ernment.-Mr. Cioyon's Letter.
The only plausible ground which the incorporation into
political organization of principle oreligious intolerance
be rested is mboded in the foregoing sentence from
Senator late letter Its meaning s that the men,
bers Of the Catholic Church believe in the temporal
power of Pope and hence that they and acknow
edge allegiance foreign potentae and for that reason
that they ought be prescribed and excluded from all
posts and offices under the American government This
proposition presents political question which deserves to
be investigated with and calmness If the allegation
true it is difficult to how the conclusion can be re-
sisted that Roman Catholics disqualified to execute
official trusts under constitution and laws If the al
legation true then the issue resolves itself into the
simple question whether religious test shall be required
as of qualification any office public trust under
our government
With every sympathy Of heart and every conviction
of judgment thoroughly imbued with Professionalism,
propose examine the truth of the allegation on which
rests the main strength Of the secret order OF know-noh
ings Mere prejudice against foreign-born cnzens could
account for the with which this order OF pol
itcans has dused itself throughout the country There
is deeper and stronger and universal feeling when
gives to it its astonishing successtha feeling originates
in fixed and living opposition to the Remsh Church, not
only because the convictions of our people are strongly adj
to its religious poty and enets but because the be-
lief prevails generally that the members Of that church re-
cognse in its head temporal power with authority to in
tertre with the secular affairs of kingdoms republics EN-
pires and oil other civil governments With the religious
aspect of the question do not propose to NEEDLE We
leave the discussion of that subject TO the church, where
alone it can be properly Investigated.
The allegation that the Roman Catholic civil allie
glance the Pope is neither in this country in
Europe. When carefully scruinized presume it will be
found that the allegation had its origin and receives its
corroboraton from the advsed ambition of of the
Popes who sought make their immense spiritual powers
available IN extending and charging their temporal au-
thory But If these abuses of the ponGcal position,
as we are persuaded they were they ought not to be relied
on rs establishing doctrine of the church which has
other existence than in tea occasional abuses of ambi
tious Popes Our examination 81 the subject satisfies
that it not and never was recognised doctrine of the
Catholic Church that the Pope had any authority whatever
interfere with the civil government of any people His
right to reign over his Italian doinions was not acquired
by virtue OF his spiritual office as Pope but was the result
OF express grants OF territory made to him py temporal
sovereigns.
This is strictly question of fact which can be deter
mined only by historical references For centuries the
charge persstenty made that the Catholic owed allie
glance to the Pope of Rome and therefore could not be
III suojec o' hou'ns ono'i uuSS III any QUIET sofeih
ei,arUe has epn yandc ntlv
denied by the members OF That church In our own coun
try 1t should be borne IN mho tha every amen VINO re-
ceves the benefits OF our laws ooes 50 upon
cohdluon Oh TAKING an oath 70 supt' 'o VI
she United S'es' ana 10 rehouhce ioe'ei ~ "
any othef prince power OF poleh'"e' no W. D9 'o"'
therefore, SPEAKS Oh man III our country VINO o"es e
gahce 10 o'ssi p''eh'"'' m mus. '''ei Nea' oA' WY
mas never oeen '' - s'@' -, ro'''''
IS uhoaeo''oD H"' -, ' ""D '''' o, '
siaeo W 'pi N'N', a"u "''O 'N'0' :.
'no oa'h p'e'''oe'' D'' w. ".''f " n
''ieif oa'i' ''i'y iee's''1e az 'As w
poslnoh ihVoiNfs s"eep''' rA''h' y p'''N.
'ehs Oh thousands 90 i'''' oFSS i ''o ~
oeen stanu'hg iho"uhen' u ''e' "'Ae'V r''.'
10 Unu. we ih'sh' "e'i p''4So IVY CIV ~. ~
with earnesthess C any 'A'o"' nO ''eu' ''' ''sb.'
uon mat 'he thouSands upon ''ou''A'' -
land yearly upon our shores' anu ~ ule '''' s"N' -
faithiuly by our government anu VINO "e"i 'u s"'i
nave poured out ther o'ou ~ ue'"'e " ou'
nghs ana honor-ihat a ese 'nSh PeiJu'eu uen'ei'e'