The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1855-02-01

4
less, and unprncipled party politician of the
present and recent time?
Mr.. Chairman, as n Christian man and an
American legislator, have nothing but truth
to utter; and L scOrn TO utter less than the
whole of the truth
Undoubtedly, the Pope has proceeded to de-
throne Kings, and thus to release subjects.
History declares that more than one monarch
has been made to descend from his throne by
the edict of the Pope, and that the allegiance
OF his subjects has been transferred by that
edict to a succeeding monarch, who, however
he may have obtained his crown, might have
been compelled to lay it down at the bidding
of the same authority that deposed his prede-
cessor.
If, then the Pope has exercised such right,
may he not, should he ever have the power, re-
new that exercise?
That, suppose, Mr.. Chairman depends en-
tirey upon the foundation of the right, and tho
demand which may be made for its exercise.
The question which concerns us here, AMI
which arises out of the charges made bv the
honorable gentleman from Massachusetts,, is
not whether the right has been claimed but
on what grounds this right was asserted. II it
was divine right-s right inherent in the spir-
itu0l Office of the Bishop of Rome az the sue
ccssor of st. Peter-then, sir, confess it may
never, 1t can never lapse; and its exercise NAV
be renewed with the reception Of additional
power. But, sir, if it was right conferred for
special occasions, by those interested in its ex-
ercise, conferred by monarchs for their own
safety, and approved by the people for their
own benefit, who were ready willing and able,
to contribute means for giving it's exhibition
power, then it would, of course, cease with the
change of circumstances in which it was con
terred and those who invested the Pope with
| the right, because they could assist him with
po'rer, and because general safety required the
| exercise of that power, retained in their own
| hands the right TO withdraw or invalidate their
| former bestowal, and leave in the hands of the
Roman POntiff only his spiritual rights over
Kings or people, dehors the limits of his own
| temporal dominion.
To understand how the Pope ever possessed
any power over Emperors and Kings, and by
such power influencing their subjects, we must
enter more infinitely into the circumstances of
the far-distant age in which it was conferred
and exercised, than the time here allowed for a
speech, or the space necessary for an essay,
would justify. We must enter into the spirit
of the middle ages, and see how naturally Chris
tan mOnarchs then all Of one greedy formed
combinations, and how much human rights and
christian principles owe TO combinations; and
Jealousies which, while they distinguished and
really illustrated that period would now be re-
garded, If they could exist, as the resort Of men
OF bad principles, to perpetuate tyrannical DOW
er. But such was the state of the times, and
such the unestablished condition of religion and
civil government, that it became matter Of
the deepest moment to Christian Princes, that
the latter should combine to support the for
mer. And in combining, the Christian (Catho-
hc) Princes formed league, by which, peace,
| order, and religion We're, as far as possible to
be maintained among them, by reference to
| the Influences which the Pope as a spiritual
sovereign, would naturally have to enforce ten
! poral and temporary power with Kings and
people, and with Kings through their people;
and this influence was augmented by the sub.
mission on the part of individual sovereigns to
the DEGREES Of the Pope, founded on the power
which the united soYereigns had conferred on
the Pontif, and founded on that alone
Christianity, at that period, had not wrought
out Its work OF social good; vice and disorder
were rampant, and the passions of men seem
cd to be allowed indugences little realized in
these times. To secure something ike order,
religion, and Cathoicity, among the Christian
/ nations, and TO secure the ultimate social eff
fects of the true principles of religion, the
Christian Princes conferred upon the Pope a
power, which previously he had not attempted
to exercise; never, indeed, claimed to possess.
The spiritual power always admitted a. of
divine right, the gift of God. The temporal
1 power was conceded was conferred, by the En-
peror and Christian Princes not to aggrandze
the Bishop of Rome, but to enable him 70 de-
| eide betwiIt them in their various disputes
and to keep alive the faith upon which the
power of the Princes evidently rested. No one
then pretended that the right to depose King
was divine right in the Pope. He claimed
the power to cut off from the sacraments of the
church, all who did not conform to the rules Of
that church--a right claimed and exercised by
all churches, suppose; as every church surely
must be judge of the qualifications of its
members, and must, so far rs its influence ex.
tends, exercise the power to bind and loose
That is question purely theological, and can
not be discussed here
j certainly do no injustice to any one in say.
| ing that such was the disorderly state Of En-
rope that, if dependence had not been placed
by sovereigns in the influence Of the Pope's
spiritual power, no King could have maintain.
ed his possessions without an Acknowledged
physical superiority; and no people could have
retained show of freedom, could have count
cd on life itself, if the avarice and bloody cruel
ty of the Barons could have found any adyan.
tage, or even momentary qualification, by sacri-
hcing either. And this was not all II was
admitted that every crown should be held by
| the tenure of Christianity in its wearer; and
yet Paganism and infidelty were continually
| grasping at the sceptrc.# Kingdoms were con
stantly changing. Monarchs were driven from
their thrones by violence and their successors
| lnOugnI Oh any Olner OBJECT tnan the
manency of their own power. Meantime tha
Papacy was permanent; and in proportion to
| the troubles, disorders, and disasters of the
times, the Papacy acquired strength-strength
in the constant appeals TO Its arbitration;
strength in its Interchangeable qualities and
strength, it will be admitted, by a reception
and exercise of duties devolved upon it by those
who saw in the Papal power the only means of
saving Europe from chaos.
Having asserted that the political power Of
| tho Popes, dehOrs their special and proper do
minion, was conferred by the Christian Princes,
and that it was exercised by the demands and
appeals of those who were interested in its OBJ
ject, viz: order, religion, and princely right, and
sometimes popular rights, have only to say
that, OF course no Pope, thus receiving and thus
exercising his power, could, with truth, assert a
divine right; or, asserting it, he could not hope
to have that right permanently admitted IL
hence follows that such right never was an
article of Roman Catholic faith
1t cannot be denied, that the spiritual power
OF the Pope, the admitted jtre dirino, was a
motive among others for comforting the pOlit.
| cal power, and, perhaps, also motive for exer-
| cising that power; and the reverence in which
the character of the Pope was held by Princes
and mobiles, as well as the people, gave great
consequence to the decisions of the PontifT,
right or wrong, and insured prompt obedience,
when otherwise there might have been hesi-
fancy, and even celebration. No doubt the
temporal power conferred by temporal consent,
and by constitution, was mistaken for, and