Democrat and sentinel. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1853-1866, 1855-01-18
The Temporal Power of the Pope.
E. B. CHASE, Sect'y.
Phila., Dec. 26, 1854.

In the U. S. House of Representatives, On
Thursday, in Committee ON the Pacific Railroad
hill, Mr. Chandler, Of this city, took occasion to
explain and vindicate the Catholics of the United
States from the nculpatons the Know Nothing
advocates We have only sketch of his eloquent
speech, and shall look with interest for the full
report, which he will, no doubt, very soon pre-
pare:
Mr.. Chandler rose in reply to the Know Moth
ing speech of Mr.. Banks, of Massachusetts, who,
he said, had made special and incuipatory re
marks regarding the Roman Catholic Church, in
volving in the inculpation the charge of latent
treason against the members, or at least an i'm
putation that there is an article of their religious
faith which overIides all fealty to this Government
and which would render them unworthy of public
trust suspected citizens and dangerous officers
Standing here almost alone, in the assertion of
fact which seems to be doubted, he said he was
without the sympathy of host of partizans to
sustain him and 10 pardon the infirmty of his
defence of the principles which he advocated
He denied that the Pope of Rome has, or claims
for himself, the right to interfere with the politi-
cal relations of any other country than that of
which he is himself subject and he denied the
right of the Pope, resulting from his divine office,
to interfere between subjects and soyereigns, and
citizens and governments
While he made this denial he acknowledged all
his obligations to that church Of viii h he
humble mem ser. lie would not yield single
dogma, explain it way TO suit the spirit of
the times. No He believed all that the Church
believes and teaches as religious dogmas, and
must regard himself as involved in the general
eensure of the gentleman from Massachusetts,
lie clearly and distinctly denied that the power
of the Pope extends one grain beyond his spiritual
reistions or nfringes IN the least degree on the
duty which any Roman Catholic owes to the GOV
ernment which he lives II, he said, by the Prov
idence of God, Bishop of Rome should possess
himself of army to invade the territory of the
United States, assai the rights of our country,
ne would find ne racre earnest antagonists than in
the Roman Catholics. Ii | should not be here to
vote supplies to our army, and too old to take
part IN the battle, would be found IN the privacy
OF my chamber, at the foot Of the altar innplo-
ring God for the safety Of my country and the de-
feat of the invaders TApplause. which Mr.. Orr.
Chairman of the Committee checked. reminding o
gentlemen that it was unbeconling in a debera-
tive assembly.
Mr.. Chandler resumed-H the spirit of con
quest should seize on the wearer of the tiara and
he should seek to subiugate Italy, provoking the.
arms of other nations against his own State, I
would look on the chances of defeat of his arms as
cody and complacently as on the mischieveus
schemes of any other ambitious monarch. This
was his belief, and fully and openly asserted by
every Bishop in the United States. In proof, he
read from the writings of Bishops England, Ken
' ,AeiSuSs, oIaiulnS, Troy, ana OtIeIs DC
scorned to utter less than the whole truth, and
relerred to other times, when the Pope dethroned
kings, but only when it was required by existing
constitutions or compacts for the benefit and at
the instance OF the governed. In the language of
BISHOP England, "God never gave to the Pope
any temporal power to depose kings. or interfere
with political concerns, and any rights which tba
successor of st. Peter claims for that purnose
must be derived from some other sources
He condemned the inequality in citizens. which
the Know Nothings seek to establish, saying that
if this should be DONE it would not be long before
that class win demand as a loon, what freemen
claim. and in conclusion said, sWith my hand
on my heart, and my eyes towards Heaven with
reverence, appeal to God to witness the truth Of
the assertions which | have made. with the con
viction of knowledge and the crcdbility of the
testimony have adduscd from others.n