Semi-weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1853-18??, 1855-07-21
From the w
LETTER FROM O. A pI


requesting the numbers of his written to
maintained the civil authority Of ' ~ wb9s
country. The consent of Nh. r Ile Pope h
to make what use of it NAV be do n1S been OH
though 1t was not written for the I,tI! prOps
as Mr.. Branch has used the letter f + eye
we think it best to publish it entira NJ this Can
Me- Dear Sir: I have reca June Il, h,
yours of the 7th inst, with its ona1 This nn
little at loss to determine what co,,'fe.
There are no numbers of nv Rev;orrG 10 ID
maintained the civil authority of ~ Wherein
country, but as there are several nu rne POpet
have discussed the relations of tIa oeShf
temporal and SPIRITUAL tbink 7 =, Two OIL
whole, best answer by sending tban s"a up
fore order my publisher to send Won l n wilt
for 1853 and 1854. 'Ous thema
You will find in the articles ent,.,
Orders," January, 1853, The ,S,,;r ttiea The
Temporal" April, and The Spiri itur; not not
July of the same year, the Statement 'o os Sqn
on the subject; and in " You Go too VI 4 ny
ry, 1854, g The Temporal Poacer o NV ~ 6af,'
1854, and " Uncle Jack and his NeDbe,, pa Rt
Der, of the same year, my explanation, ~. lSF
of my doctrine. N'''NS aud d
May l ask you to read these art;c,0,
in which have named them? Ifvon win I'll NE
you will doubtless find much which " III alb
Ollie, you will object to, am sure Won aI I0a
such doctrine as | am accused Of bo Si hd
subject l treat has been much obscnra ,T1lS
versy, and am liable to misapprehenSi,UoS COZ
who have not studied it somewhat nr ,yton oy
the Catholic point of view. treat tb"Oul.LE!
under certain aspects and for CathoIics a "J9
of the terms use have in Catholic thooI @u4
nicai sense, which those not familiar With y
ology misapprehend. l say this in excn,o 'a ia
who have misrepresented me.
l claim and never have claimed fr tboD
of the Ecclesiastical States of which ha :, -
poral sovoreign,) no temporal or civil ;". ;uy
power, or authority, properly so called ''; TS
pow er the Pope has in this country is bia
over Catholics as the spiritual head Of tba
1t is purely spiritual power, and can he sr W.
only for spiritual end, and even then or-r
Catholics, for the church does not Judge tba:
are without.
In matters purely and temporal, l. as o.
owe no obedience to the Pope, because he b.-.
we'd from Jesus Christ no authority asa tsr"
sovereign over me. He cannot make or ny
the rights of the sovereign or the duties Of S-
Ject-abrogate the former or absolYe from the !,
Thus far all Catholics, whether the socallrj u
Montanes or the so-called Gallicans are ,r1
The dispute lies not here. All agree that tbs n
is supreme and independent in its own orierH
is to say, in the temporal order But what Ir-
tain is, that the temporal order is not spnrpme
independent, but in the very nature Of things NJ
dinated to the spiritual, since the end of man ]
end for which God made him, directs and pn,
him by his providence-lies in the spiritual oT
not in the temporal. Every man who bci,v@s
religion at all, whether Catholic or non. Cath
does and must admit this; for it is only saving
we must obey God rather than man, and Iief,
Creator rather than the creature. This prenis
think l can state to you in a few words the dc,
do really hold.
Inasmuch as the temporal order is Subordnst.
the spiritual, it follows that the State is under IT,
ofjustice, consequently the prince holds his pga
a trust, not as an indefeasible right, and tLerefa
feits them when he abuses them, and loses his rib
reign. This is the common doctrine held byl
US Americans, and all Catholic doctors teachai
ways have taught it. 1t lies at the foundation
true liberty, and is the only doctrine that can 1
justify resistance to the temporal powers I
right of resistance of power when it becomes tn
nical and oppressive, 1 take it for granted is hal
every American.
But here is a difficulty. The Church. 6l@
the Holy Scriptures, makes civil allegiance ID
GUS duty, and says with Saint Paul, Rom xiii
" Let every soul be subject to the higher pOTd4
there is no power but from God Therefore bet
ressteth the power resisteth the ordinance Of 6
and they that resist, purchase damnatUn to til
selves" Here you see | am forbidden by the
of God to resist the power, and commanded Oll
il of damnation, to obey. Here is my cODSa
bound to obedience, and my conscience assCn
lie can be released only by declaration Of
Church, as the diyinely appointed director OF
science, that the prince by his tyranny and OPP
sion has forfeited his rights, fallen from bis dr
and ceased to reign. What claim for the Pop
visible head of the Church, is the power to REX
my conscience from this religious bond, andhP
me at liberty to resist the prince become tn
This is all understand by the deposing power
The power ITSELF everybody, not tyranti
slave, asserts. The American Congress Of lI9
serted it, and deposed George the Third. Ihs'
difference is, some give it 20 the people; some %
individual and l claim it for the Church, ana
Pope as head of the Church.
The Pope does not in this exercise civil 20
or jurisdiction, and it is called his temporal P'
only because it is a power exercised over ~HIE
sovereigns, or in relation to the Obligation n
subject to obey the prince. But even here tns =
does not relieve from ciUiL allegiance, fGf uS I
prince had forfeited BY mis- tyranny. he n''
the subject only from the spiritual or reliSlo a
legation, superadded by christianity to the cN''
this only in case of the Catholic conscience =.
The Pope is the proper authority 10 ust's
me whether the Constitution of this couml! ~ ~
not repugnant to the laws of God. IL lie W. ~
that it is not, as he has decided, then an i
in conscience to obey every law made IN aS'si rs
with it under no circumstances can ne aUs; ;,b
from my obligation to obey, or interfere e. % tSs
administration of government underit III ~ u" AZ
government is free to do according TO 10 a,o ~
tuition whatever it pleases that is not repT E%
the laws of God, or to natural justice lr ro,
free to do more than that, presume Nv
this country will pretend. .oug
/ have made these remarks to AID you y
stand the doctrine Of the articles to WHICH
called your attention. IN
You are stranger to me, but take yT ~ mi
serious minded man, and lover OF truIn a.
tice; as such have addressed you. l nav Ia /,
trines or opinions that l wish to conceal Cad
Catholic. AS such, am to be true to ny
to my fellowmen. .,rr,a.
have the honor to be, your o6 2teddi%cWS 5S:N
HUGH j. DAVIS, Esq, Warreh'O' 49,,
We give above this letter, and NOPE son
Know Nothing papers of Raleig h who n VT r
tunately demanded its publication, VII, r onre.