The Jeffersonian. [volume] (Stroudsburg, Pa.) 1853-1911, 1860-01-26
THE NEGRO QUESTION.
Black Logic and White.

against the doctrines proE uigated Dy you
at late Union gathering, does not seem,
uDop calm reflection, to have possessed
that purely ridiculous character atiribn-
ted to it BY some OF the reporters for the
press. The remarks of some Of the col
ored speakers on that occasion. mauger
whatever of the n.ical they may have
had. contsiped some telling ''points
which, am sure, you, Sir, with your keen
sense of the logical, will be the first to
appreciate. So potent is Truth, how
black scorer it may be, when opposed TO
Error, be its biteness however lmmacu-
late.
The Black man, defending the liberty
of his race, asks you. the White advocate
of its euslayement, if it were possible that
you could be good Catholic, and pro-
claim African Slavery to be just, wise,
and bene hcent, when three Popes bad
sealed its condemnation with the Ring Of
the Fisherman! A question which, /
in mocine, even you, Sir, with all your
ack no v dyed forensic ingenuity, will lind
some difficulty in answering satisfactorily
Pope Gregory XVI, no more rem otely
than the year 1887, promulg ated soieu D
Bull, in which, after citing the authority
of the Bulls issued by Paul III. and Ur-
ban VIII, "most severely castlgatlng
all those who should preach OF teach that
it ISlavery is lawful" he DEGREES:
Wherefore, we, desiring to divert this
disgrace from the " hole confines Of Chris
tianity, having summoned several OF cur
brothers their Emnences the Cardinals OF
the holy Roman Church, to our Council
and having maturely delberated on the
whole matter, pursuing the footsteps o.
our predecessors, adm onish b our sPos-
tolica authority, and urgently invoke ~
the Lord, all Christians of whatever con
dition. that none henceforth dare to sub
ject to Slayery, unjustly pesecutc or de-
spoil of their goods. indians. negroes, of
other classes of MEN, or be accessories 10
others, or furni.h them aid or assistance
10 SO doing; and on no account heneeforth
TO exercise that iBhunan traffic by which
negroes are reduced to Slavery, AS IF THEY
W
and are sold in defiance OF all the laws OF
Justice and humanity, and devoted to Sc
sere ard intolerable labor. We further
reprobate, by our apostollcal authority,
all the above described offences. as utter
ly unworthy Of the Chli.tian name; and
By the same authority we rigidly prohibit
and interdict all and every individual,
whether ecclesiastical or laical, from pre-,
sunting TO dsend that commerce in negro
slaves, under pretense or borrowed color,
or to teach or publish in any manner,
publicly or privately, things contrary to
tie admonitions which we have given in
these letters"
The Pope aud the Cardinals sole mnly
denounce Slavery as uDchristian, iDhuman
and unjust; you, Mr. O'Conor. their SPir-
itual Child. eonteuning their injanctions,
teach that Slavery is eminently just. Chris
tisn. aud humane. Who Is the correct
authority? The Pope and tie Cardi-
dals or Mr.. Charles o Connor! As the
black man asked Can you, Mr.. o Con-
or, holding the views you do. and teach
ing them as you do, be sound Catholicl
Or can you be Catholic at all You
have shown some boldness already; will
you be bold enough to meet thi. issuel
The black IN IN, understand, also made
another point" He related an interes
ting incident in your life, an incident too
which has been much spoken of, even a
mong your political co believers, -ince you
euunciated your broad doctrine in your
speech at the Academy OF Music. Years
ago, as the story goes, yon, Sir, knelt By
your fathers side in Catholic church in
this city, while Mass was being celebrated
by priest ho was as black as ebony :
Did you then believe, Sir, that the Sacri-
fee was in fectual because it was offered
up by that negro !
Did you kneel before the altar hypo-
crite And when the black hand signed
the Cross and blessed you and all around
you, did you believe the blessing inoper-
atve because the anointed African who
gave it was perverted into a priest from
the true position which the Almighty (ae-
rording to you, Sir designed for him;
the Slave OF Man instead of the Servant
of God. thing instead of beingl Do
you now think that the black hands which
the Church thought pure enough to con-
secrate the Host and to hold what you
Sir, if you really he Catholic. must be-
lieve to be the body Of Christie you
believe. ask, that those hands were not
6t to touch the hem OF your garGebt-
that their only proper use was to be the
passive instruments Of Mans despolic Will
viii you, Sir, meet the issue on this
point, alsol | have only developed the
colored man ; argument; will you refuse
to ackno sledge that negro logic is not 80
black as it is painted.
/ am Sir, yoars very respectfully,
AN IRISH CATHOLIC.
New York, Jan IA, l~6O.