The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1855-02-01
TEMPORAL POWER OF THE POPE.
SPEECH OF HON JOSEPH R. CHANDLER

Delivered in the House of Representatives JAN TO- 1855
The House being in Committee of the Whole
on the state of the Union
Mr.. CHANDLER said: rise TO express my
| opinions on subject which ought never to have
| been introduced into the Congress of the United
States but, having been brought hither and dis
cussed, the suggestions of many friends lead me
to believe that it is my duty to present, not
merely my opinions, but certain facts, in rela-
| ton thereto.
purpose making some reply to the remarks
of the honorable gentleman from Massachusetts,
Mr.. BANKS, who recently addressed this House,
| in Committee on some of the prevailing topics
of the day, and made special and inculpatory
| allusion to the creed of the Roman Catholic
| Church involving charge of latent treason
| against its members, or at least imputing to
them an 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 of my remarks let me say that,
| whatever may be my religious belief and connec-
tons, trust that all who know me in this House
will acquit me of the charge of any attempt to
obtrude those opinions upon others, or to press
| upon my associates, publicly or privately, any
defence of the creed of my church, or the pecu-
| liarity of its forms and ceremonies. Believing,
| sir, that religion is a personal matter, have
avoided public exhibition of my pretensions I;
| and, knowing the unpopularity of my creed, l
| have been careful not to leopard my means OF
| usefulness, in their legitimate channel, by any
untimcly presentation of irrelevant and unac-
| ceptable dogmas.
But now, sir, think cannot be deceived in
Al III ,,0k
| only be patiently received in this House, but
| that an attempt at such a reply as the charge
Of the gentleman from Massachusetts, would
suggest to a Catholic, is expected from me, as
| the oldest of the few, the very few, i know but
| one besides myself in this House,) who are
obnoxious to any censures Justly made against
| professors of the Catholic religion, and who
may be directly interested in defence from
imputations of want of fealty to the Govern
| ment of the country, in consequence OF the
nature of their obligations to the Catholic
Church.
II, Mr.. Chairman, Ihad not long been mem
Der of this House, and thus become able to form
an opinion of the honorable gentlemen who
compose it, might startle at the risk of present
ing myself as the professor Of a creed "every-
| where evil spoken of" and standing almost
| alone in the assertion of fact which seems to
DC everywhere dOuDtcu. sIanu, VoO, sirt Will
out the sympathies of host of partisans to
sustain me in nay weakness, and to pardon me
the infrmities of my defence in consequence OF
their attachment to the principles advocate.
/ stand alone, indeed the generous defence
offered by the gentleman from South Carolina,
Mr.. KEIrr,1 and the gentleman from Mississip-
pi, Mr.. BARRY was the magnanimous effort
of men who would defend the professors Of
creed which they do not hold. !, sir, speak for
a creed which do hold. Island alone, sir; but
stand in the Congress of the nation. stand
| among gentlemen. stand. for truth; and how
feeble soever may be my effort feel that L
may continue to depend, at least upon the for,
bearance of body that has always entitled
itself to my gratitude by its unfailing courtesy
TO my humble exertions.
Mr. Chairman, understand the honorable
gentleman from Massachusetts,, Mr.. BAEKs,I
| in his defence of the secret combination to put
down the Catholic religion in this country, by
denying to its members the full rights Of citizen
ship, to assert that he does not bring into dis
cussion the general creed of the Catholics, but
only that portion which, it is asserted, makes
the professor dependent upon the Bishop of
Rome, not merely for what he shall hold Of faith