The Shasta courier., 1855-10-06
THE SHASTA COURIER
The Power Of the pope in Spain.

|
1t cannot be doubted that there are hundreds
Of men in our midst, who really entertain fears
that the Pope of Rome. unless checked by the
action of some great political party. may in
few years bcI,osscssed Of an influence in Amer.
lea sufficient to destroy our liberties. They are
equally earnest in the belief that His Holiness,
the Pope aforesaid, will. just soon as that suf-
ficient Influence is obtained. proceed 10 demol.
ish our glorions and free institutions, by wiping
ont of existence the great North American Re-
public. And it was doubtless IN numerous in
stances, The direct result of these absurd fearss
that the over credulons and too jealous Proies-
tant was found earnestly fighting in the ranks
of the Know Nothing party during the recent
campaign. They conscieniinusly beli,ed that
the country endangered bv the power wiel-
ded hy The Pope through the Chnrch of Rome in
the United States. To show how extremely all
surl their fears we row clip from the
Cii-cn. OK. N. the following portion of an ar,i-
Gle from The New lolk Crusoo,r A law was
passed in Spain in old Catholic Spain. where,
if in any country. the Pope and Church or Rome
possess immense intiuence-s'ypress'ng Mc non-
asterics. and the Queen was obliged IL give her
consent to it, and the lands are 10 be su. for lie
benefit OF the State a similar measure has
Just passed the parliament of Snr.iuia. another
Catholic country. This measure in both eo,in-
tries loubtless met with opposition from The Ro-
man Clergy; and yet we find that even here. in
Spain and Sardinia where they have the most |
influence a law has been passed that will liter.
ally impoverish their churolI--a law of such a
character that, we doubt not. our Know Nothing
friends will not hesitate To denounce as oppres.
sive.
With these facts before US. is it mt absurd for
sensible men 10 stand up and say that here in
America. the Roman PoniiT possesses the
minds OF the members OF his Chnrch an infu-
encc sufficiently great. if he willed il, to make
traitors of them all. How absurd is it not 10
say that the thunder which will not rshten the
ignorant and superstiiions Spaniard and Sardin- |
ian, will make the intelligent and liberty loving
American tremble in his boots But to the ar
The property destined by this law for public |
sale comprises all sorts of real estate. both in |
cities and in the country. belonging to the State,
to the clergy, to the military orders contra |
terniries of Santiago, Acantara Calatrava Mon
tesa and ST. John of jerusalem: and likewise |
all the goods belonging TO chapters. abbeys to
the exied prince Don Carlos, to the communal
corporations, to the funds of public instruction |
and benevolence. 1t is provided that the whole |
payment shall be made in fifteen different in
stalments in fourteen years.
The proceeds of these sales are 10 cover the |
deficit of the budget Of the State; fifty per cent
of the future insamenis 10 be invested in the |
ammortzation of the public debt. and fifty per
cent. to be spent in works and undertakings of
public utility. and thirty millions of reals to be |
appI opriated to repairs and construction of
churches and public edificcs.
The total valuation of the national property |
to be sold is 100000 reals, besides the rents I
which are not capitalized. & ,OOO, 900 of reals |
equal to 4oOO00.000)
The proceeds of this act of legislation will ex-
tngush more than one-half OF the public debt OF
Spain, which, according 10 Mr.. McCulloch,
amounts to about $500. 900 900.