The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1860-06-19
CURIOUS CORRESPONDENCE.

CURIOUS CORRESPONDENCE.
Archbishop Hughes and the City In
spector.
The following correspondence has passed between the
City Inspector and Archbishop Hughes with reference to
the registry Of marriages in the Catholic church -
MR. pxAv6S ro.ARcmsHor HUGHES.
Crry IssPEcroR's DEPARTMENT.
NEW YosK, April l, 1850. !
To THE Mosr REV. ARCHBISHOP HUGHES
SR-Your attention earnestly directed 10 the follow
ing extract OF law OF this State, entitled can act TO
providing for tho registry Of births mar
riages and deaths, passed April 2, 1858 -
Extract from the Statutes.
II shall be the duty of cergymen, magistrates and
city Of New York. TO keep registry Of tho marriages
celebrated by them, which shall contain near as the
be asceraned the and surnames Of the par
ties married. the residence, age and condition of EACH
whether single widowed and to report the
before the first Monday Of each and every month TO the
Sec. I Every person who shall neglect TO comply with,
violate the provisions of this act shall forfeit and pay
Tor each offence the sum OF $50.
the chief officer Of this department II is my duty TO
that the provisions Of this law complied with aod
any omission or neglect to comply with the same viii
compel the enforcement OF its requirements Very
specttully, your obedent servant
DANIEL. T. DELAyAN, City Inspector
ARCHBISHOP HIGGINS REPLY
Nkw YORK. May IS, 1860.
SIR-N is but within few days that received your
communication, dated 1st April of this year | would
beg leave To say that nothing Is left undone in the church
which belong which not in harmony the best
interests OF society Persons purposng to be
published In their respective churches ON different
public occasions previous 10 their matrimonial contract
Every precauton Is taken to guard against the domestic
nqucs which too often sanctioned by other official
officers of civil marinony. | have therefore TO say,
with the respect that many cases have occurred,
and still liable to in which il Is for the Catholic
priest 10 remedy privately the evils which the corruption
Of morals may have onailcd, far any remnant of
private conscience Is concerned the part Of the den
quents But beg TO say for ALL that unless under
coercion shall beray these similar weaknesses
OF fallen human nature when il turns up the form Of
iencnce II the state appointed salary for clergymen
to perform marriage, or any other religious act as It's
official agent can understand that the State might have
right TO inquire into the manner time circumstances,
&C. of such act and to hold its agent responsible to its
laws There may be those who will admit the obligation,
in the absence of these conditions render the state
account OF their stewardship But beg leave to say,
with the utmost respect for AN human legal authority,
that am not Of the number am prepared for
prison. or for scaaold but ain not prepared to obey
requisition which would violate the obligations of my
conscience in country like this in which il Is said that
civil and religious liberty Is the right OF every citizen
Very respectfully, your obeiicnt servant,
JOHN, Archbishop Of Nca York.
DANIEL +. DErAvAS, ESQ, City Inspector
pEIAyAN CORPORATION COUNSEL
CRY IssrEcroRs DsPAnrMyST,l
NEW YORK, May IS. 1860
Hon. GREsNE C. BRONSON, Counsel to the Corporation -
IhAR S1R-Ehclosed is copy OF a letter from Arch
bishop Hughes in answer TO communication from this
department calling the attention of ministers OF the Cos
pei to the law which requires OF them report all
Of marriages soemnizcd before them. copy OF such
communication j. herewith enclosed As have complied
With the acquisitions OF the law, wish TO be informed
by you, Corporation Counsel whether there any
ccpon allowed by the act such as those referred
10 by the Archbishop, or = any case whatever Very
respectfully, your obedent servant
DANIEL F. DEIAvAN City Inspector.
JUDGE INSPECTOR
OTIcE COUNSEL TO CORPORATION, May IS 1850.
Sri have your letter Of yesterday, with the copy Of
letter to you from Archbishop Hughes declining to fur
nish the City Inspector with certain information
.t.i tu.tfs
to your inquiry have to say that the statutes In
question (laws of ls4' Ia, and 1853 io7) make
by the Archbishop They apply to all clcrgym and
GREENE c, BRONSON.
To TN CRY INSPECTOR
n. pfl-,NAN ARCHBISHOP
CRY lNsPFCroR's DEPARTMENT
NEW YORK, May 81, 1859.
Hrs GRACE ARoHrsHoP Hrcms:-
Sr.Upon the receipt of your letter Of the Goth inst,
submitted she TO the Corporation Counsel with the
(See copy, hereto annexed dated May %, 1907
TO which have received the following reply
(sce copy, hereto annexed dated May IS, 1901
You will therefore that compliance with the
statute becomes mperatvcy necessary and should such
compliance not be made shall have discharged my duty
in placing the matter In the hands OF the recognized
thores, to act in the premises they may deem pro-
per- Very respectfully, your obedient servant,
DANIEL. DEI.AvAN, City Inspector
TN VICAR GENERAL 10 MR. prLAyAy
NEW YORK. Jane I, 1860
To DANIEL Drt,vAN, Esq, City Inspector
SRYour letter Of the 3lst ut to the Most Rev Arch.
bishop Hughes in reference TO marriages has been duly
received. The Most Rev. Archbishop Is absent from
home fer few days but have doubt that he will
reply as soon he returns. deem II my duty 10
knowledge the receipt Of your letter In his absence Very
WV STAIRS, vG.
tn ARCHBISHOP Mr.. pnA,AS
NEw YORK, June O. 1850
SIr-on my return from the south find your commu-
nication dated May 81, 1850. What stated In a former
communication not by any intended 10 be
n h.ya uo xah n,
claim, either In my In that of the religious
community To which belong. any exception from the
laws Of the state Of the Union II remains therefore
matter a. II coined upon YOU TO do by yoor oath Of
othce. Very respectfully. your obcdicnt servant,
JOHN, Archbishop Of New York.
DANIEL y IvrAyAN. Esq., City Inspector
CITY NsrrCTos JtpCE nR0Nspx
CRY ISsIycruR's ntPARrwsu.
NEw xoRg. juno - $50 /
Hon. GRfErF G. BsoysoS Counsel o. the C1rporation-
IT,R SIR-Scme doubt having been expressed whether
ccrdng in this office marriages celebrated by them pur-
suan 90 statute (aws OF 1853 page 100, beg leave 10
request your opinion upon the subject, Very respectfully
your obcdicnt servant.
DANIEL. r. DF1AvAS City Inspector
yrpcE ngoxsoxs REPLY.
Orr1cx CorsssL 10 CORPORATION, June I3, 1860
To rHx CTY INsrEcroR:-
In your note % this date have 10 say that
the Marriage Registry act of 1883 imposes duties
ufon clergyman. magistrates and other persons who
perform the marriage ceremony the city Of New York"
and infcts n penalty upon "evcry person who shall ne
eject refuse to comply WITH violate the provisions
OF this act" The Law makes no distinction between
cergymen and other persons and see no why the
penalty not be enforced against any who trans
crosses the law, without regard 20 his calling Respect
fully, yours, GREENE C. BRONSON.
severe Hail storm i'm Albany.