Year: 1870

AntOueiIb Against the In
FROM THE VATICAN, Sept. 20, 1S70.-Your
Excellency is well acquainted with the fact of
the violent seizure of the greater part of the
States of the Church made in June, 1859, and in
the September of the following year by the Gov
ernment now installed at Florence. Equally
matter of notoriety are the solemn reclamations
and protests of the Holy See against that sacri-
legioGs spoliation; reclamations and protests
made either by allocutions pronounced in Con-
sistOry and published in due course, or else by
notes addressed In the name of the Sovereign
Pontiff by the undersigned Cardinal Secretary of
State to the diplomatic body accredited to the
Holy See.


The invading Government would assuredly
not have failed to complete its sacrilegious
spoliation if the French Government, well in
formed as to its ambitious projects had not
arrested them by taking under it's protection the
city of Rome and the territory still remaining
by keeping garrison there. But, as a conse-
quence of certain compacts entered into between
the French Government and that of Florence
compacts by which it was supposed that the
conservation and tranquility of the dominions
yet left to the Holy See would be secured the
French troops were Withdrawn. These conven-
tions, however, were not respected, and in Sep
tember, 1867, some irregular bodies of men,
urged forward by secret impulses, threw them
selves upon the Pontifcal territory with the
perverse design of surprising and occupying
Rome. Then it was that the French troops re-
turned, and, lending strong g-handed succor to
our faithful soldiers, who had already fought
successfully against the invasion, they achieved
on the plain OF Montana the repression of the
audacious invaders, and caused the complete
failure of their iniquitous designs.


Subsequently, however, the French Govern
ment having withdrawn its troops on the occa-
sion of the declaration of against Prussia,
did not neglect to remind the Government of
Florence OF the engagements which 1t had con-
tracted by the convention specified above, and
to obtain from that Government the most formal
assurances on the subject. But the fortune of
war having been unfavorable to France, the
M nj to inn ahvy Of
those reverses to the pref judice of the agreement
it had entered into, took the disloyal resolution
to send an overpowering army to complete the
spoliation of the dominions of the Holy See;
although perfect tranquility reigned throughout
them in spite OF very active instigations made
from without, and in spite of the spontaneous
and continual demonstration of fidelity, attach
ment and filial affection to the august person of
the Holy Father that were made in all parts,
and especially at Rome.


Before perpetrating this last act of terrible in
justice, the Count Ponsa d San Martino was
sent to Rome as the bearer of letter written by
King Victor Emanuel to the Holy Father.
That letter stated that the Government at Flor
eHce not being able to restrain the ardor of the
national aspiration nor the agitation of the
'party of action" as it is called, found itself
forced to occupy Rome and the territory yet re-
naming annexed to it, Your EXcellency can
easily imagine the profound grief and indig-
nation which filled the heart of the Holy Father
when this startling declaration made to
him. Nevertheless, unshaken in the fulflment
of his sacred duties, and fully trusting in Di-
vine Providence, he resolutely rejected every
proposal for accommodation forasmuch as he is
bound to preserve intact his sovereign power
as 1t was transmitted to him by his predeces-
sors.


In view of this fact, which has been brought
to pass nnder the eyes of all Europe, and by
which the most sacred principles of law and
right and especially those of the law of nations,
are trampled under foot, His Holiness has com
manded the undersigned Cardinal Secretary of
Gtata To afa nd nd Tho
undersigned does hereby, in the sacred name of
His Holiness, demonstrate and protest against
the unworthy and sacrilegious spoliation of the
dominions of the Holy See, which has lately
been brought to pass; and he at the same time
declares the King and his Government to be re-
sponsibe for all the mischiefs that have resulted
or shall result to the Holy See, and TO the sub
iects of the Pontifcal power from that violent
and sacrilegious usurpation.


In conclusion, have the command from his
Holiness to declare, and the undersigned does
hereby declare in the august name of his Holi-
ness, that such usurpaton is devoid of all effect,
is null and invalid and that IL can never convey
any prejudice to the indisputable and lawful
rights of dominion and of possession whether
of the Holy Father himself or of his successors
in perpetuity and although the exercise OF
those rights may be foreibly prevented and
hindered, yet his Holiness both knows his
rights and intends to conserve them intact and
re-enter at the proper time into their actual pos
session.


In apprising your Excellency officially by
command of the Holy Father, of the deplorable
event that has just taken place, and Of the pro
tests and TemOnstrances which necessarily fol
low it, In order that your EXcelency may bt
enabled to bring the whole matter to the lgnowl
edge OF your Government, the undersigned
Cardinal Secretary cherishes the persuasion tha
your Government will be pleased to take into
its earnest consideration the interests of the
Supreme Head of the Catholic Church, nov
and henceforward placed in such circumstance
that he is unable TO exercise his spiritual au
thority with that full liberty and entire indie
pendenee which are indispensable for it,


Having now carried into effect the command
of the Supreme Pontiff, 1t only remains that
subscribe myself, etc.


j. CARDINAL AEToNELLI.