The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1855-10-03
the CATHOLIC BARoSs AND MAGMA oHARTA.-
aHIsroRY PERVERTEp.o

religion hostile republican liberty. Gen Miles
tanned his position by au4ing to the historical fact that
the barons of England who extorted from King John the
great charter Of English liberty Magma Charta) were
Roman Catholics. After detailing the incidents OF the
signing Of the charter by King john Gen. Miles said
"Thus entored from English tyrant bill Of rights
securing the people from the oppression OF kings and which
has justly been regarded the basis Of English liberty for
more than six hundred years And this concession TO civil
liberty extored from the yran by Catholic baron
der lead Of Catholic bishop and the principles OF this
Magma Charta lie at the very foundation Of Amer
liberty aud American free and popular government
Our attention has just been called to the fact which had
been entirely overlooked that the New York Express as
long ago September Th under the head of History
Perverted subjected Gen. Mless remarks to notice which
we find to Re as ilbeal il pedanc and uncandid
II is not denied by the Express that Gen Miles states cor
rccy the great historical fact which he relied TO repe
the charge that the Catholic religion necessarily mimi
cal to beryon the contrary is admitted that tho bar
who compelled King John to sign the charter" were
Caholicsbut with aectaton of much historical learn
ing aud Of great regard for historical TRUTH the editor
ceeds bcrae Gen Miles because he did not shave the man
illness speak the whole truth and then proceeds Why
noe your readers in the Union and the people that listen
ed to you Jackson that that very chsrertha bill Of
ghtssecurng the people from the oppression of kings
annuied (ANSULLEp, say by the Pope Of Rome,
Innocent the Third 2"
We might upon the Express and ask why he did
have the anliness inform his readers that whilst il
that Pope Innocent Third issued his bull annul-
ling the charter il also true that it not done from
opposition the made by King John 10 liberty
but that the act prompted chiefly by reasons exrnsc
the charter itself If he had been scrupnlous about
telling the whole truth he processes to be he would
have added that the Pope only annued the charter tenn
porarily and Of the franchises it secured
but for other reasons and that it was renewed with the
Of the Popss less than hiryeght times before
the Reformation These historical truths well esab
lsbed that the Catholic barons extorted the charter
Magma Charn) from King John, and they fully show
that Gen. Mess position in respect weakened by
the fact that Innocent annued the charter temporarily for
reasons outside of the charter itself
The Express is not satisfied with exhibiting its bad tenn
per and worse manners towards Gen. Miles, but gives to
its readers characteristic specimen of know-nothing ma
Lightly and ecklessness by recurring to the fact that
Bishop Spalding, Of Kentucky delivered discourse last
winter lat Louisville think the object of which was to
draw precisely the deductions from the historical
facts have been recalling Gen. Miles has done
and proceeding TO remark as follows
We took occasion at the time to expose the bishops
twisting of English history make out for Popery,
and the erpos remember copied into OF the
journals in the reverend gentemans diocese, coupled
with request that he should explain But of
explanation because none could come
The bishop convicted of something akin to posi-
tive taschoodthe ppresso ueri and the suggestio si
SO he wisely held his tongue"
If the breach of good manners in the foregoing was not
too gross justify feeling of evy, would be inclined
to smile at the complacency with which conceited know
! all, ;siyn
fnachoodp He who has taken obligation which COM
pes him constantly to resort to the sresso oer and the
sggesio lsi would hardly expect either his rudeness or
his pedany to command much of Bishop Spaldings re-
spec to elicit reply and yet actuaed by that prom
inent virtue which illustrates the life of the faithful Catho
lie be has condescended to call attention to the article
in the Express and furnish with the materials for ex
posing both the ignorance and the malice OF the editor
His book MIscELLAyEA passing through the press
when the structures of the Express copied into paper
in Louisville Kentucky the place of Bishop Spadings
residence To show with how little truth the Express as
sumed that his structures had not been and could not be
replied to- Bishop Spadng has enclosed several pages of the
Appendix to his work which give at length the facts
established by reliable historians, and which hisor-
cal facts are conclusive answer either to the g-
norance or the malice of the Express, the may
be- We regret that space will not allow US to
insert Bishop Spaldngs Appendix !" on the Magma Char
ia of England but have hesitation in pronouncing
it successful attempt exhibit in brief compass the
tire historical evidence the subject 1t demonstrates
clearly that the charter annued only temporarily by
Pope Innocent Third and account Of the ranchise
secured but for other 1t shows that in annulng
the charter Innocent promised the baons that he would
induce the King to consent to whatever might be just
reasonable take that all grievances should be abo
shed that the should be content nth its just rgt and
he clergy and people should enjoy their ancient liberties 1t
establishes that Pope Innocens for annuing
charter as stated by himself "tha John had become
his vassa and he felt bound by the jurisprudence of the
times to protect him. that the barons had employed vo-
ence instead accepting the offer of redress By due
of Inv and that they had violated the privileges which all
Christian nations had granted TO the champions Of the
Cross in rebelrng against John, enrolled crusader
It proves too the significant fact that the charter
newed with the of the Popes no less than thirty
eight times before the Reformation These facts fully us-
f Gen Miles and Bishop Spaldng in relying upon the i'm
portant historical truth that Catholic 5arons ertord Magra
Chdra from The yra King John to repel the charge that
the Catholic religion is inmical to freedom II is great
fact which is unanswerabIe and stands in all its force in
spite Of the feeble effort of the Express peryert the truth
of history for the benefit of know-nothngism,