The Irish standard., 1895-05-04
FALSE AND MALICIOUS.
Testimony Going to Prove That
the South Was Not Recog-
nized by Pope Plus TX.
Contrary Assertion Investigated
by the Independent and Pro.
u nounced Untrue.

An Inquiry Into the Facts Of the
Case r1ade by q Leading
Protestant Journal! +.
The assertion that the vatican recog-
,nized the Southern confederacy has been
made time and again, Notwithstanding
the fact that it has been more than once
pointed out that the letter adduced as
proof of this assertion was merely one
of ordinary official courtesy, and the
confederate government itself never
based any claim Of recognition on it,
much as 1t would have wished to do so.
The iteration of this false and mali
cious charge prompted the Independent,
the leading Protestant journal of the
country, to inquire into the facts in the
case, and as result it dismisses the as
sertion as entirely unfounded.v The In
dependent makes the following impair
tial statement:
Two weeks ago, In our editorial ex-
posing the falsity of certain statements
meant to reflect upon the Roman Catho-
lie church, we said that we could find no
authority In Jefferson Davis ''Rise and
Fall of the Confederate Government" for
the assertion that the Pope recognized
the, Southern .Confederacy. DR.. James
ToT 49,
attention to paragraph in the Lincoln
memorial address of George Bancroft,
the historian, delivered before both
houses of congress on the 18th of Febru-
ary, 1866, in which Mr.. Bancroft SUBJ
stantially repeated the charge.
We have been at pains to Investigate
the subject and have obtained copies of
a letter of the Pope to Jefferson Davis, of
a letter: to the papal secretary. Of state,
Cardinal Antonelli, to confederate COM
nissioners, and of other documents.
If II Mr. AssDudley Mann was sent by the
confederate secretary of state. Mr.. ,Ju-
dah F. Benjamin, to Rome in 1858, to
obtain recognition of the Southern con-
federacy by the Pope, If possible. A few
months later Bishop Lynch, of Charles
ton, was sent to Rome on an errand sim
liar to- that of MIR. Mann. Mr.. Mann
handed Pope Plus TX. letter from JEFF
ferson Davis, to which the Pope made
reply under date Of the Sd of December,
1863. This, we suppose, is the letter
which Mr.. Bancroft had in mind, It is
thus addressed:
'sIllustrious and Honorable Mr.. Jeffer-
son Davis, President of the Confederate
States: Greeting
The letter itself is in acknowledge
ment of that of Jefferson Davis express
ing the Popes earnest desire that the
'sfatal civil war which had arisen in the
states should end, and that the people
of America might again enjoy mutual
peace and concord" etc. There is not
one word of official recognition Of the
confederacy in 1t. The only recognition
Of any kind is that of the uperscription.
But DIR. Mann wrote to the confederate
secretary of state in exuberant terms Of
his reception by the Pope and spoke of
the letter as positive recognition Of our
government and congratulated the
people OF the confederacy on the great
triumph. Mr.. Benjamin., however, did
not. so regard it. In reply to Mr.. Mann
he said:
GAS a recognition Of the confederate
states we cannot attach to it the same
value. that you do-mere inferential rec
.ognition linconnected with political ac-
tion or the regular, establishment of dip
loulatic relations, possessing none Of the
moral weight required for awakening
the people .sof the United States, from
their sdelusion that these states still re-
main members of the union.
He objected to the Pope's view that it
was an intestine Of civil war. He want
ed him to, regard it as a foreign war, and
continued.
.This phase Of his Letter shows that his
address. to: the president as President of
the Confederate States is a formula Of
politeness to his correspondent, not q
noNtical recognition of. the fact. None
of our political journals treat the letter
as a recognition in the sense you attach
to it,,
!. So far as the Pope's letter is concerned
we must regard this statement Of the
confederate secretary Of stats as conclu-
sfye, The Pope did not recognize the
Southern confederacy. Receivfngaa let
ter from Jefferson Davis, as president Of
the confederacy, the Pope courteously
addressed him by the title. It was mat
ter Of courtesy only and did not even
have the moral weight of a recognition.
& y That It was this document to which
Mr. Brancroft referred there can be no
A year after December 2, 1860 the
Pope's letter to Jefferson Davis, the car
flinal secretary Of state addressed SINH
lar Letter to the confederate com,
"A ~