Daily American organ. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1856, 1855-01-23
roR THE AMERICAN ORGAN
The Hon. Mr.. Chandler and the Pope.
WAsnrNaroN. Jan. 2I. IshS

WAsHIsGroE Jan. 81 1855.
Mr.. EDITOR: As member of the Church Of
Rome, Mr.. Chandler takes upon himself to deny
that the Pope claims for himself the right to inter
fere with the political relations of any other coun
try than the one of Uhieh Aefs The souereign.
If Mr. Chandler was Jesuit he might be sus-
pected of having used this phraseology for the
purpose of allowing himself room for bubble
for win show, before conclude my remarks, that
the Pope has claimed for himself universal sovsr
eigaty. However, as he is not jesuit, | will
suppose his allusion was to what are called the
Papal States, and nothing more. And we will see
whether or not the claim OF the Pope to political
sovereignty is confined to such narrow limits
To show that the Pope does claim the right to
interfere politically with the governments Of States
other than what called the Papal States, it is
enough to show that he had never hesitated to
practice II whenever he deemed it necessary.
The first case believe, was in the eighth centu-
ry, when the Pope deposed the Emperor Leo, called
the Isaarian, for attempting to prevent the wor-
ship ofimages in his empire.
Barronius, the great annalist, says she did
effectually cause both the Romans and Italians 20
recede from obedience to the emperor" (See Bar
ronus, Ammo 7S0, sec. 40, as quoted by Elliott,
vol. Q, p. 1927 Childerck was also deposed, and
his subjects freed from their oath of fidelity some
time after, and another made king in his place, by
Pope Zachary. These cases are referred to by
Pope Gregory VII, in his bull deposing Henry Nv,
Emperor of Germany, and absolving his subjects
from their oaths of allegiance. In his bull he uses
this language: I" ] depose from imperial and royal
administration, King Henry, son of Henry, some
time emperor" &C., and absolve all Christians,
subject to the empire, from that oath whereby they
were wont to plight their faith unto true kings"
In letter to Herman, he observes: 1--WE will
demonstrate that Christ, in giving to the Apostle
power to bind and loose men, excepted no one.
The Holy See has absolute power over all spiritual
things; why should it not also rule temporal affairs?
God reigns in the heavens--his Vicar should reign
over all the earth" And in his maxims, he says:
God is spirit he rules NATTER thus the spirit
ual is above the temporal power"
The Pope is the representative of God on earth
he should then govern the world To him alone
pertains infability and universally all men are
submitted to his laws, and he can only be judged
by God; he ought to wear imperial ornaments
people and kings should kiss his feet; Christians
are irrevocably submitted to his orders; they
should murder their princes fathers and children,
if he commands it; no council can be declared
universal without the orders Of the Pope; no
book can be received as canonical without his au-
thority; finally, no good nor evil exists but in
what he has condemned or approved" (See Elliott
on Romanism, vol. 2, PIP. 1872 1853, &c.; and Dc
Carminen's History Of the Popes, vol. ], PIP. $40,
81, and ST.,
In the early part Of the 18th century, the Pope
took upon himself to select an emperor for the
Germans and chose Ohio, king of Saxony, very
much against the wishes Of many of the prin-
cipal men of the empire. In the coronation oath
imposed upon kings and emperors, they are
and to maintain and preserve the rights of the
church; but, the Pope only had authority to de-
cide whenever dispute arose, what was a right
of the church, and what was not After selecting
Ohio, he wrote to him, thus:
"By the authority which God has given ms in
the person of st. Peter, we declare you king, and
order the people to render you in this capacity,
homage and obedience. We, however, shall ex-
pect you to subscribe to all our desires as return
for the imperial crown.
was sent to the Pope in which it was urged that
Christ had not committed temporal affairs-such
an interference in the election of sovereigns--to
the successor of the Apostles and that the author
ity of the Holy See should be confined exclusively
to spiritual things He replied:
"You are ignorant--unskilful priests and rude
laymen-that princes derive the right to choose
emperors from US. Is it not the Holy See which
I'D II
Greeks the empire of the West, in order to trans
fer it to the Romans in the person of Charlemagnes
Do you think the Popes have not reserved the
right of examining those who are chosen empe-
rors, when it is they who bestow the crown and
the consecrationg Learn, then, that if we judge
him whom you have nominated as sovereign un-
worthy of the throne, we are exercising our right
in refusing to crown him, and even in choosing an
other prince to govern the people,"
Now, this is case directly in point. Here was
a large number Of lords and prelates believing,
like Mr.. Chandler, that the Pope had no right to
interfere with the political affairs of any State but
his own.
Did not Jesus Christ, say they, separate the
temporal from the spiritual power in order that the
Apostles and their should not be seated
on the thrones of the world?"
And what does the Pope say to this Does he
admit the truth of their positionss BY no means
He styles them m'ski.ful priests and rude iaymen,
and affirms that they we're ignorant of the facts,
&c. and just so would Plus TX serve Mr. Chandler,
If his speech was laid before him.
II was not long before a difficulty occurred be-
tween the Pope and Ohio, when he Launched the
thunders Of accommodation against Ohio, de-
cared his subjects released from their oath of deli-
ty, and prohibited them, under pain of anathcms,
from recognising him as their sovereign"
1t was this same Pope Innocent IID that, be-
cause King John Of England resisted his imposi-
ton of certain prelates upon the Church Of Eng
land against the kings win, deprived him of his
kingdom, and compelled him finally to transferb both
England and Ireland to him by deed--sufering the
king after taking an oath Of "entire submission
to the Pope, to hold them as the Pope's vassal,