Lewisburg chronicle. [volume] (Lewisburg, Pa.) 1850-1859, 1858-12-17
THE M0RTARA CASE.

. Poiu'eu u prepare memorial to Pre-.
o dent buchanan, setting forth the facts
e the Morsara case, and appealing to him
use the influence Of bis station to procu
the release Of the lad from the Roman I,
QUESTION, This petition was numerousl
signed by citizens Of all denomination
and forwarded to the President, acc ,mp,
MED by communication from the Pres
dent Of the Synagogue of Portogeso Jew.
to the Secretary Of State, in which it wa
hoped that, "by some expsession, th
moral weight of the United States, in tn
scale Of nations, may be felt" 10 rsspops
to this letter and memorial, Secretary Cas-
wrote the following note:
DEPARTMENT OF STATE.
~ Washington, Nov. u, 1858.
To Mr.. A. HART, &c:
Sir: | have received and submitted Il
the President: your letter of the 18th ins,
respecting the alleged forcible abduction
from his parents Of Jewish child, BY the
pnblic authorities of Bologna, in the Papal
dominiops, and asking some expression Of
condemnation on the part of this govern
ment.
This occurrence took place within the
territories of an Independent power, and
without affecting the rights of any Amer.
lean citizen. 1t is the settled policy of
the United States to abstain from all inter.
ference in the internal concerns of other
countries.
Certainly there is nothing in the cir.
cumstances Of this case, as they are report.
ted, which would impose this reserve upon
the government. But it is deemed proper
'v "ihe'U ~ tho esIaoIisned principle
which has heretofore regulated its conduc.
IN It's intercourse with other nations.
l am, sir, your obedient servant,
LEWIS CAss.
Could anything be more icy-more un.
Not word Of sympathy for the
d's'resshd parents, nor of condemnation
Tor an act SO unparalleled and 50 utterly re
pugnans to natural rights and religious
freedom, does it contain.
He has not asked to interpose the power
'f the United States. He was merely re. |
luested to expostulats, in Q civil and |
friendly manner, against an act of cruel
'iolence and oppression, which strikes .
blow at the personal liberty Of every hu
nan BEING.
alculated to surprise the civilized world,
md to widen the breach between Protss-
ants and Catholics, even in this country,
'hieh many were trying to close up. The
hid Of Monola Mortara, secretly sprink-
ed BY . servant girl, out Of excess of zeal
or the Mother Church, is torn from its
'arents, and their natural claims over him
re treated with contempt BY the Iuquisi-
ion. This is sanctioned by the Pope,
rho says it is impossible that the child
hou!d be restored to them. He thus de-
lares that an ignorant servant girl, or any
ther person protesting the Catholic faith,
nay, BY sprinkling little water upon a
bid, give to that ceremony all the effec.
f baptism, and transfer the fidelity of the
bid from its parents, if they arc what
re called "beretics," and make them
trangers to their own offspring, who can
ave no authority over it. Was there ever
more monstrous dogma enunciated in
1e widest days of superstition and eccle-
astical tyranny? The church claims to
e universal, and its doctrines must be the
lme throughout the world. The same
hing may be done with the child of
rotestant in any part Of the globe; and
Mess the Papal authority withdraws the
claims set up in this case,
lie consequences npon the social condition
Catholics where there is no established
,ligion, and where Protestant sects pre-
Ill, will be highly disadvantageous to
lie laity of that church. Prudent persons
i'll not risk the consequences OF employ.
e Catholics, because, according to this
.ecedent, tho latter may at any time, aud
any place, without the consent of pa 6
nts, by a stealthy or violent act, change t
e course of education and course of life t
children or weak persons. If such
ctrine is submitted to, a complete sep t
alton betwe cen Catholics and Protestants
II be likely to ensue, and religious con- d
,yersies Of the most bitter character will n
How. u
Just reverse the case Suppose Jew 8
nurse was to circumcize the child of a
.tholic, and the Rabbis we're to seize the
lid aud refuse to restore it to its parents;
d that all this was sanctioned by the "
wish church. What would the Catho- II
) say to such . proceeding! Would y
y submit quietly to it And if it y
uld be wrong in the latter instance, is u
not equally SO when the same thing is II
10 by the Inquisitiou at BolOgua, and Il
elves the endorsement Of the Pope him. a.
f? Wo leave them to answer these
sstions. Csdrfeld Roflsman. B
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THAT TEsT.-It Is a little singular, p'
,btly 30, that while adherence to the th