Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1852-1859, 1858-12-02

TuR MoRTARA CAsg.-The State Department
at Washington, has received from the Hebrews
of Philadelphia, and various other citizens,
memorial requesting the intercession of the
President of the United States for the release of
the Hebrew boy Mortara, alleged to have been
abducted from his parents at Bologna and con-
veyed to Rome, where they are denied access to
him, for the reason that he had received Chris
tan Baptism in the Catholic Church. The me-
mortal states that in tMortara the abstract rights
of man have been violated; and the mental dis
tress Of his parents, their anguish and their
tears appeal to all liberal and free people to re-
dress the insult which has been offered to hui
manity in the person of the little boy for whom
we now ask your kind Offices" Although the
memorAlists are aware that the Government
does not interfere in the actions of foreign gov
ernments towards their own citizens, or those of
other foreign nations, yet they think that this
instance appeals to universal sentiment, not only
of Israelites, but Protestants, all of whom unite
in condemning the act as Unreasonable, unjust
and cruel"
The memorial elected the following reply
from Secretary Casa, from which it will be seen
that he regards the matter as one which this
DEPARTMENT OF STATE,
WASHINGTON, Nov. 81, 1858.
SIR: have received and submitted to the
President your letter of the 10Th instant, res
pechng the alleged fOrClble abduction from his
parents Of Jewish child by the public author
tiles at Bologna, in the Papal Dominions, and
asking some expressions of condemnation on the
part of this Government.
This occurrence took place within the terrific
ries OF an Independent Power, and without af-
fecting the rights of any American citizen. It
is the settled policy of the United States to alb
stain from all interference in the internal con-
Germs Of any other country Certainly there is
nothing in the circumstances of this case as
they are reported, which would impose this re-
serve upon the Government. But it is deemed
proper to adhere to the cherished principle which
has heretofore regulated its conduct in its inter-
course with other nations
am, your obedicnt Eerv't, LEWIS CAss.
To Mr.. A. Hart, President of the Congregation
"Mickve Israel" Cherry street, Philadelphia.
We are sorry to note the tone of the Secre-
tary's reply. It's selfish and cold towards the
warm and respectful appeal of these poor Isral-
ties, who have in the case of Bortara suffered
great wrong. Perhaps the Mortara case does
not affect the rights of any American citizen;
but the rights of every people are affected, if
the authorities of the Papal States are allowed
to abduct children in this way, Without remon-
STRANGE from other powers. The children of
Protestant Americans in Rome are liable to be
carried of in the same way that the Mortara
child was carried off, President Buchanan and
Mr.. Cass dare not utter wo,d of sympathy
with their Jewish fellow citizens, in matter
that SO deeply moves them. They are anxious
to have an American child carried off and put
in the hands of the Roman Inquisition, before
they can give an opinion on the morality of the
act now complained of, even if the opinion be
only asked for in letter to an American citizen.
Since writing the above, we find by the late
malls, that call has been issued for a large
meeting on the subject, in New York, concern
ing which the E1press remarks.
The meeting in this city, to protest against
the abduction of the Jewish boy, Mortara, it
will be seen by the call in our advertising col
nmns, takes place on Saturday evening next, at
Mozart Hall. Tho movement is seconded by
many of our most eminent and respectable citi-
gems, and it is not to be doubted that the result
will be such an expression of sentiment as, in
conjunction with the meetings recently held in
sister cities, will make itself felt abroad
In Catholic France, as we'll as Protestant Eng
land, mighty Public Opinion has been evoked
in opposition to, and remonstrance against this
Outrage;-and it is well, therefore, that the
American people should aid in strengthening
that Public Opinion, with view if possible, not
only Of redressing the great wrong that has been
done, but Of manifesting to the world that there
10 point IN the ecclesiastical deSpotism of
Rome, beyond which it is unsafe for even the
Roman PontF to go.
IP the arrivals of the mail for the last day or
two, are specimens of what we may expect the