Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1855-10-10
8faailg
by ESPECIAL REQUEST.
FROM the Augusta Constitutonalist.
JUDGE BERRlEN and REV. JOHN WESLEY.

When learned jurist and distinguished e1-
Senator gives the sanction Of his high name and
character to the spirit of persecution, against
weak and unobstrusive religious aect, il becomes
him, in proper regard for mis- own reputation, 10
examine well the position lie takes of himself
or indorses in another, in seeking 10 achieve hIs
uncharilable purpose.
Judge Berrien has thrown himself, and the
influence Of his name. into the political arena,
on the side Of Catholic prescription He should
carefully examine his ground, and take heed
tha, he maintain the charges which he volunta.
rily brings forward against the Church he as.
sails and that he dues not misrepresent the
religious opinions of those whom he would pre-
scribe and degrade.
He has exhumed from the muSty past, n let
ter OF the celebrated John Wesley, written
amidst the controversial heats of the last CEN
tury, in which the Roman Catholic Church is
arragned rs holding grevous errors of doctrine,
and seeks to stir up sertarian bgotry and intol-
crane. in this our enlightened day, and in this
our free and tolerant country, with view to
bring down the heavy hand of oppression,
through the bal.o, box, upon the heads of our
Catholic fellow citizens.
Let US examine the specifications presented,
by Mr.. Wesley, and indorsed by Judge Berrien
They are
lst. That the Roman Catholic Church, by
the council of Constance, proclaimed the doc
,rine, "No faith is to be kept with heretics."
3D. These who acknowledge the spiritual
power of the Pope, can give no security tor
their allegiance TO any government"
Sd. That Catholics I" believe the Pope can
pardon rcbeions, high treasons, and all other
powers whatever"
d. That they believe the power Of dispcns-
ing with any promise, oath, or VOW, Is another
branch of the power Of the Pope" and that
consequently the Catholic can give no security
for his allegiance.
The extraordinary circumstance, that politi-
cal organization has made prescription OF re-
lieious denomination, part of its creed, and
of ils policy, has entaied on the secular press
the novel duty of exploring theological libraries
to defend the Constitution of the country and
the rights of citizens under it, who profess the
faith thus dragged into the arena
This is our apology for serving up to our
readers, this morning, portions of the answer Of
a leading Roman Catholic Divine, to the bill Of
Indictment of the Rev. Mr. Wesley, drawn up
in 1880, and now preferred by Judge Berrien as
prosecutor, before the bar of public opinion in
Georgia.
We quote from Father O'Leary, one of Ire
lands best and brightest intellects. He an
swerpd the letter. of Mr.. Wesley in a series of
letters to the Dublin Free Press, parts of which
We will quote in each of the specified points
And FIRST, as to that celebrated and much. mis-
represented declaration of the Council of Con-
stance, which sat on the case Of John Huss, in
the year l4l4.
aNo FAITH TO BE KEPT WITH HERETIcs."
"At q time, then, when ambition, that insatia-
BILE desire of elevation, that worm which stings
the heart, and never leaves it Mt rest, presented
the universe with the extraordinary sight of
three prelaies reviving the restless spirit Of the
Romnn triumvia;e, and disturbing he peace of
mankind as much with their spiritual weapons,
US Octavius, Anthony, and Lepidus had disturb
ed il with their armed legions-at time when
the broachers of new doctrines were kindling
up the fires of sedition, and after shaking the
foundations Of what was then the established
religion, were shaking the foundations Of thrones
and empires-at that critical lime, in l4l4, was
held the Council of Constance, with denign,
a. tho fathers of that Council express them
selves, to reform The church in her head and
members; and put an end TO the calamilies
which the re.tless pride of three bishops, us
suming the titles of Popes by the names Of
Gregory the Twelfth, Benedict the thlrtesnth,
and John the Twenty. third, had brought on
Europe, split into three grand factions by the
ambition of the aforementioned competitors" :"
ITO the Council of Constance was cited
then John Huss, Bohemian, famous for propa-
guins errors tending to tear the mltre from the
heads of bishops. and wrest the sceptre from the
laads of kings; in word, he was obnoxions to
Church and State; and if Mr.. Wesley and 1
preached up his doctrine in the name of Ged, zoe
,pouM be condemned in The name Of the King
Protestants and Catholic diyines would Danish