Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1855-06-13

dominion, if there be cause for it,"
II this is The principle Of the Roman Catholic
what Is the rule of conduct recommended by.it
to those who arc obedient to its advice. We
select the following, as not only an eloquent
exposition OF the evils which unfortunately too
often attend the ascertainment Of what is called
the poPoar will; but also as the expression Of
pure morality, deep piety, and devoted patriot-
ism, not surpassed in any document of which
we have any knowledge.
"EXTRAcT FROM THE PASTORAL LETTER.
=" And here, beloved brethren, ..,ohilst a0e dis
| claim all right 10 interfere 1cith your judgment
in The, political affairs Of our common coantrys
and are far from entertaining the 1oish 10 control
yolt in The constitutional exercise g treedoma-we
canaot, in justice to ourselves, refrain from ad-
dressing to you few observations, equally de.
manded by The love that we bear to our civil
and political institutions, and the obligations Of
morality. You cannot but be aware that our
o'cn rieaoS and sentiments, respecting the polill-
cal parties which divide our national councils are
as lille tn harmony as your o,on, or those of any
other religious body in our land. You cannot,
therefore, attribute our motion 10 any political
bias, nor entertain the suspicion that il is meant
TO produce any political effect. Our object is ex-
clusiVely The responsibility of our land, the
stability of our constitution, the perpetuaion OF
our liberties, and the preservation of pure and
unde6Ird religion. =
'"rhe periods which preeede our. great .elec.
tions, are usually marked by extraordinary ex-
element. Associations are formed, committees
are appointed, clubs are organized, party spirit
is excited, the tongue and ren are embltered by
viruence, truth is disregarded, and more melan-
choly and more censurnble still, freemen of
every religious denomination, electors upon the
proper exercise of whose judgment we receive
statesmen who may save our republic from ruin
or who may degrade ourselves in the eyes OF
the world, and may destroy our peace and our
liberty; voters upon whose virtue and prudence
our dearest rights depend, are brutalized by
/ pampering their meanest passions, are by vile
bribery debased to the lowest grade of infamy
and reeklessness and illus what is meant to be
blessing is turned into curse. Beloved
brethren, flee this contamination, keep aloof
from these crinles-reRect that you are accounta-
BILE not only 10 society," but 10 God, for the honest,
Independent, and fearless exercise Of your o'cn
franchise, that it is trust confded to you nat
for your private gain, but for the public good;
and that if yielding to any undue Influence you
act either through favor affection, or the motives
of dishonest gain, against your o,on' deliberate
riew Of 'chai uill promote yoatr country's good,
yuu hare riolated your trust, and you hare detra-
ed your conscience: and you arc a renegade 10
your country.
"Do then, we eutreat Of you, avoid the con-
Illuminating influence Of political strife, keep
yourselves aluof from the pestental almos-
pherc in which honor, virtue, patriotism, and
religion perish, and be assured that our republic
never can be respected abroad, nor sustained at
home, sare by an uncompronaisug adherence TO
honor, 10 rirtue, 10 patriotism, and 10 religion.
How often have we had 10 weep over the havoc
of morals, and the wreck of religion, which
political excitement has produced"
But it said, no matter what may be The opln.
ions of the Roman Catholic Church in relation
10 the source and end OF Government, it retains
n power, conceded to it by the members of that
Church: power by which it absolves those in
lis fifth, from the allegiance due by them 10
temporal sovereign, and claims for itself apri.
mary and paramount allegiance. Here is
charge made Of very grave import, and one that
should be examined. Yet, in. the very COM
mencement of that examination, we find, that in
Great Britain, the same charge has been made,
investigated and abandoned, years ago: When
at bec;lne obvious to- the ,5racised, eye of MIR.
Pitt, that the excessive penalties which, IN for
mer days, had been visited on the Roman Cath
olics could not longer be con, ,inucd in order
that before The relaxation of that bloody code,
he might hold in bis hand, the justification OF
his remission of such penalties, he caused to be
addressed 10 the universities Of Paris, Dnuay,
Louvain, Alcda, Salamanca, and Valladolld,
three questions of the following import:
/. Has the Pope or Cardinals. or any oody OF
men, or any individual of the Church of Rome,
any civil authority, power, jurisdiction or pre-
emnence whatsoever, within the realm OF Eng
land
2. Can the Pope or Cardinals, or any body of
men, or any individuals of the Church Of Rome,
aLsove or dispense with his Majesly's subjects
from their oath Of allegiance, ON any preteyt
whatsoever
3. Is there any principle in the tenets Of the
Catholic faith by which Catholics are justified
in not keeping faith with hereics, or other per:
sons differing from them in religious opinions,
in any transactions either Of public or private
nature!
To these questions The several Universities
furnished answers precise y to the same effect;
we shall content ourselves, therefore, with pre-
senling that furnished from Salamanca. TO
the first question, (says that Unversity) "Nei-
thcr the Pope, nor Cardinals, nor any assembly
or individual of The Catholic Church, have as
such, amy civil authority, power, jurisdiction or
pre-emince in the kingdom Of England" 10
The sccond-'' Neither Pope, nor Cardinals, nor
any assembly. or individual Of the Catholic
Church. can, as such, absolve the subjects of
Great Britain from their oaths of allegiance, or
dispense with their obligation"
10 the third" 1t is no article of Catholic
faith, that Catholics are justified in not keeping
faith with herclics, or with persons of any other
description, who dissent from them in matters of
religion" The University OF Valladolid, adds
TO this answer, that this obligation, to keep
faith, {" is grounded in the law of nature which
Binds al men equally without respect to rcg
Gus opinions and with regard to Catholics, is
still moEe eosent, as it is confirmed by The prn-
ciples of their religion
Again: Ia 1926, the Catholic Bishops in Great
Britain made the following declaration: No
power in any Pope, or Council, or in any nd.
,dual, or body Of men, invested with authority
in the Catholic Church, can make it lawfu! TO
confirm any fasehood byan oath or dispense
with any oath by which Catholic has confirm
ed his duty Of allegiance 10 his Sovereign, or
any obligation of duty or justice 10 n third per-
SON. He who takes un oath is bound to observe
it, in the obvious meaning of the words, or in
the known meaning of the person to whom it
is sworn"
Is this enough2 If not, what more is requIr-
ed? Are we not then forced TO believe, that a
party in the United States, which stnhs with
The proposition that the Roman Catholic Re-
gion in the United States is dangerous to- the
permanency our institutions; either because the