New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1863-02-13
A CATuoL1U B1sHaP ON SLAVERY

A CATkfOhkU EAsA2Nh Wv S-'AE l. ~ Z :
There eau be no doubt that the Catholic
Church is opposed TO Slavery. Her Councils
and Popes have often declared against the
whole Institution, ard at least one or the
denominations connected with 1.-THE slave
tradc--has been absolutely forbidden. In our
own war against the extension and perpetu-
alton of Slavery, we have not heard the voices
of tho American Catholic Bishops 80 often os,
from the well-kaown declarations Of Councils
and Popes, might have been expected; and 10
Europe many prominent organs of the Catholic
Church, which dislike democratic institutions
and favor absolute monarches, have often
eyowed their sympathy with the Rebellion,
whose leaders they justly regard as less i'm
bued with democratic principles than the
statesmen of tho Free North. Yet there arc
still Bishops who thiok this ii, occasion 10
renew the testimony Of their Church on
Slavery. Prominent among them Is BISHOP
Dupanlcup of Orleans n france one 6f the
most distinguished Catholic preates now
living. Bishop Dupan!oup ranks among TIE
first scholars Of France, and was, therefore,
few years since, elected member Of the
French Academy. His great influence among
the Bishops of the Catholic world became
apparent at the great Council of Bishops, held
at Rome, in Moy, 1862, at which he and Car
dina Wisaman were the acknowledged leaders.
Bishop Dupaaloup has lately addressed Q
circular to the parish priests OF bis diocese for
the purpose Of exhortiug them to take up in
their churches collection in favor Of the
operatives suffering from the cotton famine.
sentiments and touching appeals in favor of
tho Starving workmcn, is published by the
Journal des D,Jats, from which We translate
those passages which refer TO the war and
Slavery in this country.
"You know" says tho Bishop, "my dearly
beloved brethren, that air ady for long time
deplOrabls tidings have reached us from the
United States Of America. The var rava9es
these beautiful countries--a war furious, Ike
all civil wars, and the end OF which the
tenacious pride OF the American character
does not yet permit us to foreSee. Without
doubt, there are some consoling facts mixed
with these sad accounts. speak OF tho hope,
founded upon the most solemn acts, Of seeing
Mt length tho abolishment, by peaceable aud
pruder, means, Of tle dIssracetul scourge Of
Slavery.
"Who could have thought, few years ago,
that this young American Republic, so beau
tfal, so strong, and apparently go united, was
on the eve of such great disasters But IT ia
thus with human affairs; those which appear
10 be the best established are the least endur-
ing; the nations which are believed to be
strongest rest sometimes upon al abyss, and
in oil evil hour, al unforeseen shock, u breeze,
The least accident, suilices to overthrow the
whole"
In another place the Bishop asks: "Why, ia
ths and of Washington, have they committed
the crime Of introducing, in violation of every
Divine law or sentiment OF justice, Negro
Slaveryl" and in answering the question, by q
reference to the cotton spinners TO whom
slave labor furnishes their means Of subsist.
ence, no speaks OF tho mysterious mixture Of
suffering and prosperity of faults aud expia-
tons, OF the wondrous Interviewing of human
destnes, to nl appearance 80 DIVERSE but at
tho bottom flowing in the same current, and
thus by the experience of life teaching tina.
article Of faith which declares that all men arc
brethren.
If tho American Churches in the South