The Daily Nashville true Whig. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1851-1855, 1855-09-21
a. o. Brownson's Declaration 81 the Pope's Civf
SUPREMACY


Several weeks ago we gave insertion to a
remarkable letter addressed by Rev. o. A.
Brownson, DID,, editor of Quarterly Review
published in Boston under the express author
ity and sanction of Archbishop Hughes 1t
has been before the public upwards of two
months. The claim it puts forth in behalf OF
the Pope is sufficiently startling to attract at
tention to an extraordinary degree. Mr.. B.,
whose Review is, perhaps, the most authorita-
tive Catholic organ in this country, and whose
every article is revised and approved before il
is issued, by Catholic prelate, declares that
the Pope, foreign Prince, possesses the pow
er to absolve every Roman Catholic citizen OF
the United States from his allegiance. This
astounding pretension has been openly promul-
gated; AMI lis authenticity is not denied BY
any Roman Catholic Priest or paper in the
land BY its silence the Catholic Church ad.
mits that Brownson has correctly stated the
claims of the Pope, and the creed of his adher-
ents. We, therefore, do not apologize TO our
readers for abiding again to this letter. We
expect to keep it before the people. 1t j:
worthy of more than casual reading. 1t is .
document of no ordinary significance If The
Pope of Rome, sitting in the usurped chair o.
St. Peter, and occupying temporal Throne il
Europe, can say to several millions of our pop
ulation, that they are absolved from their ale
glance to our government, and from all obliga
ton to obey our laws; that in short, tits theil
duty to array themselves in hostility to The
Union and the Constitution, it is quite tims
the American people were made aware of The
fact.
We copy the following remarks on the
Brownson letter, from the New York o.
SerUer:
We have copied in full this letter, by the Rev. o
A. BrownsoD for the sake of placing it on record
for future reference II it is possible TO understand
human language Alright the great principle is here
distinctly taught and aVOwed as an essential doc
trine of the Roman Catholic Church, that the Pope
may 6bsolve the subjects of any government what
ever, FROM their political allegiance. The argument
with Mr. Chandler, of the House of Representatives
would he at once terminated and decided agains
him, if the testimony of Mr.. Brownson, as the expo
nent OF RomiSh principles, is admitted. We do no
know why he is not competent witness in the case
He is now the accredited editor of a Romish Quar-
terly which is approved by the dgnitaries of tbs
Church Of Rome in this country, ami he himself il
regarded one of the most able and efficient cham
pions Of that church. His views have been widely
circulated, and have been in no instance, that WI
are aware of condemned by any competent author
ity. 1t is, therefore, important that we should re
cord his testimony in this case, when he says thai
'the Pope is the proper authority to decide for me
whether the constitution of this country is is no
repugnant TO the laws of God" He contends tina
the Pope, as head of the church. may decide for thu
people when it is their right and duty to aim at rev
olution-giving the Pope the power which the De
claraton Of Independence attributes 10 the peOplt
themselves.
This letter has been for sometime before til,
American people, and we have not yet observed il
any Roman Catholic paper dissent from its remark
able professions Of religious faith and principle
Should any such disclaimer appear we shall not fai
to Inform our readers OF the same. In the mean
time we hold it to be additional and conclusive ev
idence of the dangerous element Of Popery in frej
governments, and as a cumulative argument in favor
of that ceaseess vigilance which here and every
where is the price of liberty.