Democrat and sentinel. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1853-1866, 1855-01-25
THE TEMPORAL POWER OF fHE POPG.
SPEECH OF THE HON. JOSEPH R. CHANDLER
IN THE
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVE
JANUARY IL, 1866.

| In the National House of Representatives on
Thursday, the House being in Committee OF the
| Whole the State of the Union, Mr.. Orr in the
chair) the bill " to provide for the establish
ment of Railroad and Teegraphic communication
from the Atlantic States to the Pacific ocean, and
for other purposes Mr.. Chandler, of Pa, took
the floor, and replied at length to the recent char
ges preferred by Mr.. Banks, of Massachusetts,,
against the fealty of the Catholic citizens of the
| United States.
MIR. Chandler. | rise to express my opinions on
subject which ought never to have been introdu-
ced into the Congress of the United States but
| having been brought hither and discussed, the
suggestions of many friends Lead me to believe
that it is my duty to present, not merely my opin-
| ions, but certain facts, in relation thereto.
purpose making some reply to the remarks OF
4 the honorable gentleman from Massachusetts,, Mr..
| Banks, who recently addressed tbs House, in
committee on some the prevailing topics of the
day, and made special and inculpatory allusion to
the creed of the Roman Catholic Church; involv-
ing charge of latent treason against its members,
or at least imputing them article of religious
faith that overrides all fealty to the Government
| of the country, and would render them unworthy
of public trust-suspected citizens, and dangerous
officers.
| Before / commence my direct reference to the
| subject ofmy remarks, let say that. whatever
| may be my religious belief aud connections,
| trust that all who know me in this House will
| quit me of the charge of any attempt to obtrude
those opinions upon others, or to press upon n y
associates, publicly or privately, any defence of
the creed of my church. the popularity of its
forms and ceremonies. Believing, sir, that religion
is personal matter, | have avoided public exhi-
biton of my pretentons and, knowing the I'M
popularity of my creed, have been careful not to
leopard my means of usefulness, in their legitimate
channel, by any untimely presentation of irrele-
want and unacceptable dogmas.
But now, sir, think | cannot be deceived in
| supposing that well tempered reply would not
only be patiently received in this House, but that
| an attempt at such reply as the charge of the
/ gentleman from Massachusetts wonld suggest to
Catholic, is expected from me, the Oldest of the
| few, the very few, q know but one besides my
/ self in this House,) who obnoxious toany CEN
justly made against professors of the Catholic
religion, and who may be directly interested in
defence from imputations of want of fealty to the
Government of the country, in consequence of che
nature OF their obligations to the Catholic Church.
| If, Mr. Chairman, had not long been men,
Der of this House, and thus become able to form
| an opinion of the honorable gentlemen who com
pose it, might startle at the risk OF presenting
| myself as the professor of a creed .severywhere
evil spoken OF" aad standing almost alone in the
| assertion of fact which seems to be everywhere
doubted | stand, too, sir, without the sympathies
/ of host of partlZanS 10 sustain in my weak
ness, and to pardon me the infrmities of my de-
| fence il consequence of their attachment to the
| principles / advocate.
l stand alone, indeed the generous defence of
| ered by the gentleman from South Carolina Mr..
| Keitt, and the gentleman from Mississippi, Mr..
| Barry, was the magnanimous effort OF who
would defend the professors of a creed which they
do not hold. |, sir, speak for a creed which do
hold. stand alone, sir; but stand in the Con
gress of the nation l stand among gentlemen
stand for truth; and how feeble soever may be my
effort, | feel that may continue to depend, at
least, upon the forbearance of body that has al
ways entitled itself to my gratitude by its unfai
ing courtesy to my humble exertions
Mr.. Chairman. understand the honorable gen
tleman from Massachusetts, Mr. Banks, in his
defence OF the seclet combination to put down the
Catholic religion ip country, by denying to its
members the full rights of citizenship, to assert
that he does not bring into discussion the general
creed of the Catholics, but only that portion which,
il is asserted makes the professor dependent upon
the Bishop of Rome, not merely for what he shall
hold of faith towards God hut what he shall
maintain of fealty towards his own political Gov
ernment.
Let me read paragraphfrom the published re-
marks of the honorable gentleman:
- Mr.. Banks. | have no objection to any man
of the Catholic Church, faith. Here is our friend
from Pennsylvania, Mr.. Chandler, an amiable,
learned, and eloquent man; | might be willing to
vote for him, Catholic he is in preference per-
haps to others nearer my political faith than he
is. What he thinks of the Seven Sacraments, or
how many he accepts, is concern of mine. To
me it is no objection that he receives the interpre
tations of the Council of Trent to the doctrines
of original sin and Justification 1t cannot concern
me, and it can concern no man, that, as a matter
Of faith any person cherishes the doctrine of tram
subStantiation accords the full measure of Catho-
lie yeneration to sacred relics or images and ac-
cepts every article of the Nicene creed Every
man is accountable for his own faith as for mine
And even though my name appended to the
declaration, read to us by the gentleman from
Mississippi, from the PennsylUdnidn might stN
vote for such man, if otherwise it lay in my way
| to do SOD
| l thank God, and the honorable gentleman, for
| that. may think | please ON matters purely
spiritual. But the honorable gentleman proceeds
g But there is another branch of this subject. It
is current belief that the Pope. the head of the
Roman Church, who stands as the Vicar of God.
and is invested with his attributes Of nfallbilty
is not only supreme in matters of faith but has
also temporal power that cannot only control
Governments, but. in fitting exigcneies may alb
solve his disciples from their allegiance I am
aware, sir, that this is disputed ground. But it is
well attested historical fact, that often in time
past, the claim to secular power has been made
and am yet to learn, that by the Pope, or any
general council speaking with his acquiesence-
she only authorized exponents of the true faith
ehat TINS claim has ever yet been disavawed IT
HAS NOT BEEN DONE II ENGLAND Q o o will
eay 'hae II 1t be true that the Pore is held to be
snPie'e u secular, In sacred affairs, that he can
apsoVe men from their relations with others not of
the true faith, it is not strange that men should
hesitate IN support OF his followers I wopd not
vote for any man holding to that doctro IL
doubt not, other gentlemen here wopld cananr
with me in that feeling'' so''' -
The charge, then, against the Roman Catholics