The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1863-04-18

Fron1hs Cincinnati Catholic Telegraph,
~xx~ ruusx ann SLAVERY.

In some remarks latclygmade on the
eman c;pation of the serfs in Russia, we
obser we'd that the Church and Slavery
could not get along well together. Inc
New York Freeman's Journal condemns
our remarks, quotes 81. Paul and Church
Coun CHS, and says we are ignorant OF
ecclesi asticai history The writer III the
Freeman also observes that he does mol
wish for controversy with us AS tue
man, on this occasion, is mud, ana uses
no offensive language, we reply TO DIS
comments at some iehgtA"
Wea assure ourcotemporary that we too
have no desire 10 enter into q controver-
sv 1t would be useless now because the
subject OF slavery is dead. The first can.
non fred ut Sumter sounded Its kreil---
II would be much easier to take Rich
mond or open the Mississippi, than re-
store slavery in the tnltta states. his
thingis gone forever.
Eut our contemporary suggests that we
are not acquainted with ecclesiastical his
tory, and that slavery and the Church
have got along well together, and quotes
St. Paul and certain councils. Our CO.
temporary has right to entertain any
opinion be pleases about our ignorance.
His opinion is his own. But without ac-
rimony can we write on this subject OF
slavery II must be discussed there Is
nc heip fer it, and while We accord to
those who are its advocates all liberty of
sneech. We hone that some license Will be
extended to us when we give our views
on the other side. Ii is not in a factions
spirit or faIatcal spirit that we write,
but under the strong conviction that
great change is at hand in the political
welfare OF the country, and that IT is some
conseq uence TO Catholics to decide what
part to take, This cannot be done by
CRYING out Sig norance, abolition" bui
by friendly discussion. Whether we like
it or not, slavery is extinguisbed IN the
United States, and ali that we have TO do
is TO decide how we shall accommodate
ourselves TO 4'coming events,
We have said it. and We now repeat it.
that slavery and the Catholic Church
could never get along we'll together. The
Church never tries to correct evils by
revolutionary means. When she has not
the legislative power in her hands she is
patient, long suffering, gentle. What she
could not suppress she tolerated. But
she found slavery little disposed to imi-
tate her meekness. When the slave pow.
or predominates, religion is nominal
There is no life in it. 1t is the hard
working, laboring man who builds the
church, the school house and the orphan
asylum, not the slsv aholder, as genera
rule. Religion fourishes in q slave State
only in proportion to its intimacy with {
free State, or as tits adjacent to it. There
are more Catholics in the Cathedral con
yregation OF this city than in North anC
South Carolina and Georgia. There arr
more Catholics in one of our second rats
congregations than in the whole State o
Alabama. Louisiana ought to be Cath
Ollie State, but it has never sent Senate
or Representative to Congress who iden
tilted himself with the Catholic cause, 81
far as we know. The slave owners ar,
not the jealous men of Ehe Church in tina
State.
What hell is Cuba, with all its riches
to the Catholic cause! The poorest Irisl
or German congregation in the free State
does more for religion than Havana,
we can rely upon the representations o
those who ought 70 know aud who's,
character forbids deception. 1t appear
to us, therefore, that slavery is not friend
IT, al .gt tattb 60 Sc III
and feryor when it happens to be profes
sed. II for telling these plain truths an,
subscriber wishes to Withdraw his pa,
ronage, We hope he will do so at once
And il for telling these truths the ladie
of a community in slave Stale choose I
burn our paper again, they have our Lii
erty, if that be of any consequence, {
prove their amiability and piety by ds
ing so. The time is near at hand whe
they will wish that they had been NOR
tolerant TO the expression of an opinion
But, to our knowledge OF ecclesiastics
history; .No one ventures to doubt,
says Balmes. .sthat the Church exercise
powerful influence on the abolition q
slavery. This is truth too clear an
evident TO be questioned.
did all that was possible in favor of hr
man liberty. If il did not advance NOR
rapidly in the work, it was because
could not do SO without compromising til
undertaking, without creating seriou
obstacles 10 the desired emancipation. =
Such is the fesalt.at which we arrive whe
We have thoroughly examined the charge
made against some proceedings of til
Church. That slavery endul
ell for long time in presence of tn
Church, is true; but il was always decll
ing, and only lasted as long as was nece.
sary 10 realize tue benefit without violenc,
without shock, without compromittin
its universally and it$ continuation. -
Thess few words from the fifteenth chan
ter Of Balmes' Incompatible work, sho,
the exsctposition occupied by the Ghurc
IN reference TO slavery. To say that sh
ever favored the system, is a calumn,
Che proclaimed mems fraternity wit
each other, and their equality before God
and, therefore, could not be the advocat
ofslavery.
WITH respect to the works of St. Paul
% Often quoted, we find full justification,
OF our position. He writes 10 Philemon
commanding his faith aud charity AN,
Eays--"Uherefore. though | might hav
much conf dence in Christ Jesus 10 can,
nand haee thai phich Is % tie purpose, 70
charity's sake rather beseech. Meu H.
aug much a one. as papi the a,,.1 "a