Daily American organ. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1856, 1855-03-31

until he had lost her Intact, his letter seems an
to charges preferred against him by the de-
parted; and, what is strange, the packet that
brought the fatal news, brought no letter ofrecent
date from her, though she never missed an oppor-
tunity--and they occur rarely-of writing to him.
Her letters--all Of which have breathed the fond
est affection for him-admit that she had little
hope OF happiness from her stern cold husband.
have now, my dear madam, given you this sad
tale. have peruscd all her letters to her -,
well as Mr.. Maclean's to him. ought to add
that, when they landed in Africa Mr.. Maclean set
off, leaving his wife, and proceeded to the castle
TO dislodgc his mistress and children. The ma
tves were angry and offended at seeing their coun-
rywoman driven from her home.
Believe me, my dear madam, your ladyshipss,
very sincerely. NJ. BLEssINGToN.
The Papal Powers in an American Light--
A Catholic Critic on Chandeliers Speech.
From the Dublin (Roman Catholic) Tablet.
The Know Nothing sect in America seems to
have scattered dismay among the Christians of the
great republic. Mr.. Chandler, respected mem
Der of Congress, has been urged by his friends TO
defend the Church In the House of Representa-
tives, and he has done so. On the 1lth of Janu-
airy Of the present year. his felow-representative
seem to have listened respectfully to the exposi-
tion which was very elaborate, and from his point
Of view, quite conclusive. In Europe, however,
the exposition is likely to be criticized and though
people may respect Mr.. Chandler, praise his mo-
ives and intentions, they will hardly agree with
him. surprising him to have mastered the princi
plies involved in HIS spench. 1t is not pleasant
task to repudiate the help of FRIEND or to dsown
him. but it is sometimes duty. MIR. Chandler is
too frank and too honest not TO conccde to others
the right he vindicates for himself
Mr.. Chandlers theme was the deposing power of
the Pope. lie denies its existence, Independent of
public law of nations. 1t is not our intention to
defend that power at present, for we shall confine
ourselves simply to the examination Of the reasons
which are supposed to be fatal to its existence.
But, before doing SO, it would be fair to remind
our readers that two Popes, celebrated, among
other acts noble and heroic, for deposing sover-
eigns, are numbered with the Saints-Gregory
VII and Plus V. These Popes did not think, nor
did those who cannonized them think, that they
had exceeded their powers, or had diverted their
spiritual authority into unlawful channels.
Mr.. Chandler says that the whole power of de-
pnsing rested upon the consent, not merely Of the
kings, but of the deposed princes themselves" If
this be true there is end of the question, for If
" the whole power rested on the consent of kings
and princes, their deposition must have been tho
roughly just because voterti fit injnrid, and
they were, therefore, very wicked men when they
invaded the Papal States TO punish the Pope, who
had done nothing TO give effect to the consent Of
those princes. Still more wicked were they who
created an antelope to resist the judge whom
they had themselves appointed
kings it is clear that the Papal authority does not
enter into the question: and that ii might have
been given to any other authority or power. But
II Is very strange that kings should have consented
70 vest such power in anybody, and argues little
for their common sense. They must have been
always uneasy, and their uneasiness was the result
Of their own folly. Mr. Chandler afhrms distinctly
that the power to depose-power humanity con-
ferred--was never called in question by the deposed
monarchs. They admitted the constitutional right
and power, though they may have called in ques-
ton the justice OF the act. This assertion is at
least strange Frederic Barbarossa and Lewis of
Bavaria disputed the power most distinctly, and
they had an army of scribes, priests and laymen,
learned in the law, who maintained that the Pope
had no power to depose, and more, that there
power to depose, other than Gods So far is
the doctrine Of the deposing power from having
been admitted by the deposed monarchs that they
wholly denied Il, not merely as vested in the Pope,
but as actually subsisting in the world.
The deposing power does actually exist at pres
ent; Is publicly taught in every State that con-
sders itself free. II is the doctrine Of Americans,
for they deposed George III. II is the doctrine
of Englshmen, who deposed James H.; and OF
Frenchmen, for they have deposed the dynasty Of
the Bourbons. The Spaniards admit IT, for Queen
Isabea's throne is in danger The difference between
the modern and the medieval world consists in
this. We vest this In the people, our ancestors,
more wisely, in the Pope In England, the de-
posing doctrine is made law Of the Kingdom, TO
be put in force whenever the reigning sovereign
prefers his soul 70 the sceptre Kings, of course,
have done their utmost 70 dscredit the doctrine,
aud they have gained for themselves, instead Of il,
the scaffod and the sword. The divine right Of
certain families TO govern nations according to their
viii Is refuted, not by argument, but by exile or
violent death If Kings prefer this solution of the
difficulty TO that which medieval principles offered
that is their affair This however, is certain, the
Pope was more patient and consderate than the
people arc, and depositin Is less injurious 10
society than bloody revolution. A deposition
does not necessarily involve a change Of dynasty,
but in general revolution does and perhaps kings
might on reflection, prefer TO lose the crown to
themselves only, TO losing il for the family as we'll
A great clamor has been raised In the world
against the power Of the Pope to depose wicked
sovereigns, but we believe that there would have
been no clamor IL the power in question had been
vested in the Bishops, or even in Archbishops.
Mr.. Chandler goes a great deal further-we are
sorry 70 refer 10 him so often-and trenches on
the real spiritual power which he Is anxious to
guard inviolate. His words these II deny
70 the Bishop Of Rome the right resulting from
his divine Office, 20 interfere In the relations be-
tween subjects and their savereigns, between cit
izens and their governments" II is impossible
that he can mean what these words imply. The
Pope IL at this moment interfering" in Piedmont,
defending one class Of citizens there against the
government, and yet in the House Of Representa-
tives Christian denies the right Governments
may and do prohibit good works, and the Pope In
terferes. They also encourage and commit evil
the Pope interferes and good Christians prefer the
Popes authority TO that Of the State. The God
less Colleges in Ireland the Hierarchy In England,
the trouble Of Piedmont--a bear witness together
against this unchrstian opinion, which must have
escaped from the speaker, who did not ponder his
words
IL is 10 be remembered, however, that Mr. Chand-
Ter speaks on the authority of Others one Of which
Is the late DIR. England Bishop Of Charleston That
preate Is reported TO have written:
/" Let the Pope and Cardinals, and all the powers
Of the Catholic world united summon a general
council Let that council lay a tar Of one cent
only upon any one Of our churches, We win not
pay t. Yet We are most obedient Papists."
And again:
fthe Pope were TO declare war against Ameri-
ca, and any Roman Catholic, under the pretert Of
spiritual obedience was TO refuse TO oppose this