New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1861-10-12

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Wherefore, &C., we warn aud admohlsn Id
tbs Lord all Christians, of whatever condition
thsv NAV he and eniOin upon them that, for
Aha futurs no one shall venture unlustly to op-
press the Indiana, Negroes, or other men, VINO
ever they may be; to strip them Of their prop
erty, or reduce them into servitude; or give
aid or support to those who commit such e1-
easses or carry on that Infamous traffic by
which the blacks, as if they were not men,
but mere impure animate, reduced like them
into servitude, without any distinction, con-
t-ary to the laws Of justice and humanity, are
bought, sold, and devoted to endure the hard
est lsbOrs." Wherefore, &C., we absolutely
prohibit aud interdict all ecclesiaStics and lay
men from venturing to maintain that this 1ral-
&c in blacks is permitted, under any pieIeAt
or color wbatsoever or to preach or feacn' IN
public or private, in any ioGy 'o"H''0eos'' CON-
frary 70 these apostolic Letters. !
Now LET us hear what the most distinguished
Catholic writers of modern times say on THIS
subject. Tie illustrious priest and philosopher,
BalmeE, says:
..CstAolicity, exclusively prevailing in Eu-
rope. abolished Slavery among the European
races; she introduced the principle OF the abO-
Htion of Slavery into European civilization, by
showing practically aud in opposition to the
opinion Of antiquity, that Slavery was not ne
eessary TO society; and she made it understood
that The sacred ,oOrk Of REIMBURSEMENT 'sqS the
foundation of all great and tfe1giriHg eiTili.G-
hon. She has therefore, inOculated European
civilization with the principle Of the abolition
of Slavery; it 10 owing to her that, wherever
this civilization has come into contact with
Slavery, it has been profoundly disturbed-an
evident proof that there were at the bottom
t,se opposie elements, t,oO oOatending principles,
which were compelled to struggle necessarily,
until the more powerful, noble, and fruitful
prevailing and reducing the other under the
woke. in the end annihiated il"
There is the irrepressible conflict" declared
by great Catholic authority. The same Illus
trious writer calls Slavery "that dishOnor and
ieprosy of ancient civilization" Again he says:
"Without the beDefcent and liberatiDg inter-
yentioa of Christianity, the immense number OF
slaves bequeathed by the old society to the
new. far from diminishing, would have been
augmented more and more; for wherever the
law of brute force prevails, if it be not checked
and sOftened by powerful element, the human
race becomes rapidly debased, the necessary
result of aohieh is the increase Of SlareTy."
n Christianity extended and took root every
where-took possession of al classes, OF all
branches Of society: how, then, could the state
of Slavery last-a state Of degrstion which
makes man the property of another, allows. him
TO DO sold like an animal, and depriyes him OF
the sweetest ties of family and of all partici-
patton in the advantages of society Two
things 80 opposite could not exist together; the
laws were in favor of Slavery, it is true; it
may even be said that Christianity did not
make a direct attack on those laws. But on
the other hand, what did it do 1t strove to
make itself master Of ideas and manners, com
municsted to them a new impulse and gave
them different direction"
shall close my extracts from Balmez, with
the following;
ave have seen that European civilization
owes to the Catholic Church its finest Orna-
ment, its most valuable victory in the cause of
humanity, the abolition of Slavery. 1t wss the
Church that BY her doctrines, as benefcent as
elevated, by system efiicaciOus as prudent,
BY her unbOunded generosity, her indeiatigable
zeal, her inyincible fTmness, abolished Slavery
in Europe; that is to cay, she took The first
step toward the regeneration Of humanity, and
laid the first stone for the wide and deep
foundation Of European civilization; we mean
the emancipation Of slaves the abolition forever
of so degrading q state-HRiUersaI liberty. 1t
was impossible to create and organize a civil
zation full of grandeur and dignity, without
raising man from his state of affection, and
placing him above the level of animals. When.
ever we see Linn crOuchiDg at another's feet
awaiting with anxiety the orders Of his
master or trembling at the lash; whenever
he is sold Ike beast or a price is set upon
bis powers and his life, civilization viii never
have its proper development, it will be weak,
sickly, and broken; for thus humanity bears
mark Of gnOminy on its forehead"
Yet Bhlmez was a Spaniard, and might have
had political reasons for minding his own
business" with regard to Slavery.
The late distinguished Bishop of Charleston,
Dr. England, who wrote much on the subject
of Slavery, was asked, by letter, if he were in
favor of American Slavery. He answered that
he was not, and ne hoped some means would
be devised to get rid Of it.
Thus It win be seen that the position taken
by NJ. Aueustin Cochin (the managing editor
Of an able Catholic RcYieM which has the