True American. [volume] (Steubenville [Ohio]) 1855-1861, 1855-02-15
VOLUME NUMBER I.

have \ rightto disobey him, which would
entirely do away with supremacy or infal-
libiity," "Every diyiuely instituted So
ciety suppOaes infallibility." 1bid IL
This same distinguished Catholic writer
says: "But there is nothing now in the
church, and it will never believe what it
has not always believed" Had he lived
little longer, this last phrase would have
sorely troubled him, since the Pope has
lately proclaimed, as an article Of faith,
(belief the Immaculate Conception of the
Virgin Mary!
Bellarmine says; "The Pope cannot err,
as Pope;" ''the DEGREES Of the council
are infallible."
Bishop England says: "Webeli that
a general council is infallible in doctrinal
decisions"
Dc Maistre says: ~ do not pretend to
raise the least doubt in regard to the infsl-
libility Of general council" Further:
81 firmly believe that God has preserved
the truly eocumenical council from all sr-
ror contrary to sound doctrine"
I beg my hearers (and readen) to re-
member these authorities; we shall need
them as we advance in argument; and let
me say, once for all that, on this grand
subject, / have not relied upon Protestant
writers. I have taken nothing from re-
port, rumor or newspaperS,-I have con-
suited the purest sources of information,
and pledge myself to the country that my
facts are taken from the most authentic
writers-most of them professed and obs-
dient Roman Catholics. s,
*Not doubling that, in the shove re-
mark, the venerable gentleman from Penn
sylvania (Mr, Chandler) intended to be
personally offensive to me, and seeing that
the sentiment is calculated to be offensive
to, at least, a very respectable number Of
the best members of this Congress-. who
are the advocates of the American party,
l cannot allow that gentleman to escape
from the extraordinary position in which
his denial places him. He is not the first
man who, for the sake of little prema-
ture wit, has ventured to be glaringly in
consistent. ...,...
The gentleman "would scorn to oppose
the Know Nothing party"
What are the facts In the reply to
the speech of the honorable gentleman
: from Mississippi, (Mr. Bany;) who had
vigorously assailed the Know Nothing par
ty, the Hon. Mr.. Banks made q speech in
J defence of the organization and doctrines
of the so-called Know Nothings, in which
he referred, with much power and force,
! to the Roman Catholic question. The
gentleman from Pennsylvania, q week or
two afterwards, put himself up as the cham
piou Of the Roman Catholic Church, to
answer the said speech of Mr. Banks, and
to defend the Roman Catholic church
| against the imputations, not only of Mr..
Banks, but of the Know NOthings He
) refers to the speech of the honorable gem
tleman from Massachusetts, in his defence
t of the secret combination to put down the
5 Catholic religion in this country, by deny.
: ing to its members the full right Of citi
0 zenship. He says, in the opening Of hi
f speech: 81 purpose making some reply Ia
S the remarks Of the honorable gentleman
: from Massachusetts,, (Mr. Banks, who're
|, Gently addressed this House, in committee
+ on some of the prevailing topics of tn,
NH
e day, and made special and inculpatory al
/ lusion to the creed of the Roman Catholi,
l. Church" Let us remember that thes.
= prevailing topics Of the day" which th,
}, Hon. Mr.. Banks had discussed, were th,
S topics brought up by the Know Nothines
G and this ''inculpatory allusion," was no
i torious charge of the Know Nothing
e against the Roman Catholic Church. An,
n the honorable gentleman from Pennsylya
}, mia took it upon himself to reply, ''believ
o ing" as he said, "that an attempt at sucl
i a reply as the charge Of the gentlema,
y from Massachusetts would suggest 70
# Catholic, is expected from me, as the old
r est Of the few, the very few, q know bu
It one besides myself in this House,) VII,
= are obnoxious to any censures justly mad
j. against professors Of the Catholic religion.
j. "0f the cruelty Of disturbing the publ
Of mind with such questions, and disfnnchia
"a ing well disposed citizens, 7 shall not 10,
le speak. ] shall leave to other times, an,
4, other persons, in other places, too, tn