Daily American organ. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1856, 1855-05-07

In our daily issues of Thursday and Friday
last we demonstrated, beyond all cavil or con
tradiction, that the Pope claimed and exercised
the right Of temporal dominion, over kings
and princes, and also over Republican govern
ments, SO far as his physical power enable
him to exercise such power. Such has been
his claim in all ages; and Brownson says, tina,
they are sorry Catholics" who dispute his
power. II we believed that the Pope held the
keys Of Heaven, that he was infallible, that
he is the viccgerent Of GOD, that he had
power to accurse, and to save the human race
we think we should find it easy to demon.
strate, that with those attributes, he would be
entitled to regulate all human governments,
and all human actions.
A vicegerent is one who is authorized Ia
ererciss tho poWsrs of another. The viceger-
ent Of God would Of course be authorized to
exercise the powers Of God. This is the plain
definition Of the title given to the Pope He
Ia either commissioned as vicegerent to exer-
else the powers of God, or he is mere man
with scarlet robes and empty titles. He is
said to be "infallible then Of course he has
the attributes Of the Almighty. It is said he
keeps the keys Of Heaven, and admits or ex-
cludes the human race at his pleasure. That
must DO an attribute Of the Divinity. We are
told in Catholic works Of authenticity, that
the priest pardons sins, not as q man, but as
God. The Pope as vicegerent of God, then,
commissions bishops and priests, to absolve
from sins, as though each were God himself
This is the theory Of Romanism. But it is
not our purpose now to demonstrate tho abb
surdities Of this system. We have nothing to
do with the question, how far the Roman Cath
Ole religion is right or wrong, in any other
point Of view than that resulting from the
claim Of the Pope, or Of the Romish Hierarchy
over temporal matters. Weoppose Romanism
as political institution, and we believe it to
be the most corrupt and corrupting political
engine ever forged out and put in operation,
since Satan was let loose upon the earth. 1t
is admitted, by all intelligent and honest men,
that the Romish Church was in former ages,
not only tremendous engine Of oppression,
but Of corruption also; yet it is assumed that,
in our day. it is quite as republican in its views,
and as pure in its morals, as the churches Of
Protestant faith.
The purposes we have now in view, have
reference to its claims to republican charac-
ter. We propose to show that it is in truth
Republican, anti Democratic, and DANCE
rous to free institutions. To prove this, we
have only to refer to the "ALLocUrIoN" Of
Pope Plus the TX, issued from the secret Con-
sistory of September, 1852. We published
this Allocution in our daily ofFriday last, and
it will appear in our weekly Of the present
week. The ALLEGATION" was directed to
the republic of New Granada, which republic
had passed sundry laws to which we win re-
fer, as described in the Allocution itself
1t appears that "without consulting the
apostolic See," a law was proposed, and final
ly passed by the Congress of New Granada,
abolishing tithes to the clergy.
The Pope lays great stress upon the fact,
that this project Of law was introduced,
without consulting him! Disappearing Of
the law he says he 'again and again insisted that
il should never be ratified" But It was ratified
Well, this is precisely what the people Of vir-
ginia did, at the commencement Of the Revolu-
ton. They abolished tithes to the clergy, and
left the people free to support ministers or not,
as they might please. What say the Democra-
cy Of the country Were the people Of New
Granada right, or was Pope Pho Mono right
on this question But again. The Con-
gress Of that Republic, passed law, allow.
ing "cmigrants TO that country to have the
public exercise of their worship, whatever II
was" Against this, the Pope again and again
protested. But the law was passed Was Con.
gress, or the Pope right'
A law was also passed, expelling the reli
gious order Of the society of Jesus, the
Jesuits,) and forbidding the creation Of so
cietics formed by the tie Of passive obedi
ence" TO the viii Of the Pope. In this country
no such law is at present necessary, but vari
GUS governments have found it necessary t
the preservation Of their rights and liberties
to Danish these slaves Of the Romish Hierarchy
who were plotting treason against the State
In New Granada her Congress deemed it ne
cessary, to rid the country Of such traitors Il
free institutions it was a rightful exer
else Of political power. The Pope, Of course
protested against the law. But 1t was passed
and carried into effect
We pass over sundry other acts Of the Con
gress Of New Granada, against which the Pop
protested, to come to one Of the Fundamental
provisions Of the organic law Of that Republic
denounced by the Pope.
We give tho words Of the Pope In his al
locution," TO wit
"Nor must we pass over in silence, that by th'
new constitution Of that Republic enacted in thos
recent times among other things, the right Of fire
education 10 defended, and liberty Of all kinds !
given unto all, so that each person may even prin
and publish his thoughts, and all kinds Of mon
sfrous porfents Of opinions aud profess priratet
and publicly phdtever Worship he pisasss."
These principles, underlying the institu
tions Of all free governments, Pope Plus the II
condemns in unmeasured terms, and at tn
close of his Allocution declares the measures
utterly null and void !"
Free education, freedom, Of speech, free