Daily American organ. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1856, 1855-07-21

rhat maintain Is, that tie temporal order Is moi
supreme and Independent, Bat, IN the rsry nature
Of things, s,sbordiaated 70 The spiritual since the
end Of md,.--ths end for rhich God made nm,
directs aud governs him BY his proyidenee-ttes ~
The spiritual, not IN the temporal. Every man
who believes any religion at al, whether Catholic
or nom Catholic does and must admit this; for il
il only saying that we must obey God rather than
man. and live for the Creator rather than the crea.
ture. This promised, | think | can state to you,
IN few words, the doctrine do really hold
Irasmuoh as the temporal order is suboTdindted
10 the spiritual IL Joltops that The State is under
The laacs Of Justice consequently the prince holds
his powers as trust not as an indefeasible right,
and therefore forfeits them whom lie abuses them,
and loses his right TO reign. This is the common
doctrine held by all of US Americans, and all Cath
Ole doctors teach and always have II. IL lies at
the foundation Of all true liberty, and is the only
doctrine that can ever justify resistance to the
temporal powers. This right OF resistance OF
power when II becomes tyrannical and oppressive,
l take il for granted, is held by every American.
But here Is difficulty. The Church, following
the Holy Scriptures, make civil allegiance reli-
gious duty, and says with Saint Paul, Romans xiii
Ia: "Let every soul be subject to the higher
powers, for there Is no power but from God.
Therefore, he that resisteth the power ressteth the
ordinance of God, and they that resist purchase
damnation to themselves" Here you see am for
hidden by the law of God to resist the power, and
commanded, on peril of damnation TO obey. Here
IS my COINCIDENCE bound to obedience, and my con-
science as Catholic can be released only by a
declaration OF my Church, as the divinely appoint
ed director of conscience, that the prince of ty-
ranny and oppression has forfeited his right, fall
en- from his dignity and ceased to reign. What !
claim for the Pope, as visible head OF the Church,
IL the power TO release my conscience from this
religious bond, and to place mo at liberty to resist
the prince become a tyrant. This is all ! under
stand by the deposing power.
The power ITSELF everybody, not tyrant or a
slave asserts The American Congress Of 1875
asserted it, and deposed George the Third The
only di6sreacsis, some gire IL 10 tie people, some
to the Etaigidtal. and I claim IL for lie Church,
and the Pope as head Of The Church.
The Pope does not in this exercise civil power
or Jurisdiction, and il is called his temporal power
only because IL is power exercised over temporal
sovereigns, or in relation to the obligation Of the
subjectto obey the prince. But even here the
Pope does not relieve from cipI allegiance for
That the prince had forfeited by his tyranny. He
releases the subject only from the spiritual or re-
gious obligation, superaddedby christianity to the
civil, and this only in Gaze Of the Catholic con-
science.
The Pope is the proper authority 10 decide for
me ictether the Constitution Of this country is or
"a not rep. tgnam TO the lars Of God. If he de-
cides that It Is not, as he has decided, then am
bound in conscience to obey every law made in nc
cordance with it and under no circumstances can
he absolve me from my obligation to obey or in
terfere with the administration OF government un-
der it. for the civil government is free to do accord
ing TO its constitution whatever 1t pleases, that ia
not rcpugnant to the laws Of God, or to natural
justice. That it is free to do more than that, !
presume no man in this country viii pretend.
have made these remarks to aid you to under
stand the doctrine of the articles to which have
called your attention.
You are stranger to me, but take you TO be
a serons-mnded man, and lover Of truth and
justice as such / have addressed you. have
no doctrines or opinions that wish to conceal. ]
am Catholic. As such, aim to be true to my
God, and to my fellow men.
] have the honor to be your obedient servant,
O. A. BR0WNS0N.
HUaH j. DAVIS ESQ Wauenton n C.