The Richmond palladium. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1855-1875, 1863-06-12
The Catholic Church and Slavery.

We published recently An article from
the Catholic Telegraph of Cincinnati. the
mos: influential organ of that Church in the
West. and probably in the country, in which
hostility to slavery was empha,ieally avow.
ed and satisfaction EXPIRE ssed that its des
.ruction must result from the var now in
progress. In the last issue of the Telegraph
the editor. speaking of the course he had
thus deliberately determined to pursue. says
that he had expected to - wound the preju-
dices of many to whom he was bound by
lies of friendship. and had anticipated con-
siderable decline in his subscription lis, /;
but, to bis surprise. he has found his sub
scribers increasing. and from all parts OF the
country commentators of his course are
pouring in. Among other letters approving
his course, the editor publishes the follow
ing from the slave S,a.e Of Kentucky:
God bless you for what you have writ
ten about slavery Where it exits the
poor white labarer is as little thought of as
a dog. That i, is hostile TO the Church Is
everywhere evident. Well did the great
Bishop of Charleston. DR. England. say of
the South when, after years Of labor. he &C
complished SO little, ii is a stubborn SOIL
That the Church has been ever the friend
OF the slave system is q monstrous assertion.
Europe was tuil of slaves when Chrisiiani-
~ was proclsimed-therei is not one now
Who suppressed the system? Go on with
the good work. Many will denoance you
but far moro will thank you"
The Telegraph also publishes an extract
of . letter from distinguished officer of the
Army of the Cumberland, with the remark
that - he has never been an abolitionist, but
has, like ourselves. stood up for the democ-
racy." This officer says, writing from MUIR
freesboro %
; Il am happy to see the splendid
stand you took in the Telegraph against
slavery. with its horrors. barbarities and
base immorali,ies. Slavery is dead. Moth
fully you should pay US a visit. There is
not negro in the South who does not know
be is free. Around here they haye squat.
ted CD the plantations. and refuse to work
for body but themselves. They have
sown little crops Of their own. aud the mas
tiers cease to exercise any control over them.
a. As an indication. l will cite strong
case. The lady of the house where l am
staying attempted to punish one Of her ne
gro women this morning. had to step in
to save the mistress from being badly used
up. as the darkey was belaboring her with
the stick intended for her own punishment
En- uno disco omnes.' 1t is needless fer
me to say that l applaud every sentiment
you have expressed in the Telegraph. Your
course is that OF the prudent navigator,
who, watching the black speck in the hori-
zon. sees it expand into q porteEtous storm.
and calls up his crew to take 10 sail and
prepare for contest with the elements s.
The storm will pass away. and you will be
found sailing under full sail. while those
who took not heed will be scattered by the
gale.
q am heart and hand hand with you in
this cause. Slavery is doomed, and those
who would now uphold it will be held up,
in a very short time. to public odium aud
execration. No statesman will yindicate it:
no friend of human progress will stretch
forth hand to break its fall no lover Of
humanity and religion will grieve for it's
overthrow. l have lived long enough 10
the South to see its workings, its disgusting
features. debasing the higher principles Of
our nature. warning with religion, and pat.
ronizing vice and immortality. Almighty |
God has certainly ordained its destruction |
in this country, where it has been more Of |
fensive and immoral than in any other, un-
ill it is utterly extinct this war cannot. from
the nature OF things, cease. l am in favor
of cessation of hostiliiies at as early day |
as possible /; therefore, am in favor of the /
Presidents proclamation. This State was
made for white people and free labor. and
when slavery no longer blights it's borders
we may expect TO see the church and the /
school-house take the place Of the slave PEN