, 1865-03-25
ttructlons embodied IN the letter Of youz Majesty
IN the Minfster Of ,justarr


To , d. ssla ,ass y xe s 'sa s; S
duly towards tho TEMPORAL sovereign; hnt when,
IN trder 10 ohey him. it L necessary to f4 Ia obe-
dltnec To- ihe law Of God or that M 81 tne Caaren'
non, ps.tivc resistance opGht then never 70 no
considered az an aet Of dleoocdieace because ohe-
ditnee u based upon the lay Of God and Gcascs to
be dutJ when II II Inconsistent w1ih that law.
The srtielo 81 our creed. With reference to ne
Catholic Church, Ia a dogma Of faith; and this
Coemn establ,encs supreme fteht IN mattets OF
aEnpreme authority that cannot pc snbufdlnaEa
70 my otheE on earth, ond Il pLac!atma u "a uu-
npeneaabls p!tns1plo for al Cnsno1lea, ana @ a.
rnnk md position or those who exercise enptcmo
suthortiy IN the statc, they have absolutely no
&c siaibIe head :ls sss9 10 ths Pope
who esn exercise this Jurisdiction; It u only thia
power that btnds and unbinds consciencts; Il u
docmas Of iaith, 10 caiIehten brlIof to in1c over
luoras- to decide dunbtiul questrne, and to order
al conflicts to ceaso hJ means ii tta sovereign de-
Your Majesty will permit us, protesting above
sovereign resolution, with reference to the mat
Minister tf Jnsuee re.a&ss precisely to tnoee very
points Of fhe strulcla between the Church and
the ftate xhich would not be tho subject Of ois-
has tetn constantly demonstrated 70 the va11o1a
Governments by the Mexican ep1scopacy; that
ts t. sposean 70 hs ,os eas
live provisions OF the canons, anu especially to
ttcec Of the isst general council; that 1hey have
e s 3 s ss
snd sending Of an Apostolic Nuncio for the def
naive pct.ttment Of the.e questions proves that
s,nce It il ctas that hsd your Majesty not reeos:.
nt=ed the positive necessity for the concurrence
Of both powers Ia the settlement Of these ques-
t1oDs your Majesty would not have made 10 esrnt
Nt1 eN n he
Besides, your Majesty In referring to this step
sne the % pressing n necessiiies'of lie eoanty, and
cons cenccs 6f iii tbc inhabltanta Of the enpfre"
entions, renders unnecessary, Sire, any demon
But We cannot omit to observe that these CON
reierred 10 lid nol been taksn, and TINT. hewsveP
grave other cfrcumstanrc may be supposed to he,
they csunot be sufficient to ensble the resolution
exigsacles Of the country OF to restore tranqull-
ty 10 tho conscaences nd establish peace.
Your Majesty ta well aware that the temporal
ct 10 rs,ire lis eo4c.ioa over it I'D hat, thete
eresgn does not wtthdssw t6is eeaeuon. conseisaee
Viii regard to ,he just exIgencies Of the copn-
t15, NE do not know wha. cther there can be II
they not those Of coincidence IN it's moral rsla
tIols with Interest Rus, referring only to that
other class Of interests pEoduEed b. the appro~
prinion OF ccc}esiaetiea properly In tavor Of the
l ,S hodss H, s,t Sf s s.lRs o r.
msny of these holders seek ID ID solution Il
srsye Sa s oe a
value OF thefs sudden wealth, Souz Majesty will
allow Us TO ttate that even these persons will r..
eteien dccla1at,on Of yonr Ma)es1y will produce
On their minds only the effect of adding the feaz
Of new emotions and other burdens to the uncer.
s o noy Il
New1l not dwell, Sire. upon what rsla.es to the
support Of IT. minister, because wha.crer the Rra
tuitouB enemies Of the church may eaF, interest
has never had the slightest influence upon the con
eEty that c,Ml coactlon having ceased only thust
contribute h1t 20 disposed, and that the noelt
norsl impulse that determines :4ese gifts subsist
sure your MsjestJ that al Of nr ire rcady to DE-
pend solely uptn the paety Of the fa1thful rathe
Than upon any civil appropriation, because moth
tosc.,ain the digpi,y OF the Church and the Indie
peadence Ut her ptiet thood.
With regard to religious tolerance. We eau ees
even txcueable: Mt1lco is exclusively catho
lie country, and The opposition OF tho people +,
religious 1oleraEee has always been N 1ulestea 1t
| a.ituent Congress Of 1866 was discussing the tt
teebth article Of The project Of constitution. whcl
would hare established religious toleranee. not
| wtlhstsnufDg tho assembly was made up Of TIL
most advanced partisaus Of what Is called reform
1td Progress, and in tpl,e Of their m .n,mous cn
deavor to eeeufc the SUCCESS Of such an idea, the
| wctc Obliged to give way under the irrenlattl
| Pressure Of public opinion, manifested as nsye
before. II he 1ndical liberals were the masters o
| the situattcn-t THY had all power aad COZ
! trollsd the public Offices rywhcte; yot, nol
Niths nudinY ait this, and the sught influence q
the oppolite party, and particu11rlg OF ta
| Lhurcu, ther we're unable to stem the torrent
Addresses poured In from nil parts Of the couu
| tfy. municipalities, tnllds, entire populations
uen and women, ali the community, prououncet
sgaiEtt The article; and even the government {
l0montort. pefcelvlnE 1t Wns not wise to oppos
| The popular feeling 70 unanimously manifested
took It's stand ne ainst religious tolerance and th
article was rejected By an Immense majority
Theee facts, Sire, ara eloquent indeed and |
seven years the character md will Of a people ~
not changed. We shall never, however, cease II
iternttpg our eupplications TO your MaiestY til
| yen will capse m end to the grave embarrassment
| that has a11kcn from the tasusnce, without nwni
| Ing The arrival Of the new ponil1cal instruction
| Of resolution that not having the concurrence
the two powers, leAves still on foot and even vi
largely aoemen1, the evils alreadJ suffered; vi
Eckrsvate each daJ more and more the Situate
| and rtuder 1t more critical; and we cannot say
| what point will multiply the difficulties vi
which your Msjesty Is struggling for tho e-csta
l,thmcnt Of peace and the consolidation Of u
emrlrc. PExAo1o ANTONIO,