The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1859-08-03
MeXlce-.-Stirying News.

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4 United States Of Mexico and chief of the govern
/ ment lately recognized by our Executive, issue
from his official Palace in the city Of Vera Cruz o.
the 18th oJuly decree, having the force an
/ effect Of a law, commanding the property of tb
clerical corporations OF Mexico to be in part distr
buted amongst the corpoators and in part confis
Gated to the government.
The preamble Of the decree charges the clerg.
with provoking and maintaining the present war
with seeking to become Independent of the ciyi
authority, with contnmely and turbulence, witt
establishing rules, iniieu Of laws, by Which the.
collect their own dues without the aid oi the State
with being in open rebellion against sovereign au
thority, with destroying the property confded tt
them by the faithful, with rendering abortive every
; attempt to terminate the present war, and will
other similar offences.
The first article Of the decree is a key to the
whole. 1t is as follows
ARTICLE l.--An the properties which the seen
lar regular clergy have been administering unde,
various titles, whatever may be their class, either
lands rights stocks, OR the name and destination
they may have had, shall be taken under the charge
OF the nation.
The second article provides for a special law to
prescribe the manner of collecting into the treasu.
ry the property thus confscated.
. The third declares separation between ecclesi-
astcal affairs and those ofthe State and their entire
independence the one of the other. The fourth
forbds the clergy FROM receiving presents in real
estate. The fifth suppresses religious orders and
traternitics throughout the republic and the sixth
forbids the establishmensof new ones or of con-
vents. The eighth provides donation Of $500 to
each priest who does not oppose this decree, and
fund of $4,000 to each disabled priest as pension
fund.- Article 9th permits the monks of the sup.
pressed orders to carry home then furniture. By
article 10 the consecrated vessels, images and or
naments OF the suppressed orders are made deliver
able to the diocesan bishops and article IL provides
that the books, manuscripts, relics, paintings &C.,
forfeited shall be presented to lyceums and other
public establishments. Article 10 DEGREES expul-
sion from the Republic of such priests as meet in
the forbidden orders after fifteen days. Article IA.
provides for the continuance Of the now existing
converts Of nuns and article 10 permits nun upon
leaving convent to take away as much as she
brought upon entering; those belonging to mendi-
pant orders who took nothing III shall nevertheless
receive $500 each upon Withdrawing. The local
political and judicial authorities are commanded to
afford aid to nuns desiring to Withdraw from clois-
ters In order that the restoration of their property
may be made perfect. The portion brought BY
them into the converts are in every event to be
secured to them Articles Is and ] . confscate all
other property ofconvents except what is needed
or their maintenance. Nuns are allowed to dis
pose of their property by viii; if dying intestate
Or without relations capable Of nheriting, their
,ortons esefeat to the public treasury Noyitiates
n converts are by article y perpetally closed and
present nopices will not be allowed TO take the vail
Article y nuiiies and avoids all alterations of
clerical or cenventua. property not authorized by
his decree, and penalties are imposed upon pur-
'hasers notaries and witnesses to all such sales.
Articles 23 and u decree expulsion from the re-
public orthe punishment otconsprators against ali
Who oppose this decree. II
Such are the principal outlines Of this bold and
tartiing proclamation by which untold millions of |
wealth, the denominations of aifa century, are to
'e transferred to the coolers Of the public treasury.
Whether it Will ever be executed Is matter OF ex.
rene doubt. The clergy of Mexico are tenacious
# their privileges, their influence ,ia their nos !
essons. Witha disposition to hold fast to What
las been conceded to them by successive goyern-
nents, or donated by the hands Of the pious, or
eerued in the form Of enhauced value, they com.
inc energy and intelligence with great una,iusitv
sentiment and conccrt in action. Open attack
III provoke open resistance and !naay will not
cripple 20 change che garb Of their various tratern-
les Tor the sword and epauettes OF military CON-
landers. Rather than lose all by Submission they
lit eSpend one haiti their wealth in employing al,
rmy to secure to them the balance Nor have
Q any assurance that the clergy Of Mexico cannot
olnnand as much sympathy and assistance from
se people as can the adaerents of the liberal gov
'nment. There is even danger that this demon-
ration against the clerical corporation property
ay be construed by the. Mexicans as IN attack up.
] catholicAy itself.
Again, we hear by the latest arrival from Mexico
I'd through the New Orleans papers that the liber-
government has actually begun negotiations for {
army OF American volunteers who are to bt en-
Dyed and paid by it to assist in restoring and .
orderin Mexico The New York Jour- (,
i of Commerce OF the 9th ult,, also speaks Of an
my which is fitting out for Mexico, one regiment
which under the supervision of a DISTINGUISHED ,
icer OF the late Mexican war is to be raised and
uipped in that city. What credit is to be attached =
enese famors eau eniy be proved by the event,
American volunteer army in Mexico would be .
pretty much to their own pnailed resources for j,
Mesicans hatred of us as people is bitter and b
ense.
ARGUMENT AND PERSONALITY Nothing but labo.
us appAcat!an and clear and comprehensive p
elect, can enable a man on any given subject o.
employ successfully relevant arguments drawn II
m the subject itself, To employ personalities =,
thpp LAIN NOR iutalIaot =, "