Newspaper Page Text
6
RELIGIOUS PERSECUTION IN MISSIS
SIPPI.
One of the most high-handed outrages
that lias yet been recorded since the com
mencement of the present war, was com
mitted on the person of the lit. Rev. Bishop
Elder, bishop of this diocese, by one of the
upstart creatures of the present Administra
tion, (Jen. Brayman, Commander of the
Post at Natchez, and evidently with the
sanction, if not by the orders, of the au
thorities at Washington.
When Gen. Tuttle was in command at
Natchez, lie inaugurated a system of petty
annoyances to the Catholic portion of the
community, among which was an order (not
issued officially) to the Bishop to read a
certain prayer, which he designated, for the
President and the Administration, from the
altar, during service at High Mass.
The Bishop called on Gen. Tuttle and rc
•monsfrated on the impropriety of forcing
the Catholic Church to become a partizan in
the contest now raging between the No v th
and the South, when throughout the entire
war she has borne herself in such a manner
as to command the respect of all parties in
both sections of the country, inasmuch that
there had never before been an attempt
made to draw her from the strictly neural
position she, as u Church, has uniformly
maintained.
The Bishop's remonstrance was met by
General Tuttle with the most gross abuse,
in which the insulting epithet of “ Damned
old rebel hypocrite ” was freely used, and
the Bishop ordered from the house. Where
upon the Bishop positively refused to read
the prayers on the following grounds, via.:
That it would be highly prejudicial to
tho interests of religion and derogatory to
the dignity of the Holy Catholic Church to
submit to the dictation of any authority
outside of the Church.”
At this time the Bishop made a formal
complaint to the President of General Tut
tle’s interference, and also stated his reasons
tor not complying with the order.
Very shortly after General Tuttle was re
moved for some cause; and Col. Farrer
(commanding a negro r> giment), was left
temporarily in command of the post, and
took up the ‘‘hue and cry” again, but did
not dare to do anything officially (not hav
ing as yet, probably, received instructions
from Washington).
When General Brayman, the present com
mander, arrived, the matter began to assume
a more serious aspect. lie issued a special
order “ that the Bishop of the Catholic
Church at Natchez should read the prayer,
as before mentioned, from the altar, during
service at High Mass;” and again the
Bishop refused; when General Order, No.
*l, was issued, July 29th :
“ That the Catholic Church he confiscated
and the Bishop he removed to the other
side of the river,” where he now remains in
olose confinement, under negro guards, sub
ject to such insult and indignities as only
negro sold ers and (white) negro officers can
inflict. The charge against the Bishop is
•‘disloyalty.”
1 defy Gen. Brayman or Abraham Lin
coln either to point out a single instance of
disloyalty in a dignitary of the Catholic
Oburch.
I defy Gen. Brayman or Abraham Lin
coln to quote a single disloyal sentiment
ever uttered from a Catholic pulpit since
the beginning of the war, cither North or
South, and 1 furthermore challenge either of
them to name a single denomination, out
side of the Catholic Church, that extends
through North and South, that is not at the
present moment, and has not been since
:hc first blow was struck, agitated by politi
cal discord, rent by faction, and, in fact, as
much divided against itself, as our distracted
On the contrary, what a magnificent spec-
Tacle of Christian union and harmony—not
only throughout our own country, but
Lroughout the world—does the Catholic
l Himvh present, challenging the admiration
ad respect of all parties and all creeds by
e purely Christian manner she is fulfilling
he r mission on earth—ministering to the
spi ritual wants of her children, but ignoring
auv • connection whatever with their tempo
ral lifaira —thus guarding against the very
thin gs that have destroyed the peace of all
othei • denominations.
Xf these outrages on the Catholic commu
nity i redone l.y the sanction of the Govern
ment, let them beware. They arc treading on
Gauge rous ground. The Catholic element
; u this' country is far stronger than they
•dream of—at least one third of the entire
army Lit Catholic. If they wish Catholic
support, .they must respect the Catholic Faith.
That is the Catholic’s tender point.
The jharge of disloyalty against the
ajishop i >f Natchez, is only a pretext to an
noy the Catholics of that place.
It is a l utter impossibility for a “ Catho
lic Bishop” to Vie disloyal, unless in direct
violation of the fundamental principles of
his Faith,, when he would cease to be ii
liidhop.
But if r efusing to submit to the dictation
of Gen. B ray man constituted “disloyalty,”
then every Bishop, every Priest, aye, every j
Catholic in. the Uuited States is disloyal, for
Coo humblest of them Would not submit to
it for a mo men t.
It is to higher authority than Gen. Bray- j
men. or the Administration, that the l’re- ]
iates of the Catholic Church ask for in- j
structioa in matters pertaining to their re- !
11 ,r ious services. And when that, authority |
recognizes the right of ‘‘temporal rulers to ,
.dictate to her ministers in religious affairs,” j
then, and not- till then, can Gen. Brayman j
or Ahraliam Lincoln have such prayers read j
ti their fancy may suggest. ;
If the course pursued by Gen. Brsymau
iu the present instance is to prove a prece
dent for future action, then let Catholics
look to it. The war will have assumed a
different color. If it is to be a war of re
ligious persecution, let it come, und let
Catholics prepare to meet it.
[Metropolitan Record.
The In liana are described as the
copper-faced type of mankind !•
THE I‘A< ' I KICATOIt A CATHOLIC JOUBNAL.
(il)c pacificator.
P. WAI.SH, )
Ij. T. BLOME,j E,3ItorB,
comer Intouh 3* SCrt/nnf.l, SiM,
AITGrXTSTA, GriV.,
j SATURDAY, OCTOBER 15,1864
.———
THE WAH NEWS.
The war elements are busily at work at
nearly all of the several ‘‘Fronts,” and
movements are on foot which must, ere
long, lead to results of good or evil for our
Confederacy. God grant it may be for tho
former.
Around Petersburg and Richmond, the
enemy’s hosts are marshalled and almost
daily engagements are taking place, with-,
out important results. Grant and Butler
arc in command of the Federal troops,
while our own gallant Leo seems to confront
them at every point.
In the Valley of Virginia, wo have met
with recent reverses, and Gen. Early has
been obliged to retreat; but tho enemy has
subsequently fallen hack some distance, and
Gen. Early has, doubtless, recovered much
of the lost ground.
In South-western Virginia, wc have been
more successful, and the enemy has been
repulsed in some of his forward movements.
In North Carolina, all is comparatively
quiet, but an early attack on Wilmington
is anticipated.
At Charleston, the usual bombardment of
the city and batteries continues.
In Georgia, the news is rather favorable,
but strict reticence is properly required in
regard to army movements, and we, there
fore, simply report our army as, at last ac
count, oa the State Road, which was being
rapidly and effectually destroyed.
At Mobile all is quiet.
In North Alabama, Mississippi and Geor
gia, Forrest, Wheeler and Ivorson are en
gaged ill tearing up railroads, etc.
. In Tennessee and Kentucky, the guerillas
carry on a desultory warfare against the
Unionists.
In the Trans-Mississippi Department, the
Confederate arms appear to bo eminently
successful. Price is now in Missouri, while
Texas, Western Louisiana and Arkansas
seem to be almost cleared of Federal
soldiers.
Since writing the foregoing, it is an
nounced in the daily papers that a portion
of our army has already crossed the Ten
nessee River, near Gunter’s Landing, Ala.;
that its destination is Middle Tennessee;
ami Sherman, with a portion of his army, is
in Chattanooga. Important results are an
ticipated.
TEE MORAL RESULTS OF THE WAS.
War deals with humanity as the Nile,
ill its overflow, does with tho valley of
Egypt. From its mystic sources that
ancient river, whereon Cleopatra sported
and Moses eddied with the tide, swells peri
odically to gigantic proportions that cover
the whole valley. Ilamlet and cabin, life
and property, man and beast, are alike
swallowed up before it, and the ragged Copt,
who has fled to the high lands for safety,
looks thonce on what would appear to
another a scene of utter and irreparable de
struction. Experience has taught the na
tive, however, that good is here hidden un
der the guise of evil; that the earth is all
the richer for its disturbance, and will,
when its fury is over, bring forth its choice
fruits in smiling plenty—the maize, the
melon, tho endive, and the great health
giving leek, once worshipped from Canopus
to the Falls.
In some such way the philosophic mind
looks upon that other overflow of Bar.
Sporadically it bursts forth over the happy
valleys of the world, and buries, for a time,
a whole country beneath its swollen waves
of slaughter, destruction, and woful change.
Upheld by the experience of ages, lie who
lias read history aright never despairs of a
happy issue from such a prospect, however
dark. The best interests of humanity form
the soil over which sweep tho hitter waters
of war, and, though hidden for a time, that
soil is sure to emerge at length all the better
! for its obscuration. Such, at least, is the
1 lesson every other people have learned, and
! such is the oue a siern experience will teach
i 113.
It is laird, we know, for any ogo to be
lieve Ibis now. Evil is so very close to our
eyes, that'we cannot see the good behind.
We are in the very agony of contest, and
writhing, a3 it were, on the rack, are too
full of the present to anticipate the future
or study the past. Wo know that, physi
cally, we are losing blood and treasure. Via
believe that, morally, wo are changing from
better to worse. There is groat reason, we
admit, for this opinion. Revolutions are
not made with rose-water, and this has
borne to the full its crop of iniquity.
Blood-guiltiness aud rapine, sacrilege and
oppression, irreverence, and withholding of
corn, are crimes • that cry for vengeance.
Some have flourished in tho North, and
some grown far too rankly in the South.
Contemplating them, one could almost des
pair of the future, and believe in bitterness
of heart that, indeed, the thorn tree of war
can never Bring forth the figs of peace.
But, turning away from tho distractions
of the process and looking to the cud —tho
end that crowns the work, be it human or
divine—we shall come to see a thrilling sig
nificance in the Moral Results of the War.
Already that significance begins to unfold
itself dimly. Tho careful thinker is per
ceiving it, and the people will not he far
| behind in tho appreciation of necessary
results, whose apprehension and expectation
i must till them with the happiness of a great
hope.
In tho attrition of this war old prejudices
have been rudely shocked, and venerated
error made to totter on its idol shrine. The
great and terrible sophism of American life,
that has so long obtained credence, is begin
ning to challenge investigation. The ques
tion is asking, whether man be in reality
that self-sufficient creature we in tlih coun
try have heretofore regarded him. Whether
he be in very truth a rule unto himself, aud
possessed in his own nature of such an au
tonomic ability as renders him apt unto
| everything without any extraneous assist-
J ance. Tho great majority of our people
have been thoroughly imbued with this de
structive belief. It has led to sad things in
the State and sadder iu the Church. Polit
ically it has led to war, and morally has
eventuated in irreligion. If in the bosom
of each man ho a final judge, then there are
as many courts of last resort as there aro
beings, a proposition which is absurdity
itself. Faith, justice, truth, form a trinity
of unities, and are what they aro and not
what wo take them to be. It is humiliating
to human pride to confess this, aud, rather
than confess it, the moral history of this
country for years past has presented a me
lancholy record of human short-sightedness,
evasion, and error, so firmly clung to, how
ever, that nothing but some great and terri
blo convulsion could shako that dreadful
hold. This war is such a convulsion, and
when the real causes that brought it about
shall coino to view, the public mind will un
dergo a revulsion, of sentiment as whole
some as it will he great. To go further,
and explain tho particulars of this revul
sion, would lead us to statements for which
we would be immediately challenged to con
troversy, and believing that time will justi
fy us, though controversy might not, we de
cline the argument and prefer to wait. So
waiting, we look .to see, and he who roads
this shall, if he live, most surely see in the
moral results of this war a change for the
better in the religious and political princi
ples of our people. Subordination in mat
ters temporal and spiritual, a recognition of
the Divine inequality established by Divine
Wisdom, a forsaking your owu pride of
opinion and a reverent reception of tho
great truths of authority, will be some of
these results. Religiously, the Church shall
prosper by this change. Men aro tiring of
their present unfixod, voluntary, self-made
faith, and wearied of building upon the
quicksands of themselves, will seek those
foundations that are laid upou the eternal
Rock. Politically, tho cause of good gov
ernment will also prosper. Men syre learn
ing that Power is of God, aud not of man.
They are wearied of a system which has no
bettor base than the ignorance aud instabil
ity of the many, and will seek to model the
government of this country hereafter on
those same principles which regulate the
Heavenly Kingdom—where the power and
the intelligence of the commonwealth shall
be committed to the same hands. In these
views we may havo seemed visionary and
theoretical merely. Time will, we think,
approve us. Revolutions never go back
ward. War is a chastisement that changes;
and the people of these Confederate States
are never destined to go back to the false
principles of human sufficiency, or show
that they alone of the liTitions have not
been brought through the liory gates of war
to great and beneficial moral results.
Agents for the Pacificator.—The
Catholic clergy throughout the Confederacy
are authorized and respectfully requested to
act as agents for The Pacificator. The
following gentlemen aro also authorized to
act as agents:
Savannah, Ga.—Capt. L. J. Guilmartin,
Capt. M. J. Doyle, Capt. Michael Scanlon,
Henry 11. Eden.
Macon, Ga.—Wm. Walsh, D. Dunn.
Charleston, S. C.—Lawrence Cantwell,
Thos. Quinliven, C. R. Cassidy.
Columbia, S. C.—W. McGinnis, Richard
Flannigan, Simon Fogarty.
OUR SOUTHERN LITERARY PUBLICA
TIONS.
Among tho resources which the present
war for Southern Independence lias devel
oped, are those of a literary character.
Heretofore, we have boon content to draw
our literary pabulum from the North.
Their productions were sought for with
eagerness and read with avidity. Now,
that we are deprived of these publications,
wc must depend on our own resources for
intellectual amusement; hence, wo find
several literary journals published within
our Confederacy, and some of them quite
creditable to their projectors. What we
desire in the South, in this respect, is a pure
and moral literature, free from the gross
licentiousness to which wo have too long
been accustomed; and to secure this, public
patronage should only bo extended to such
journals as do not cater to the depraved
tastes of those whose morbid sentimentality
gives them a keen relish for the vulgar or
immoral.
The Southern Field and Fireside.—
This excellent publication is tho pioneer of
Southern literature. It lias stood firm
amidst the clash of arms and the tumult of
war, and will, we hope, continue to receive
the patronage of a generous and patriotic
public. Its liberal and enterprising pub
lishers, its talented and courteous editor, its
corps of able contributors, all deserve for
it the encouragement and support of the
Southern public.
Tub Countryman.— The Countryman is
the title of a neat and interesting little
paper, published on Mr. J. A. Turner’s
plantation, some nine miles from Eatonton,
Ga. It is modelled after Niles’ Register,
and is well edited and neatly printed.
The Magnolia Weekly.—Wo publish in
another co’umn the prospectus of this jour
nal. It is devoted to the literary interests
of the South, and being ably conducted, we
take pleasure in commending it to Southern
patronage.
The Mercury.—This is, also, a literary
journal, published at Raleigh, N. C-, by
Win. B. Smith, at $lO for six months; and
each number contains an illustration.
RECEIPTS OF SUBSCRIPTIONS TO THE
PACIFICATOR.
[Note. —We will publish under this head
a weekly list of subscriptions received at
this office, which will serve as a receipt to
the subscriber. Any person sending a re
mittance to us, and finding no record of it
in this department, is requested to notify
us of the same without delay.—Eds.]
M O’Dowd SIOO, C II Phelps 30, M J
O’Brien 30, Thos Ilayes 15, Patrick Ham
mond 15, Mrs P O’Connor 30, A L Dortic
15, It II May 15, L G DeLisle 15; Dr Byrd
15, Mrs Margaret Johnston 15. Mrs R
DeMartin 15, W C Jones 15, J D Kavanagli
15, Jno M Gannon 30, Jas Heney 15, A
Dorr 15, P Otis 8, Patrick Roach 15, Hon
Juo T Shewmake 8, M G Dunne 15, Jno
Cleary 15, Miss Jane Pritchard 8, Miss
Catharine C Smith 5, Miss Ellen Woods 15,
Jno A Bolder 15, Rev G Duggan 30, Rev .1
F Kirby 50, Jno Kenny 30, Jas Kenny 8, P
Kenan 8, P & M Gallaber 15, L Guerin J
Cos 15, Chas Spaeth 15, Mrs Mary Burns 8,
Mrs McDermot 8, P O’Jlahoney 8, D G
Murphy 15, Misses Murphy 15, H Dempsey
S, T Armstrong 15, Jerry Reed 15, J F
Casey 15, Miss ii McMullen 16, Carter C*it
tenden 8, J Judkins 5, B Gerrity 15, IV li
Griffin 15, A Faughnan 15, Dr Fitzgerald S.
M II O’Connor 6, Con Lenehan S, F Coggin
15, Mrs B Norton 15, Jas Kennedy 15,
Frank Reed la, Jas Gargan 8, T M Buck
ley 8, Michael Biehenor 5,1) O'Connor 8,
Daniel Looney 8, Jas McAdam 8, L Cos
grave 8, tlas Maguwihan 8, Jerry Hanlon 8,
F J Winkler 8, Francis Sherman 8, Matt
Mahones 8, Dan Hanlon 8, Dan Galvin 8,
Jno Leonard 15, A Stevens 5, Mrs Austin 8,
P J Stokes 15, J P Laveuturc 15, J M
Kinchley 15, E F Kinehley 15, L Chas
Dugas 15, Jas Costello 8, D L Roatli 8, Jxu
Greer 15, Mrs M D Macmurphoy 15, Capt
Goo T Jackson 8.
TO THE PRESS.
To our brethren of tho press wo return
our sincere thanks for the kindly notices
have given us in advance of the
publication of our journal, and particularly
to the Savannah Morning News and Repub
lican for especial favors rendered u3. For
those who have thus given our enterprise
such favorable notices, as well as tho flat
tering reception which they havo boon
pleased to give our little paper, wo shall
always feel profoundly grateful; and hope
that these acknowledgements of Tins Paci
ficator as one among the family of news
papers may be typical of the speedy
acknowledgement of our young Confederacy
as one among tho family of nations.
The Southern Express Company.—
We are already under obligations to the
Southern Express Company for repeated
favors. We tender them our sincere thanks.
Catholic Church. —Rev. Father
Caiiius will preach in the Catholic Church,
in this city, at High Mass, to-morrow (Sun
day) morning.
BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH OF ARCH
BISHOP M’CLOSKEY.
A late Northern paper contains tho fol
lowing sketch of this distinguished divine-!
Formerly the Bishop of tho diocese «f
1 Albany, Dr. M’Closkey was known as on*
of the most polished and eloquent orators
of the Roman Catholic Church in tb®
United States. He was born in Brooklyn,
New York, and after the usual course of
education, was ordained a priest. On th®
10th of March, 1844, he was ordained Bishop
of Axieren and coadjutor to Dr. Hughes,
then Bishop of New York. Tlireo year*
later he became the Bisbop of Albany,
being the first prelate of that see, as the
diocese was then first established. fit,
Mary's, one of the four Catholic Churches
of Albany, he made bis cathedral. In tit*
entire diocese there were about forty
churches, some of them without a regular
clergyman. Tbo Catholic population wer*
scattered over a large territory, were for tba
most part poor, and had to struggle against
the prejudices of the surrounding people.
Dr. M’Closkey had, therefore, no easy task
before him in carrying out his zealous plans
for the Catholic Church. But he went to
work with earnestness.
One of tlie Bishop’s first projects was the
institution in Troy of a Female Orphan
Asylum, which lie placed under the control
of the Sisters of Charity. In 1851, th*
Christian Brothers occupied the Academy of
St. Joseph in the same town ; and the same
year the Sisters of Cliarijy opened a hos
pital which has iu a single year received
789 patients. The next year a Female Sem
inary was founded in Albany by a colony
of the Sisters of tho Sacred Heart. In
1855, Dr. M’Closkey opened in Utica an
Academy for boys, at the cost of more than
$17,090.
The diocese of Albany includes all of the
State of New York lying north of forty
two degrees north, and east of tbo eastern
line of Cayuga, Tompkins and Tioga coun
ties. After a service of seventeen yearn,
Dr. M’Closkey left in this diocese one hun
dred and thirteen churches, eight chapels,
fifty-four minor stations, eighty-five mis
sionaries, three academies for boys and oils
for girls, six orphan asylums, and fifteen
parochial schools. If the new Archbishop
of New York leaves as good a record as he
liar left as Bishop, the Catholic Church will
surely have no reason to regret the Pope ? *
selection of John Hughes’ successor.
On Sunday, August 21, the Rev. Jolne
M'Closkey was installed as the Archbishop
of the Catholic diocese of New York, th«
ceremonies on that occasion being performed
in St. Patrick’s Cathedral. If Dr. M’Clos
key succeeds as wpll as his predecessor in
making his influence felt tier g ood, both th*
country and the Church will have occasion
for congratulation.
Peace.— The great argument tvith
the advocates of war is, that’we can never
Submit to a dishonorable peace ; what does
that mean ? Does it signify that wo will
make, peace with the South on no tonus
short of subjugation ? The idea is mon
strous. We can never subjugate such a
gallant people, and if it were possible, it is
not desirable. Subjugation means large
standing armies, oppressive taxation, tb®
possession of great military power by t/w
Washington Governm, ut, and we ought t«
know by this time that they can and will
use it as freely upon ourselves as they would
upon a people whom they would have con
quered. This is, in brief, what a dis
honorable peace means, although tho war
advocates strenuously deny t at such ig
their meaning. Tho subjugation of tb®
South is nothing more nor less than tbv
subjugation of tho North, and if' there is
still a Democrat who wishes the war prose
cuted under such circumstances, ho is to all
['intents and purposes in favor of dishonora
ble peace. We are now, as we have always
been, heart aud soul in favor of peace, ar.d
opposed to this relentless, brutal and fiend
ish war. Already tho ruin predicted by
t lie great statesmen of tho country is in:
pending. They warned us against section
alism : they told us that a war of oue part
of the country upon another part would re
sult in separation; but we scoffed at the
•warning, und in our assumed superiority of
wisdom wo flung their advice to the winds.
YVe are now aware of the result. Our boast
ed civilization and wealth aro powerless
against a resolute and brave people fighting
on their own soil and iu defense of every
thing man holds dear. England vainly put
forth her power to crush out the indepen
dence of three millions of colonists, and
spent seven years in the attempt, yet sh®
was obliged in the end to submit to a “ dis
honorable peace.” But there is no dishonor
in peace ; it is the war which is dishonora
ble, and which has already disgraced us in
the eyes of the world. Shall we, not col.-
tent with disgrace, bring ruin and destruc
tion upon us? Shall we continue in (lower
the perjured officials who have brought dis
honor upon us by their diabolical conduct
of the war and their well established cor
ruption ? YY’e b.dieri that the toleration of
the people is exhausted, that tho end is
near, and that the heartfelt yearning of the
j country is for peace. —Metropolitan Record.
Tiie Two Armies.—The South has
more men in the field now than she ever ha 1
before, says the Selma Reporter. Ir will t.o
impossible for him to raise the armies with
j tho North divided, with one half her citi
zens hostile to the prosecution of the war,
which he did when she was united. Be
sides the foreign supply of recruits must
diminish hereafter, as the Catholic hierarchy
of Ireland havo set their face against tin*
enlistment of Catholic Irishmen in tho fed
eral armies, thereby cutting off the rein
forcements which Ireland has, heretofore,
so liberally furnished. It is apparent,
therefore, that with the terms of enlistment
of the present Federal troops rapidly expir
ing, Lincoln's armies must continue to waste
away. Indeed, his only hope of sub j ugatin#
us is to accomplish it within tho short re
maining period of the present year’s cam
paign. Failing in this, his vast scheme of
subjugation must collapse.