The true Democrat., 1855-10-09

tive power of the church, appointed to preside over it, and enforce its canons or laws. Those cannons vest in individuals, for instance. in Bishops, certain rights, which of course, it is the duty ot the Pope to protect, and not to violate; his authority is thus limited by those canons. Is the duty which the Catholic owes to the Pope, and the duty which he owes to the hlng, really and substantially distinct? Who'll y distinct How far is .he claim, that some ropes nave set up to temporal authority, op- posed to scripture and tradition As far as it may have been exercised, as coming from a right granted to him by God, it appears to me to be contrary to scripture and tradition; but as far as It may have been exercised in conse- quence of right conferred on him by the diff ferent christian powers who looked up to him at one time, as the great parent of chrlStendOm, who appointed him as the arbitrator of their con- cerns, many of whom submitted their kingdoms to him. and laid them at his feet, consenting to receive them back from him as liefs. the case is different. The power that he exercised un- der that authority of course passed away, when those temporal princes, who granted it, chose to withdraw it. His spiritual power does not allow him to dethrone Kings, or absolve their subjects from the allegiance due to them; and any attempt of that kind, 1 would consider contrary to scripture and tradition. Does the Pope now dispose of temporal affairs within the kingdoms of any of the Princes of the Continent? Not that am aware of, am sure he does not. Do the Catholic clergy admit that all the bulls of the Pope are entitled to obedience They are entitled to a certain de- gree of reverence. If not contrary to our usa- ges or contrary to the law of God, of course they are entitled to obedience, as coming from a superior; we owe obedience to parent, we owe obedience to the King, we owe it to the law; but If parent the King, or the law, were to order us to do anything that is wrong, we would deem It our duty to say, the Apostles did on another occasion, We ought to obey God ra- ther than men, What do the principles of the Catholic religion teach, in respect to the per formance of civil duties? They teach that the performance of civil duties isa conscientious obligation which the law of God imposes on us." The third and last witness, before the se- lect committee, that shall trouble the patience of the attentive reader with, was the most Rev. Oliver Kelly, D. D., Archbishop of Tuam, Lord Palmerston in the chair He is sworn and examined.
 ''llow many years have you been Roman Catholic Archbishp of Tuam Since the year 1915. Is the Pope's authority distinctly de- fined ?
 His authority is distinctly defined, and be- sides the ordinary episcopal power, which he enjoys in common with the other Bishops, he has the authority of presiding over the univer- sal church, and of governing it according to the canons. Does the obedience that is due by a Roman Catholic to the Pope, detract from what IS due by Roman Catholic to the Prince, un- der whom he lives? Not in the slightest de- gree Does it at all justify an objection, that is made to Roman Catholics, that their allegiance Is divided? By no means. Is the duty that a Roman Catholic owes to the Pope, and the duty he owes to the King, really and substan- fially distinct? The duty which the Roman Catholic owes to the Pope and that which he owes to the King under whom he lives, are really and substantially distinct, nasmuch as they regard different matters. The duty which he owes the Pope is confined to matters spritu- al, and affecting ecclesiastical and religious mat ters. This duty is by no means incompatible or inconsistent with his social duties; it does not clash in any manner whatsoever, with the civil allegiance which he owes to the King. On the contrary, his bounden duty, as a Catholic is to pay obedience and submission t0 the civil authorities. What do the principles of the Roman Catholic religion teach, in respect of performing civil duties? The principles which the Roman Catholic church teaches, with re- gard to civil duties are, that subjects are to obey the King and all those placed in autho- rity under him; they are to be amenable to the laws of the land. Has any Pope of late years, at all attempted to interfere in the temporal concerns of the States of Europe? I do not know that, of late years, any Pope has at tempted to interfere ill the temporal concerns of independent States When the Pope did interfere in the temporal concerns of indepen- dent States, on what did he found his claim to such interference? 1 should think, when he did interfere in temporal concerns, it was in consequence of concessions made to him by temporal princes themselves, and that it was in virtue of the power which he had received from them; but do not conceive that the Pope, at any period, in virtue of his authority as Pope, did interfere in any manner whatsoever with the temporal concerns of any State.'
 This evidence had a most powerful effect in disabusing the English mind of preconceived erronious opinions and deep-rooted preudices against the ancient taitA of Alfred, Edward the contessor, Thomas Moore, Langton and others, and made converts in favor of Catholic eman- cipation of the highest intocrants and most violent opponents of that measure, which in 1929, was achieved and became the law of the
 
 of Capt. Pike, respectable legal gentleman of Arkansas, born under Massachusetts sum- and not far from the black waNs of Mount Be nelict, when he is next tempted to repeat his sham and shameless apology for the proscrip- tion of Catholics, am not sufficiently informed to say; but this do avcr (and every educated man knows it) that British statesmen, as learn ed and experienced as Capt. Pike, Gncuding few of the leading Bishops of the established church of England) after listening for nine naoatts a1m seUenteen days to the able and mas terly eXpositions of Catholic principles before the committee of both houses of Parliament, declared openly and distinctly in the face of Europe that the old hachneyed tale of divided allegiance on the part of Catholics, or admit. ting in the Pope of Rome power to regulate their conduct in civil and political matters, is too silly and aJsurd to be any longer entertain ed by scholars and gentlemen. When the most Rev. Dr. Kelly, Gone of the witnesses ex- amined before the committee,) solicited tho Protestant Bishop of Norwich to present pe- titon from Tuam for Catholic emancipation, the venerable prslate declared his acquiescence in these words: cold as 1 am will gladly pre- sent to the House of Lords, the petition men, toned by your Grace, and 1 shall be happy to have an opportunity of bearing my humble testimony in favor of the most injured people upon the face of the earth" Well might the learned and enlightened prelate of Norwich, in making the declaration, say (and say justly) with the poet, "eregj naoDunae,atuna ere perep- nlus." l could not be an enemy to Capt. Pike. He may continue his abors as long as he plea ses, for the purpose of frightening persons of weak nerves into hatred of my religon, but he will yet discover that he has made a false step, and that it is poor patriotism to prescribe any man on account of his religious principles, especially when the proof of his attachment to the constitution and laws of the country is ac- knowledged to be all on his side.
 PETRICULA.
 Little Rock, Oct. 3, 1855.
 A FRANK CoNFEssIoN-Th Montgomery (Ala.) Journal fairly owns up that there is no room whatever to hope for the success of the know nothing party in that State. In the Mont gomery district Mr Watts the know nOthinp