Daily Nashville patriot. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1860-1862, 1860-06-23

comply with. OF violate the provisions of this
act, shall forfeit and pay for each offence the
sum of $50.
As the chief officer of this department. it's
my duty to see that the provisions of this Law
arecompiied with. and any omission or neg
lect to comply with the same viii compel the
enforcement of its requirements. Very re-
specially. your obedient servant,
8 DANIEL E DELANAN. City Inspector. :
- ARCHBISHOP HUGHES REPLY.
NEW YORK, May rs, 1860.
SHIT is but within few days that re-
ceived your communication dated LIST of
April. of this year. I would beg leave to
say that nothing is left undone in the church
to which belong which is not in harmony
with the best Interests of society," Persons
purposing to- be married are published in
their respective churches. on different public
occasions, previous to their matrimonial con-
tract. Every precaution is taken TO guard
against the domestic inquiries which are too
often sanctioned by other official officers OF
civil mairimony. have therefore to say.
with the utmost respect, that many cases
have occurred, and are still liable to occur,
in which it is for the Catholic priest to rene
dy privately the evils which the corruption
of morals may have entailed. so far as any
| remnant of private conscience is concerned
On the part of the delinquents. But beg TO
say, once for all, that unless under coercion,
l shall never betray these or similar weak
| ness of fallen human nature, when it turns
up in the form of penitence. If the State
| appointed a salary for clergymen TO perform
marriages, or any other religious act, as its
official agent, L can understand that the
State might have right TO inquire into the
| manner, time. circumstances, DC, 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 con-
| dtions, to render the State an account OF
their stewardship. But beg leave to say.
| withthe utmost respect for all human legal
authority, that i am not one OF the number.
l am prepared for a prison, or for scafold,
but am not prepared to obey a requisition
which would violate the obligations of my
conscience in country like this, in which it
is said that civil and religious liberty is the
right of every citizen.
Very respectfully, your ob't servant,
+ JOHN. Archbishop OF New York.
Daniel E. Delavan, Esl., City Inspector.
Mr.. DELAvAN then addressed a note to Mr..
Bronson, corporation Counsel, inclosiug the
there is any exception allowed by the act in
such cases as those referred to by the Arch
bishop, or in any case whatever" To which
the corporation Counsel replied as follows:
JUDGE BRONSON TO THE CITY INSPECTOR.
OFFICE COUNSEL TO CORPORATION,
May 2S, 1860.
SIR have your letter of yesterday, with
the copy OF letter to you from Archbishop
Hughes, declining to furnish the City In
spector with certain information concerning
the marriages celebrated by him in this city.
In answer to your inquiry, have TO say that
the statutes in question claws of 1S47, p. 147,
and 1858, p. 1O7); make no such exceptions
by the Archbishop. They apply to all mar
riages in this city.
Respectfully yours,
GREENE C.. BRONSON. .
To The City Inspector.
The Inspector then iuclosed Mr. BRoSsoN's
note TO the Archbishop, who was absent; and
was replied to by the Vicar General and by
the Archbishop on his return as follows:
New YORK. June 1, 1860.
To DALIEL E. DELAvAN. Esq, City Inspector;
SIR-Your letter of the 31st ult. to the
Most Rev. Archbishop Hughes, in reference
to marriages, has been duly received. The
most Reverend Archbishop is absent from
home Tor few days, but l have no doubt
that he will reply as soon as he returns.
deem it my duty to acknowledge the receipt
of your letter in his absence.
Very respectfully, your cbedient servant,
WIN. STAIRS, V. G..