True American. [volume] (Steubenville [Ohio]) 1855-1861, 1855-02-22
SPEECH OF
Hon. w. r. Smith, of Alabama.
The Na turalization Laws-Ths Roman Catho-
lilo Church.

hc Church.
(ooNoLUDED.)
EARLY HUMILITY OF THE ROMAN CATH
oLIc BIS HOPS.
In the earlier history Of the Roman
Catholic Church, the bishops were meek
and lowly men, after the fashion Of Peter
and Paul, the fisherman and tent maker
They professed to be the servants Of SER
wants. For six or seven centuries they
pres erved their character for Christian hu-
mility. / here quote from Bowers, the
author Of an elaborate work-the Lives of
the Popes. He was Catholic himself
when he began the work, but became a
Protestant in the course of his investiga-
tions. He was not only Catholic, but
councillor Of the inquisition at Nacerata.
He says:
~ do not believe that the Popes de-
signed at first to run those lengths, or
carry the Papal prerogative to that extrav-
agant height they afterwards did. The
success that attended them in the pursuit
of one claim encouraged them to set up
and pursue another. OF this no one can
doubt who peruses, with the least attention,
the records of those ages, and compares
the Popes in the beginning of the seventh
century with the Popes in the latter end
Of the eleventh. We shall find them in
the first mentioned period of time, sub
hitting, with all humility, to princes,
claiming no authority or jurisdiction what
aoever, but in virtue of the canons of coun-
ellis, or the rescripts Of Emperors; glory
ing, or pretending to glory, in the humble
title of servants of servants; acknowledge
ing themselves subjects and vassals of the
Emperors, and patiently waiting the will
and pleasure of their liege lords, to take
upon them the Episcopal dignity, or exer-
else the functions of that office. Such
were the Bishops of Rome in the begin
ming Of the seventh century. How differ
ent frcm those in the latter end Of the
eleventh! They we're then vested with
the plentitude Of all power, both spiritual
and temporal; above councils, and uncon-
trolled by their canons; the fountain Of
all pastoral jurisdiction and authority and
by Divine sanction, Empowered to enact,
establish, abrogate, suspend, all ecclesias-
teal laws and constitutions; they were
then become lords and masters-the most
naughty and imperious lords, the most Sc
vere masters mankind had ever groaned
under. They no more begged, but dis
pensed titles, boasting power of setting
up Kings, and pulling them down at pleas
ure; Of calling them to an account, absol-
wing their subjects from allegiance, dives
ting them of their dominions, and treating,
in every respect, as their slaves and vas
sails, those whom one of their best and
greatest predecessors had acknowledged
superior to all men, and thought himself
in duty bound to obey. This plenitude of
power, as they style it, was not acquired at
once, but by degrees, some of the Popes
being more end some less active, crafty
and aspiring. But what is very remarka-
bic of the one hundred and fourteen Popes
between Boniface Ill, who laid the foun-
dation Of Papal grandeur, and Gregory
VII, who raised it to the highest pitch,
not one ever lost an inch of ground his
predecessor had gained. And thus, by
constantly acquiring, and never parting
with what they acquired, and by tying the
hands of their successors by the irreversa-
bic entail of Divine right, they became
the sole spiritual lords, and had almost
made themselves the greatest temporal
lords of the whole of the Christian world"
GRADUAL RISE OF THE ROMAN CATH
oLIo CHURCH.
For seven hundred years, as I have sta
ted, the Bishops were meek and lowly men.
1t was in the dark ages, when ignorance
and superstition overshadowed the world
when the Popes advanced to power. And
it was not until the days Of Gregory VII,
in the eleventh century, that Pope had
the audacity to say to monarch: "You
have forfeited your kingdom, and your
subjects are absolved from their oath of
fealty." In the case Of Henry w., the
Pope declared, that the emperor was
amenable to the Papal court of judicature," !"
= before he was summoned. He was next