American union. [volume] (Morgantown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1855-1859, 1855-07-28
ROM A M.

y
ty has seen fit and proper to cmploya-
gainst the strides of political Roman
ism in this country. We are secuted
as opposing a harmless religion-as
prescribing men Of a peculiar religious
faith-and Of scizing upon the prejudi-
ccs of our countrymcn to advance self
ish political purposes. No charge was
ever made moro falsely or uncharita-
bly, than either of these. The opposi-
ton which the American party employs
against Political Romanism and the
temporal power Of tho Pope, is founded
in principles Of Rcpublicanism which
unlerlic our very American nationality
is supported by truths which in view
Of the fundamental doctrines of civil
and religious liberty, arc paramount,
convincing and final. If we examine
the past history of Jesuit encroach-
ment--if VIC examine tho avowcd doc
trmes Of Popcry even in this country
or if We consider what Romanism has
attempted, aye, and has accomplished
in Protestant Amcrica--we arc con-
WINGED ourselves, and may convince all
whose eyes arc not shut to the light,
that there is danger in tamperng with
the Pope, or his adhcrcnts which is the
same thing, at our Elections.
The manner in which our opponents,
in private discussion andin public print,
arc disposed to treat our antagonism to
Romanism, in the political aspect it has
assumed in this country, as well as
their studied misrepresentation of the
facts, are reasons that have induced us
to prepare and publish this article, de-
Tending our principles and Calculating
the truth.
T. WHAT'S Romanism? If it is allie,
glance to q Pope, as supreme ecclesias,
tical and political head; uniting in its
embraces the functions of Church and
State; is it in consonancc with our Re,
publican institutions? Docs not oul
Republican government vest the affairs
Of State in the hands of the sovereign
people, allowing to them the right also
to worship God according to the die
tatcs of their own consciences? A
union of Church and State is not con
tcmplated in our American system
the people arc the sooereigns, and civil
with religious liberty, is the common
Inheritance of all. Then, if civil and
religious liberty is contemplated anC
enjoyed under our Republican institu
tons, (and none will gainsay it) let us
examine the powers, temporal and spir
itual, Of tho Pope, and sec whether
under his auspices, these manifold an(
priceless blessings would be vouchsafet
and pcrpctuated. And, as we are out
sideys, and therefore incompetent tt
bear testimony, as our opponents say
of us, let us call authority high in the
confidence, and well posted in the doc
trines, which find an embodiment in thu
dcscendcnt of the line of st. Peter.
Prof. Brownson, in his Quartorl,
Review, January, 1854, says:
"Therc is in our judgment but on'
valid defence Of the Popes in their cx
ercise of temporal authority in the mid
die ages over soycroigns, and that is
that they possessed it by divine right
or that the Pope holds that authority
by virtue of his commission from Jesus
Christ as the successor of st. Peter
the Prince Of the Apostles and visible
head of the Church. * y howeycl
individual Catholics here and there may
deny it, or nominally Catholic govern
monts oppose it, that IS the real Rona1
Catholtc d0Ct,jae, to be qe-assc,ted anc
dctG6 upon INC WOWeHt H0t cHcUW
ces render aprudent or e2pedtent."
Again, Brownson thus cxpounds the
doctrines Of Rome, tointclligent Amer
lean readers:
"But, would you have this country
como under the authority Of the Pope
Why not?" &c. els not the proper
question for you to discuss, then, no,
whether the papacy be, or be not co7n
pati6le NTH rep@blican government, but
whether it be or be not Jounded iw di
zine yight? IL tho Papacy be founded
in divincright, it is SUPREME over what.
ever is founded in human right, and then
yow institutions shoaiH be ma,le to