The New York Herald Newspaper, February 18, 1855, Page 2

378 IMMACULATE CONCEPTIO. LETTERS APOSTOLIC or vor this laudal ©UR MOST HOLY LORD PIUS IXx., the revercnce Divine jence 1» Con ing the Dog- spleesea Vinee matic Definition of the Immaculate Concep- ‘preventing grace Gon of the Virgin Mother of God. nr he lag TNS, oh Te FigreIUAL eweabhaNce OF tur Paso.” | Hxstance tnd prayers of the atid bishops, with the The ineffable God, ways are and | Chapters ‘ghurohes and of King Bhilip and truth, whose will is omnipotence, and whose a ‘the Iodaan aia bax Pomerening mond: ands sree tors, and sada by Sixtos IV, Paul Vand nity the moat sorrowful ruin of the entire human | ty °S0ry Cre ne ommeting: Se i) race to sallow, from the transgression of Adam, and | int.tivn foto ny Samed a arate, 8. 3 e areneon plete, through the incarnation of the Word of the Holy Ghoat, and preserved from sin; Tore hidden sacrament, the fires work of ‘his dod- | Uxewise, also, ia favor of the festival of the same seas. 0 that man, led fats sin by the coaft of nc, | Virgin Mother of od, celebrated according to that Polical iniquity, ahould not perlah contrary 10 his | Pious belief which ‘is ‘recited above; and we com- mercifol desigh, and that what was abost to befalin | mand that it shall be observed, under the censates 2 eont; fe te beer et tae gs |e second; chose and ordained @ dh ae only-bogozen | . And sgainat all and each of those who try to in Son, of whom made flesh, he should be born in the bad aod aforesaid comstitutions or decrees so blessed plenitude of time, and followed her with i they may frustrate ‘the favor shown through fe aaah Lectee | inaetneel Ot Mere ens ey. , Wherefore, far before all the angelic pinta and | into dispute the same belief, festival or worship, or the eaints, he so wonderfully her with seine these in apy manner, either directly or in- the sbundapse of all heavenly gifts drawn from the | 4 5 Saco any peahend, oven that of examin- eve tain of aaah ane fair ay pereie ould | interpreting the sa:red riptures ‘or the holy Sent belnce Sanienat plenitude of innocence Ay ho- | fathers or doctors—in fine, who sh mld dare, under hness than which, under God, none greater is under- per Ba or om any occasion whatsosver,'to say stood, and which, exept God, no one can reach | either in writing or in speech to preach, to treat, to even in thought. Aud indeed it was most becoming | dispute, by determining or asserting g against ‘thet she weuld shine always adorned with the apien: | these, or by bringing arguments against them and 88. leaving these arguments unanswered, or by express- ing dieeent in any other possible g Lien besides the punishments and censure contained in the con- dor of the most perfect ho.iness, and free even she stain of original sin, would plete triumph over the ancient it, she, the m> ther so venerable, to whom God Fe , dispo- | Stitutions of Sixtus IV., to which we desire to add, ved to give his son, whom begotten aniequal | and by these presents do add, those:—We will that te bimself,from his heart he loved imaself, in | they #o0u!d be deprived ipso facto, and without other soch @ manner that he would be by one declaration, of the faculty of preaching, of reading netare and tbe s8me common son of God the Father, and of the virgin, and whom the son himself chose to make substentially his mother, and Ghest willed and operated thet he would be con- ve'ved and born from whom he himself proceeds. in public, or of teaching and interpreting, and also or voice, whether active or passivein elections; from which censures they cannot be absolyed, nor obtain dispeusation, unless from us or our sucvess- ors, the Roman Pontiffs; likewise we wish to sub- Which original innocence of the augast Vi ject, and we hereby do subject, the same ons to agreeing completely with her Porat br other penalties re be inflicted at our will, and at and with the most excellent that of the same Roman Pontiffs, our successora, re- dignity of the Motaer of God, the Catholic Charch, which, ever taught by the Holy Spirit, isthe pillar and ground of truth, a8 erhge. a doctrine divinely received, and com- prehended in the deposit of hea’ revelation, has never ceased to lay down, to » and to illas- trate continually by numerous proofs, and more and more dally by did facts. For this doctrine, flourishing from the most ancient times, and im- planted in the minds of the faithful, and by the care and zeal of the holy pontiffs wonderfully Lad ming ted, the Church herself has most clearly pointed out, wen she did not hesitate to propose the conception ef the same Virgin for the public devotion and ve- neration of the faithful. By whi:h illustrious act abe pointed out the conception of the Virgin as sin- gular, wonderful, and very far removed from the erigine of the rest of mankind, and to bs venerated ae entirely holy since thé Church celebrates festival days only of the saints. And, therefore, the very words in which the Sacred Scriptures speak of ua- ertated Wisdom, and Lid Basa His eternal origins, abe has been accustomed to use not only in the of- fees of the church, but alsoin the holy litargy, and to transfer to the origio of that Virgin, which was preerdained by one aud the same decree with the incarnation of Divine Wisdom. Bat al} those mae everywhere justly received amongst the faithful show with what zeal the Re msn Church, the mother and mistress of all churches, hoe sapported the doctrine of the Immaculate Coa- eeption of the Virgin, yet the illustrious acts of this eburch are evidently worthy that they should be re- viewed by name; since so great is the eeaey and suthority of the same church, 20 maca is due toher who is tne centre of Catholic truth and un'ty, in whom aloue religion has been inviolably guarded, avd from whom it is right that all the courcshes should receive the tradition of faith. Thus the newing the constitutions or decrees of Paul IV. and Gregory XV., above referred to. And we prohibit, under t'1e penalties gad censures contained in the Index of Proaibited Books, and we will and declare that they should be esteemed pro- hibited ipso facto, and without other declaration, books in which the aforesaid belief and the festival or devotion celebrated according to itis recalled into dispute, or in which anything whatever is writ- tea or read ageioat these, or lectures, sermons, treatises and disputations egainst the same, pub: lished after the decree above eulogised of Paul V., cr to be published at any fature time. All sre aware with how much zeal this doctrine of the Immaculate Conception of the “lovher of God has been barded down, asserted and propagited by the most distnguished religious orders, the most celebrated theologics) academies, and the most emi- nent doctors of the science of divinity. All know, likewiee, how anxions have been the Bishoos openly and publicly to profess, even in tae ecclestastical aseembiies themeeives, that the Most Holy Mother of God, the Virgin Mary, by virtue of tre merita of Christ our Lord, the Saviour of maakiad, never lay under original sin, but was preserved free from the stein of origin, and thus was radeemed in a more soblime manner. To which, lastly, is added this fact, most grave and, in an especial manner, most important of ail, that the Council of [rent itself, wher it promalgated the dogmasic decree concern- ing original sin, in wuich, according to the testi- monies of tne Sacred (Scriptures, of the Holy Fa- there, and of the most approved councils, it da- termined and defined that ail mankind are born unser origional ein; solemnly desiared, how- ever, tha: it was not its intention to include ia the decree itself, and in the awplitade of its detiai- tion, the Blessed and Immaculate Virgin Mary, Mother of God. Indeed, by this declaration, the Tridentize Fathers have assented, according to the ttmes and the circumstances of affairs, that the Blessed Virgin Mary wae free from the original stain, and thus clearly signified that nothing cou'd be justly adénced irom the sacred writngs, nor from the authority of the fathers, which would in any way gaivs.y 60 grea’ a prerogative of the Virgie. And, in rea! truth, illustrious monugients of a venerated actiquity of the eastern and of the weet- ern church most powerfally testify thas this doctrine Indeed, onr predecessors vehemently gloried to | of the Immaculaze Conception of the mos Blessed mastitute in the Roman Cuurch by their own apos- | Virgin,every day more and more so splendidly vebo authority the Feast of the Conception, and to | explained and confirmed oy the highest aa- augment, ennoble and promote with all their power | thority, teaching, zeal, science, and wisdom of the ihe devotion thus instituted, by a proper Offic: and | church, and so wonderfally propaga‘ed amongst ali » proper Mass, by which tne prerogative of imma- | the nations and peoples of the Catholic world, rity from hereditary stain was most mauifestly as- | aiweys existed in the church as received by our serted; to increase it either by iadulgenc+s granted, | ancestors, and stamped with the character of a or by leave given to states, provinces and king- | divine revelation. For the Chorch of Cariet, care- doms, that they might choose as their patron the | fu! guardian and defender of the dogmas ¢eposited Mother of God, uader the title of the Immaculate | with her, changes nothing in them, dimiaiahes Conception, or by approved sodalities, congrega- | nothing, adde nothing, bat, with sli industry, % tions acd religions families instituted to the hoaor | faithfully and wisely treating ancient thiogs, of the Immaculate Conception; or by praises given | they are hsnded down from antiquity, so stadies to to the piety of those who bave erected monas’eries, | eliminate, to clear them up, that theese ancient dog- hoepitais or churches, under the title of the Imma- | mas of heavenly faith may receive evidence, light, gulate Conception, or wno have bound themeelves | distinction, but still may retain their fulness, integ- by 4 religious vow to defend strenuously the Iinma- | rity, propriety, and may increase only in their own culate Conception of the Mother of God. Above | kind—that is,in the same dogmas, the same sense, all, they were hapoy te ordain tha; the Feast of | and the seme belief. the Corception should be celebrated through the The fathers and writers of the church, taught by whole Church as that of the Nativity; and, ia fine, | the heavenly writings, bad nothing more at heavt, that it should be celebrated witn an Octave in the | in the books written to exolaia the S:riptures, to ‘aniversel church as it was placed in the rank of the | vindi ate the dogmas, and to ins:rut the faithfal, festivals which are commanded to be kept holy; | than emulously to declare and exhibit in many and aleo, that a Pontifical service in our Patriarchal Li- | wonderfal ways the Virgin’s mos: high sanctity, berian Basilica showd be performed ‘ly on the | dignity, and freedom from all staia of original sip, sacred to the conception of the Virgin; and de- | and her renowned victory over the most foul enemy to cherish daily more and more in the minds | of the human race. Wherefore, reposting the words of the faithfal this doctrine of the immazalate con- | in which, at the beginning of world, the Al- ception of the Mother of God, and to excite their | mighty, snnouncing the remedies of his mercy, pre- piety to biden oe Hee venerating the Virgin con- | pared ‘or regenerating mavkind, crashed the au- ceived without original sin, they have rejoiced most | dacity of the lying serpent, avd wonderfully raised freely to give leave that in the Litany of Loretto, | up the hope of our race, saying: “1 will place en- and in the preface of the mass itself, the immaculate | mity between thee and the woman, thy seed snd conception of the same Virgin should beproclaimed, | hers,” they taught that in this divine oracle was and that thus the rule of faith would be established | cle arly and openly pointed out the merciful redeemer by the rule iteelf of supplication. We ourselves, | of toe human race—the only begotten son of Gd, treading in the footateps of #0 many predecessors, | Christ Jesus, and that his most olessed mother, the have not only received and spproved what has beea | Virgin Mary, was designated, and at the same time most wisely and pioualy appointed by them, but | that the enmity of both against the serpent was sig- aleo mindfal of the institation of Sixtus 1V.,we have | nally expressed. Wherefore, as Cruist, the mediator appointed by our authority # proper office for the | of God and men, having assumed human nature, blot- immaculate conception, aod with & most joyful | ting out the handwriting of the decree which stood mind have gran’ the use of it to the universal | against us, fastened it triumphantly to the cross, so church, the most, help Nitais. bound by & most close and in- Bat since those thivgs which pertain t> worsiip | diseoluble in with him, exercising with him, and evidently bound by an intimate chord to its object, | through nim eternal epmity sgainst the malignant and cannot remsin fixed and determined, if it be | serpent, and trinmpbing moet amply over the same, doubttal, nee in uacertainty, taerefore, our | has crushed his head wita her immaculate foot. predocess#ors, Roman Pontiffs, increasing with Tais illustrious and singaler triumph ot the Virgia, ail their care the devotion of the Conception, | and her most exalted innocence, purity, and hoii- mtadied most especially to declare and inculcate its | nees, ber freedom from ali stain of sip, and ineffable ebject and doctrine; for they taught clearly and | abundance and atness of all heavenly graces, epenly thatthe fes:ival was celebra‘ed for the Cox | virtues and privileges, the same Fathers bebeld in eeption of the Virgin, and they prescribed as fase | that ark of Ni and most toreign to the intention of the Charc2 the | safe and sound trom the common shipwreck of the epinicn of those who considered and affiemed that it | whole world; also in that ladder which Jacob beheld wae not the concsption itself, bat the sanctitisation, | to reach from earth to heaven, by whose steps the to which devotion was paid by the Caurch. Nor | angels of God ascended and descended, on whos did they think of treating more indulgsntly those | top leaned (jod himaelf; also in that bash which, in who, in order to weaken the doctrine of the Imma- | the holy place, Muses beheld blaze on every side, culate Cenception, drawing & aistiaction between | and amidst the crackling flames neither to be con- the first and second instant aod moment of toe Con- | enmed nor to suffer the leavt injury, bu’ to grow ception, asserted that the Conception was inieed | green and to blossom tairly; also in that tower anas- celebrated, bit not for tue ficss instant and moment; | sailable io the face of an enemy, from which depend for our predecessors themselves thought it thei: | » thousaud bucklers and all the armor of the brave; doty to protect and defend with all zeal both tie | also in that garden, fenced round about, which can- feas; of the Conception of the Moat Biessed Virgin, | not be violated nor corrupted by aay ssiemes of and the Conception from the firs: ins .ans as the ob | fraud; also in that brilliavt city of God, waose foun- ject of devotion. Hence the words, evidently s- | dations are in the holy mvunta; also in that most cretave, in which Alexander VII. declared the trae | august temple of God, which, snining with divine intention of the church, saying, “ Certainly, isis splendor, is filled with the glory of Giod; likewise, in the ancient piety of the faithful of Christ towards | many other things of this kind which the Fatners hie most mother, the Virgin Mary, betieving | have handed down, that the exalted dignity ot the hat ber eoul, in the first iustance of création, and | Mother of God and her spotless innocence, and her ef infosion into the body, was by aspecial graca and | b liners, obnoxious to no bemiah, bave boen siz: ey og God, in virse of the merits of Jesas | nally pre announced. Shrist her Son, the Redeemer of mankind, p-eserved | To ceacribe the same totality, as it were, of divine free from the sta’n of origioa! sin, wnd in this sense | gifte, and the original integrity of the Virgin of they keep and celebrate with soiemn rices the festi- | wnom Jesus was born, the same Fathers, using the val of ber Conception. eloquence of the propnets, celebrate the augus’ Aud to the same, our predecessors, this also was Virgin as the 8 sotleas dove, the hol Jerusalem, tha Moat especially a duty to preserve from coaten‘ion | exalced throne of God, the ark and house of sanctiti- the doctrine of the Immaculate conception of the | cation, which Eterna: Wisdom bailt for itsetf’; aud as mother of God, guarded and protected @ith all care | that Qveen who, Sbounding in delights and leaning end zeal. For not only have they never saffered | on her beloved, came forth entirely perfect (rom the that this doctrine should ever be censared or tra- | mouth of the Most High, fair and most dear to God, énced in any way or by aay one, bat trey have gone | aud never Stained with the least spot. Bat when much farther, and in clear declarations on repested | the same Fathers and writers of the Church revolved occasions they baye proclaimed that the doctriae ia | in their hearts and minds that the most Bleased Vir- which we contess the Immacculate Con :eption of the | gin, in tke name and by the order of God himself, Vigin is, and by its own merit, is held evidently | was proclaimed full of grace by the Angel Gabrisl, consistent with ecclesiastical worship, that it is aa- | when announcing her mos’ sublime dignity of the eient and nearly universal, and of the aame sort as | Mother of God, they taught that, by this singular that which toe Roman church has undertakea to | and solemn salutation, never neard om any otner 00- cheriah and protect, and, above all, worthy to be | casiom, ieshown tha: the Mother of God is the seat laced in its sacred liturgy and its solema orayers. same Roman Courch had nothing more at heart than 00 assert, to protect, to promote and to vindi cate in the most eloquent manner the Immaculate Con eption of the Virgin, its devotion and doctrine, which fact a0 many illustrious ac sof the Roman Pontiffs, our predecessors, most ovilentiy acd fully testify 2d declare, to whom in the person of the Prince of the Apostles was divinely committed by @hrist cur Lord the supreme care aud power of ft Jambs and sheep, of contirming tne brethren and of raling and governing the universal church. . which, divinely ap vointed, eacaved | | came to us. | which we Page Ht 3 ' 5 s iy =F, e #8 ie i eal af ae daughter not of death, enmity, but of grace, which sccrrupt and imperleck 100%, ® corrupt per contrary to the tied and common laws. But though most solendid, were not sufficient, they pro- claimed in Begs ae and defined opinions that An ein pte! en he Be ee ge) be entertained concerning tho ‘irgin to whom en abundance of grace was gives to conquer sin com A algo de- elared wt the m Crise g .-J aS EA E Most High, predi serpent, 1 will place enmity between thee and the ous head of the same serpent ; and therefore they Virgin was through ce From contagion of body and soul, and mind, with God, and waited wits him in an eternal covenant, never was in dar! always inight, and therefore was ae fit babit- but on account of her gl To these things are added the noble words in they bave testified that nature yielded to stood trembling, not being able to rooeed farthe! 3 should not be conceived by Anna before grace should bear fruit. For she ought thus to be con- ceived the first born ot every creature. They have teetified that the flesh of the Virgin, takem from this account that the Most Blessed Virgin was the tabernacle created by God himself, formed by the new Beseleel mace, sdorned and woven with gold; and that this same Virgin is, and deservedly is, cele- work of God, escaped from the fiery weaoons of evil, and tair by nature, and entirely free from all in her Immaculate Conception; nor, truly, was it right thet this veasel of ele:sion should be assailed others, she had community with only in their nature, not in their fault. had s Father in heaven, whom the seraphim extol three times holy, so he should have 3 Mother on the nese. And this doctrine, indeed, so filled the minds and souls of our forefathe:a that a marvelious and which they very frequently called the mother of God immaculate aud entirely immacalate, innocent from every stain of sin, alilpure, al! perfect, the ty and model of purity end innocence, more beautital than bolinese, and alone holy, and most pure in soul and body, wao bas surpas: ell perfectitade and all the graces of the most holy spirit, and who, Goad alone ex: 4, is superior to all, and by natore rubim acd seraphim ; she whom all the tongues of heaven and earth co not suffice t> ex wl. No one ie it were, spontaneously into monuments of the most boly htargy, and the offices of the charch, and and since the mother of Go’ is tuvoked and nat in them aa a spotless dove of beau'y, a8 rose ever ever bless: d, and is celebrated as innocense which Was never wounded, and a second Eve who, brought It ig no wonder, then, if the pastors of the Church and the faithfal peopie have daily more and fervor, this dcctrine of the Immaculate Conception of the Virgin Mother of God, pointed out in the fathers, handed down in so many mighty testim> nies of the same, expreseed and celebrated in 89 and proposed, and with great confirmed, by the premest cod highes( judgment ot abe. Cour chy to the same than everywhere to worship, venera‘e, invoke, and iu of God the ancient times the princes of the Church, eccie- siastica, and even emperors and kings themsel tbe Immacuiate Conception of the Most Holy Mother of God should defined as a dogma of also in these our times, and especially were ad- dressed to G XVL, our predecemor of hap) by tte secular cler; religious greatent princes aud saithtal peoples, a Saiy nd acca wortby, been raised scurcely had qe, in 5 of Divine 8 woman,” who undoubtedly has crash2d the poison: fectly free from every stain of sin, sad always conversant ‘Kknese, but ation for Christ, not on azcount of her ly state, which, speaking of the conception of the Virgin, for it was to be that the Virgin Mother of God ceived as the first born, from whom should be coa- Adam, did notadmit the stains of Adam, snd on Holy Spirit, truly enriched with purple net ehne brated as she who was the first aid the pecoliar stain, Came into the world all shining like the morn by common injuries, since, differing very much from Far more, it was rignt that, asthe Only Begotten earth, who never should want the splendor of holi- ripgular form cf spee h prevailed with tnem, in and must innocent, spotiess, holy, and most distant toan beanty, more gracious than grace, more holy all virginity, and bas become the dwelling place of fairer, sore becauitals and more holy than the che- ignorant that theee forme of 8; h have passed, as that they o>cur often in them and abound amply; blooming ard perfectly pure, and ever spotiess ard forth Emmanuel. more gloried to protesa with so mach piety and Sacred Scriptures, ac ording to the judgmentof the many illustrious monuments of a revered ar ge 80 that nothing wouid be more dear, more pl conceived raitheo original aie, Wherefore fron have earnestly entreated of this Apostolic, See that Catholic faith. Which entreaties were renewed memory, and to ourselves, not solv by etione mat , herefore, with singular j xy aren kaow- & wysterious Providence to the exalted chair of Peter, avd undertaken the go- vernment of tre whole Church, than, following tne veneration, the piety and love we had entertained for the Blessed Virgin from our tender years, we had nothing &: heart more than to accompiish all these rh which as yet were am nget the ardent wishes of the Church, that the honor of the moat Blessed Virgin shouid be increased and h-r prerogatives should shine with a faller light. Bat wishing to bring to this fall maturity we app inted a special congregation of the V.V.F.F. N.N.S.R.E. Curdiaals, illuetrions by their piety, their wisiom and their knowledge of the sacred sciences, and we also s2- lected ecclesiastics, both secular aad regular, well trained in theological discipline, tbat they should moet sa a on those things which re- late to the Conception of the Vir- gin, and report to us their opinion. And, although from the entreaties lately received by us for at length defining the Immaca- late Conception of the Virgin, the opinions of most of the Bishops of the churca were uaders:ood; how: ever we sent Encyclic Letters, dated at Gaeta, the 2d dey of Febrnsry in year 1849, to all our vener able brethren the bishops of ail the Catholic worid, in order that having off-red prayers to God they would signify to va, in writing, what was the piety and devotion of treir flocks towards the Immaculate Conception of the Mother of (od, and eapeciail wha; the Babops themselves thougat about ronal gating the definition, or what they desired ia ordar that we might pronounce our sopreme jadgment as solemnly as poesibie, Certainly we were filled with no slight consola- tion when the repliee of onr veneradie brethren For, wti an tncrediole joyfalness, gladness, and zea!, trey not only confirmed their own singnlar piety, and that of t.eir clergy aud taith‘ul people, towards the Immacu.ate Conception of the Most Bieased Virgie, but they even entreaved of us, with & common voice, that the Immaculate Conception ot the rm should be defined by our rupreme judgment authority. Nor, infeed, were we filled with less joy when the V. V.F.P. N.N. 8. R. E. Cardinals ot the Sp2cial Co; gation aforeesid, ard the consulting theologians chosen by us, after a diligent examination demanded from us, th equal siacrity and zeal, this definition of the Immaculate Conreption of the Mother of God. Afterwards walking in the illustrions footateps of our predecessors, desiring to proceed duly and properly, we proclaimed and he!d a consistory, in reesed our brethren, the Cardinals of the holy Roman Chorch, and with the greatest con- = of i ghee entreat of us that we shou gate tl matic definition of the immaculate Conception of toe Virgin Mother of iod. bie naaees havini Lay wag ad Lord that the tane time come lefining the [mmacu- The Conception of the Virgin Mary, Mother of God, which the divine words, vener tradition, the perpetual opision of the Caurch, the sin, ment of jolie prelates and faba wad’ toe pee signs] acta and constitations of our of all divine graces, and adorned with all the gifts of | worderfuily illustrate and prociai heey yg Not content with this, tn order that the doc:rias of fe Eyre yea, the infinite storehouse and in- ‘iligently weighed all things, and poured to tne Conception of the Vigin shoald re- | ex! abyss of the sare gifts; so thet, never | God arsi sud fervect prayers, we resolved main » they have most severely prohibited | obnoxious to an evil word, and alone with her Son | that we should no longer delay to senction and de- the to this dostrine, to be defended och meng ee os benediction, abe deserved to | fine cer gunree snthorify, the immaculsie con- <ither impublic or in private, and they nave wished | bear from Elizabeth, inspired by the Holy Gost: — ception of im, and thus to satiety the mot to crumb it, aa it were, by repeated biows.{To which | “Blessed art thou amongst women, and blessed is | piour dae 8 catholic world, our own velterated and most clear declarations, lest tney | the frnit of thy womb. Piety towards the moet holy virgin. and, at the same might they added a sanction; a'l Hence, it is the clear an3 onanimoue opinios of | time, to honor more snd more the only which our jous predecessor, Alexander the same that ehe most glorione Virgin, for whom | son, Jesus Christ oor lord, ance whatever J., empn ip these words: — | He who ie powerful has dope great ‘hings, has | god praise ie given to the mother red sends to, the son. NEW, YORK HERALD, SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 18, 1855. of the whole world, and ornament, and most Church, who has destroyed ed from the more throughout all nations and countries, and may reign Le oe ee ae cin oh. Se aa p may ep; peace, tranqui iberty; thai the emer may obtain pardon, the sick , the weak stren; of hears, the sfilicted consolation, and that all who are in error, their spiritual blind- ness being dissipated, may return to the path ef truth and justice, and may become one flo:k and one shepherd. Let all the children of the Catholic church most dear to us, hear these our words, and, with ® more ardent zeal of piety, religion and love, proceed to worship, invoke, ad Gh the most blessed Vir- gin Mary, mother of , conceived without origi- pal sin, and let them fly with entire confidence to ‘this most sweet mother of mercy and grave in all dangers, difficulties, dou>ts, and fears. For nothing is to be feared, and means to, be des; under her guidance, under, favor, under her protection, who, ug a maternal sffection, and taking of our sa,vation, is solicitons for race, and appointed b; up the ‘business the whole human God the queen of heaven and earth, and exalted above ail the choirs of an- gels, avd orders of eaints, standicg at the right nand of the only-begotton Son, Jesus Caris! it our Lord, intercedes most powerfully, and obtains what she srke, and cannot be frustrated. Finally, in order that this our definition of the Immaculate Conception of the Most Blessed Virgin Mary be brought tothe knowledge of the unt- versa] church, we will these letters apostolic to stand for a perpetual remembrance of the thing, commanding that to t:anscripte or printed copies, subscribed by the hand of some not public, and authenticated by the seal of & person of ecciesiastical rapk, appointed for the purpose, the same faitn sball he psid which would be paid to those presents af they + ere exbibited or shown. Let no, man interfere with this our declaration, L rig age and detinition, or oppose and contra- ict it with presumptuous raahness. if any should presume to assai) it, let him know that he will in- cur the indignation of the Omnicotent God and of his blessed aposties, Peter and Paul. Given st Rome, at St. Peter’s, ia the year of the Incarnstion of our Lord, 1854, the sixth of the Ides ot December, in the ninth year of our Pontificate. + /Pivs IX., Pope. Later from Hayt. OUR VORT AU PRINCE CORRESPONDENCE. Porr av Parncg, Jan. 21, 1855. Expected Arrival of a U. S. Man of War—Ne Sor a Vessel Now and Then. The U. 8. sloop of war Portsmouth is expected here soon. It is really to be regretted that ou: go. vernment does not oftener send ont a man ot war, it being now fully a year since the last, the Faiton, left. It would make the peopie here more carefa how they treat the representatives of other nations, An example ought to be set, to show that the Awerican gcvernment end the people are always ready and willing to protect ita citizens abroad, and to avenge outrages. Pp Affairs In Venezuela. OUR MARACAIBO CORRESPONDENCE. Manracarno, Jan. 19, 1855. A New Term of the Monagas Goverwmnent—Inau- guration of General Tadeo Monagas—Review of the Rule of Gregorio Monagas—His Friends and Finances— Prospects of the Paez Party—Crops and Sales—Steambout Successes, §co Though there is no particular news stirring in these provinces at the present time, still a few re- marks regarding the condition ef this republic at this juncture, may not be uninteresting to those of Jour readers who have bosinees connections with Venezuela. To morrow will commence a new Presidential term, Gen. Jore Gregorio Monagas’ term expiring at midnight. Gen. Jose Tadeo Monagas commences to morrow & constitutional term of four years, and great hopes are entertained that his administration will prove a good one for the country. Durivg the four years of Jose Gregorio’s adminis tration, Venezuela has gone back in the scale of nations, and not a year has parsed that we have not had a revolutionary movement. These movements have not been mace by the Paez party so much as by the partizans of all kinds—as truly the sufferings of the people have been great. Jove Gregorio isa well-meaning but stupid individual, who has allowed himself to be governed by intriguing, selfish parti- zane; and what with the excessive and barefaced robberies committed by them oa the public reve- nues, snd the desperate schemes resorted to to raise junds at any price, tne fiscal condition of Venezue- Ta hes been plunged into irret.ievable confasion. The sbortive attempt of Pacz’s friends at raising revolutions, and the continual state of doubt in whica the people have been maintsined as to his real Ge- signa of invasion or nu, have also powerfully contributed to keep everything unsettled. The fact is, everything nan booe brought into s state of moet admired coutusion and disorder, and how the coun- try isto be ~ straight sgain remains to be seen. Meantime the importations continue lively, though tales ore effected with much difficulty and a: ex- iracegipenily long credite—say twelve and eigateen months. The crops this year promised to be good, bat in | consequence of scarcity of laborers to pick, and some very inopportune prol-nged rains this montn, & great deal of the coff-e wil! be lost. Our neighbor, New Granada, is pacified, the gov- srnment troops having succeeded in driving we rebellious Meio and b.s troops ont ef Bogota, Melo himee}f having xen taken prisoser, The ex-Presi- dent. Obando, is a'so prisoner. The steamboat enterprise, on this lake and the rivers adjoining, is crowned with saccess. | Mr. F, ©. Gillett, the undertaker of thie laborious plan, has given s specimen of what Avglo-American enterprise and energy are capsbie, as he has per- wovally carried out the cleat of the rivers un- éer circumstances which weald have disheartened almost apy one. Gis labors wili no douot be re- warded amply, as they fally deserve to be. The bar at the entrance tothe lake prevents ves- sels of large tonnage from coming here. Still, we bave several very bandsome specimens of New York building regular traders here. The vessel by which this letter is the bark F. S. Casanov: named after a wealtsy and mostestimable nat merebant of this place. She is commanded by Capt. wrth bave Tanase serene manners snd upright agreat favorite with usall here. Hb pacsvogers all speak in the highest terme of bota him and his vesse!. With- out anything turther to communicate at present, E. Loss or aN Evernant—Capt. MoKey, of ship Wm. Goddard, which arrived at this port this morniog from Cal:utta, bad on board a noble elephant when be after getting to sea the animal became left port, but soon sick. his sufferings being rently proportioned Tobie nize. Ho also prienees ch inconvenience well clothed in @an- ther, altboogh he So soit salty I's. died. The vrise of tbe animal is fe Leen ebout $50, COU. Lorton y is country would Sraveier, Feb. 36. Gold Watch to Captain Leo- mard, of the Second Pollee District—Enter- talnment at the Irving House, About four o’clock on Thursday afternoon, over one hundred of the friends of Captain Leonard, consisting of citizens and police of the Second ward, assembled in the Irving House, to witness the presentation of a superb gold watch ana chain to that wortby, efficient and much respected officer, The watch is of most exquisite workmanship, and is attached to a massive chain in- tended to be worn round the neck. The sealis of gold ‘end agate, and represents s cameleopard led by an Ara- dian. On the agate are the initials of Captain Leonard’s name, ‘J. L.,” and the eyes of the giraffe are formed of diamonds. The following is the inscription on the inside of the watch case:— “ ecoeocooopoesooooeoso ooo eee oe oO PRESENTED TO JAMES LEONARD, CaPTaln OF THE SxcoND Pouice Disrricr, ° ° ° ° BY CITIZENS OF THE SECOND WARD. ° o eocec]e ©00000000000000000000000000 while on the alices is a similar inscription and the arms of the city. Before the presentation the company sat down to an excellent entertainment, and after the cloth was re- moved the President, Mr. A. J. Williamson, called upon Mr. Wm. E. Burton, in a few felicitous remarks, toast as spokesman on behalf of the friends of Captain Leonard, tA whom he had been requested to present the gift. . Burton spoke as follows:— ‘MR, CHAIRMAN AND GENTLEMEN—When I came into this room I had not the slightest idea of meeting such 4 nu- merous company as I see assembled aro me; I ima- ined that I was to meet some half dozen of the friends of eaten Leonard, in pcapel sonny; inn Celendly: wow. As it is, unprepared as I am for the oceasion, you must take the will for the deed. Icould have wished that some one more uent were selected from among those present to do justice to the merits of our friend; ‘but a more enthusiastic friend of Ca |, even. im the ranks of those by whom he is surrounded, there postion, it my agreeable doty to preveat to” you, oa jon, 1, a present to you, on Behalf of your friewas, this valuable testimonial of their high respect and esteem for your character as ® man and an officer. I will not insult you with fulsome adula- tion, or talk to you of your ly virtues, your piety, your good mo character, or by a reference to your domestic felicity—such nonsense would be ridiculous to you and to every man of common sense. (Laugh- ter and applause.) We are not to discuss whether you go to church four times a Sun- day, or whether you kick your wife out of bed in jar to get alarger share of the blanket for yourself; but I will speak to you as an honest man, as one re- cted by all who have the pleasure of your acquaint nce, {Applaute.) If you had not done your duty nobly ‘n officer, this meeting would not have taken place. isa hard fact—a substantial solid fect—that no detraction can gainsay. You see before you, Captain Leonard, avery fair deputation from the police of this city, your fellow officers, who have ad their mite towards a testimonial to their fellow laborer in the good cause of protecting the lives and fas podea of the peo- ple. You see also before you # deputation from the citizens of the Second ward, and of, your own sincere per- sonal friends, all testifying’ by their presence the high admiration and warm frie ip which they entertain for you. (Applause.) Some years ago you were selected, with other worthy and respected gentlemen, to pro- ceed to England to resent the police of this country at the World’s and comduct there you ps minds of the British creditable to the character of the American lice, and not only to yourself, as a man, but ‘as a good looking representative of the American people. It is my pleasure to present to you this ificent tes- timonia) from your fellow officers and the citizens of the ward in which you live—a testimonial that will remind ‘ou that the time past bas not been misspent, and that e future ie fullot promise. Adopt as your motto the word ‘Excelsior,’ and there is no knowing where un honest ambition and well directed endeavors may lead you at last. Mr. Chairman and gentlemen, be hind enough to assist me in filling up bumper to Captain Leonard, a zealous officer, an honest citizen, and a kind friend. Here Mr. Barton fille? a bumper, the company fol- lowed his example by fillmg several bumpers, and having drank to the toast, Ca Leonard responded as fol- lows:— $in—I hardly know what to say in reply to the kind and generous remarks made by my friend, jurton but} suppose I must impute them more to his friend; shipthan toany merit of mine. In receiving this beauti- ful, this magnificent gift at your hands, I feel proud, and justly so—proud that it was gotup in’ the Second ward, where I have served so many years as an officer, and where I have lived many more as a citizen. Iam proud, also, for another reason—I see around me nearly ‘every member of my command, and I believe, with very few exceptions, every member who has contributed to this testimonial. The occasion is, therefore, to me one of honest pride. I commenced nearly ten years ago, with the ization of the present pol ce ne bbb ase private, with the determination to do all that was in my power—to do all that any man could in the same po- sition—to elevate the department, and myself with the department, andlcan now say that I have never done anything to it. My purpose has heen always io ‘lon at tbe higher to do my bent for tha public, and to perform wy duty to them and &% my superiors. I have al- ways endeavored to do #0, and although I am conscious of having committed errors—and who has no!?—they have deem ecrors of the head, and notof the heart. (Ap- plaure.) ‘the first four or years of my official career were bard, but had form the determination to suc- ceed—to stop at nothing that would lead to my ad- vancement. I have been advanced, and as a proof that I bave made many friends, I have only to look around me. (Applause.) I am, gentlemen, prouder of this thi ir Mason could be, who has been appoiated Minister to the court of Louie Napoleon. (Laughier and applause.) Iam proud of this gift for many rea- sons, and J shall try to act in future in such a manner that no gentleman can say he regretted ever having sub- scribed to it. It will be the aim of my life to try to de- nerve it by every act of mine; it will lead to more un- ceasing efforts to serve the public and also my many warm friends. I can assure you that any one who knows me will tell you that where I try to serve a friend 1 do it with my whole heart and sou), and where I hate an enerwy J will follow him as far as! can. Allow meto returp you my most —- thanks for the splendid sift which you have this day presented to me. At the conclusion of Captain Leonard’s reply, the press, the police department, Captain Hopkins, Mr. ‘Bur- ton and other brig re were toasted, and s; hes were made by Mr. Burton, Captain Hopkins, Mir Me. Kellar and others, after wnich the company separated, evidently well pleased with the manner in which they bad spent their time, Ald from New Orlcans. EELIEP FOR THE POOR OF NEW YORK FROM THE HOWARD ASSOCIATION OF NEW ORLEANS. Apuexed will be found the report of the distribution of the funds sent to Col. Chas. L. Frost, of this city, by the Howard Association of New Orleans, for the benefit of the poor of New York. It is due to Col. Frost to state that the Howard Asso- ciation of New Orleans was fortunate in the selection of their agent for the disbursement of their charitable do- nation among the poor. He devoted himself personally and diligently to seeking out the poor and suffering, with- out stopping to ask whether the recipients of the relief were of this or or that sect, nation or kindred, Jew or Gentile. It was enough for him to know that gaunt want and starvation bad invaded the garret, shanty, or cellar of the wretched poor, to induce him to enter their abodes, and frequently amidst costagious diseases, and Destow the aid required. In this way he actually visited and relieved at least two bundrei and thirty one fami- les, He met with many hear: sending and distressing incidents in his rounds, In one case, he found # poor a bed of straw, destitute of every comfort, ani bedridden for days. The only food he found in ber miserable room was a piece of codfish, @ small lot of beans, anda plese of stale bread, supplied by « religious charitable eocie- ty. These tho old woman could not eat, and was fast sinking. He ordered ber some mutton, and had some generous foup made for her, and some coals to warm the tment. On «subsequent visit, the old woman had revived, and with tears streaming from her ey hed him for his kindness, old woman \prostrate on th In another case, he found a woman in bed who bad | been confined, and was unable to leave her bed, as her motoer was forced to pawn her clothes to get bread. He redeemed her clothes, paid a petty sum ior rent, and supplied her with tickets for bread, meat, groveries and In acotber case he found a woman with children, in # co! two or three weeks. n B Among others relieved, was « poor widow with seven sma)) children, who lived in the upper part of a ‘able shanty, which jet in the wind through cracks in ite rain in places through the roof. The room did giechair. In the bed three of the chil warm. Tbe youagest, * only two or three © twelve years, ex- t one lad, who was out of work. had had the se ) the other poor and thinly clad children were crouched, afforded the only mean: of warmth; with the thermometer down to zero and below—and, the won- Cer seemed to be why the whole bad not frozen to death. The family originally came from England~the man was & tailor, got out of work, grew gloomy, and one night tucdenly disappeared, and it was believed commit On «) the poor a near by, el acter for im- Ty amor found to . ety, and was much att rhe straggled to the a them to a Sunday school. This ca charaster ap to cause ColonelFrest to give her $10 worth of tickets for bread, meat, ies, and coal, which the poor woman thenked him for, with tears in her eyes, while her children were clinging to her with mute astonish: A great many ot! the charity of the N like dew from heaven. The form of bis tickets was as follows Pe it. faves could be given upon whom Orleans Howard Association fell ° HOW + RD ASSOCIATION OF lyf ORLEANS. ° (cod for One Dollar in Meat, ° ° pet CHaS 1. FROST, 6 © Te Covoxm. Drvor, o ° Jefferson Market. ° ° ‘ o ecececcooescescooeosooeoosoeese Similar tickets were made out separately for one do!- Jar im bread, one in anc one in coal, and di- rected to renpone’ and jetable _ e gaged in the lines of business to which they referred. Be restored a great many petty yet necessary articles of poor families from the pawnbrokers, and mall arrears for rent, to prevent ther being cast ‘nto the garret, who had not tasted meat for | | es aninsult. In thei Two of the children | Jot fever, and were still quite feeble. A | urge ase bat, im the middle of the room, | weather. In making his final distribution of the funds, he hopes that those societies and associations to whom he has as- ns of the funda, will bestow it on the poor in the same liberal spirit which animated its noble donors, and trusts that they will seek out the pk gba iy Be’ nationality, i ie! ind sent to Col. L. Frost by the Howard (ae a ‘New Orleans, for the benefit of the poor of New York has been agra as follows:— ‘Widows’ Relief Associat o We 5 Female Employment Society of Brookly: St. David Benevolent Society of New St. Patrick Benevolent Society of Now York, St. Andrew’s do St. George’s do, German Benevolent Society do Distributed to 159 families cery tickets.. Do. coal to 72 fe Paid for clotbing, rents, medicine and pa AUORADRS Ss ci vigsos cusses tadsants siokaensoncents Bread tickets to be ‘distributed by Wm. Miller, Fifteenth ward, and Mr, Weeden, Seventeenth ward.. Total.. ‘The 168 00 me: priation can have the same upon the apy application ot the surer, to Messrs. Frost & Forreet, 146 Pearl street. The Unemployed Workingmen. WORKINGMEN’S REVIEW OF THE REPORT OF TRE FINANCE COMMITTEE OF THE BOARD OF COUNCIL— MEN ON THE SUBJECT OF THE MEMORIAL AND PETITIONS OF THE UNEMPLOYED. To Tux Honoranie THe BoaRD OF COTNCHLMEN OF THE Ciry oy New YorK: GxxTLEMxN—The report of your Finance Committee, to whom was referred the memorial and petitions of the un- employed workingmen of New York, has at length been made public, and is now before us. It is, of course, ad- verse to granting the prayer of your memorialiste and petitioners. They ask for an appropriation of five hun- dred thousand dollars, to be applied to the erection, on the lands and lots belonging to New York, of buildings suitable for the occupancy of the tenantry of the city. Your committee pronounce the measure uaconstitution- al, inexpedient, unwise and unjust. Further than this, while they graciously condescend to agree with the work- ingmen that much of the distress now existing is due to an “overstocked market,’’ they advise them to concentrate all their power in an appeal to the United States Con- ress to prohibit the immigration of { laborers into this country, in order to diminish the competition of workmen with one another in the labor market. They offer this advice, too, at the same time they denounce the motives which have influenced the workingmen ae the natural growth and offshoot of foreign soci: ie re- yolutionary principles. And this report has been referred to the committee of the whole Board of Councilmen for fuggre action. Now, itlemen, as natives of the Ghited States, citi- zens of Kew York, ant Zour memorlaliste and petitioners, we 8) ch you is way through the public press, sae Lpsinyae decided not to hear your constituents in person, to take an appeal from the report of your com- mittee, and to ask you to overrule it. Your committee are mistaken in supposing that you have no power under the charter of the city to grant our prayer. You have, if you but will it. You can divide five hundred thousand dollars into two thousand equal parts of two hundred and fifty dollara each, and direct that they be successively ap; to the pr 8 required on five bundred of the five thousand building lots belonging to the city, without contract; and in this way affo employment to many hundreds of the working men now vainly seeking it at the hands of pri vate capitalists. And why should you not do this? Is the reason given by your committee, that it would be unjust to these capitaliste for the city to compete with them in this good work, sufficient to justify you in set- ting aside the just claims of labor at your bands? Was the city government instituted to protect capital only? If so, it fo high time that the peogle knew it; and per- mit us to add, for you, in their bebal/, to do your ut. most to charge the character of the’ government. If that be indeed the purpose for which it was originated, itis that purpose which is unconstitutional, and it i# your duty to ignore it. Your committee say, that if the Corporation should build houses for the tenantry of the city, this same tenantry might as wellclaim to be sup- plied with coal, flour, &c., rom the same source But, gentlemen, they know, and you know, that tnere ie a wide Ciflerence between buying and renting. The great evil the tensntry complain of is, that certain men are perm: ted by law tolive without any labor upon the produ of the labor of others, in the shape of rent. They think the ives fy 4 4 for rent ought to © to purchase the houses they hire. areright. But the money ig pot so applied. ere is no limit te the smount of rent the landiords may require them, so long as the demand for houses ceeds the mupply. Indeed, the more rent pay, the likely are ‘they to become owners of thi a the uses they pay for, and which, perhaps, their own hanas have erected. They do, therefore, con- ceive that it is - duty of government to compete with landlords in su ay that, by limiting the per centage required to be a vent, the tenazt may be enabled to save 801 wherewith to buy at the dwel they mhabit. argument of your committee, that the performance of this duty bj government would “tend to depress and smother the spirit of en’ which ro remarkably distinguishes landlords, adorning the city with architectural and palatial splendor,’’ & , instead | of affording any good reason for its non- form- ance, really farnishes tie very best reason whieh could be given for rtd to it beplhie ae ones, laces on avenue, are hovel atties, at the Five Poiats, almost unfit for pigs to inha- bit, but which samemaiie tte sances had poe at @ per centage in pro} m to upfit- news for human habitations. Gentlemea, it bas often been said that, although almost every thing else were subjects of monopoly, the air of heaven was at least free from its balefnl influence. This ud boast, we are sorry to say, is by no means true. in these attics, and miserable hovels, the atmosphere is, in fact, marketable—those whom unfortunate circumstances coro pel to breathe it, beit ing constrained to pay for the privilege most in proportion to its vitiating bealth- destro} influences. Let us, therefore, to oh oy observations of your mona tondie, ss Gaetan f that large jiom of their ence enter of porti fellow citizens ‘‘es; engaged in real estate = tions.” The tenantry of New York were without them; for although they have undoubtedly @ legal right to pursue their business unmo- lested, the said tenantry are under so ticns to prefer them to the Corporation, which they may contract more advantageously, as the several members thereof being the represen- tatives of the people, and receiving salaries there- from, are presumed to consult the best intereete of their constituency and the common weal more than the cer- tainty of their own individual gains. Gentlemen, your committee do, indeed, say, that be- cause the work demand relief ‘ not as charity,”’ but ‘as aright,’ and because the “Common Council simply act as trustees to disburse the public funds con- tributed to the treasury by all classes of fellow-citi- wns,’’ they, the workingmes, your memoria! have uo right to demand that any portion of the fande thall be expended for their especial benefit. But itis the fact city taxes are a by that clase of fel- low-citize rho pay rent, for taxes assessed upon landlords are paid by their tenants, and no know this fect better than Jour a ant if then, the persons w! y taxes for any icular bare right to direct Neat the csouse da: which bald taxes shalt be disbursed shall inure to their benefit, the tenantry of New York have this right. Tyey do, there- fore, appeal to you, their representatives, to ex; the city taxes in their behalf. They ground their appeal upon their inherent right to the appropriation they ask, for it is, after all, but their own money that they require the use of. The recommondation of your committee to | the workingmen, to unite in an appeal to the national gov- ¢rpmeat, to prolii bit the ‘ importation of pauper laborers from Europe in order to be relieved from their competi- tion in the labor marhct, they, the workingmen, look upon a ment, the United States govera- ment might as well prohibit by law the birth of mative born Americans, to accomplish the same end. Compe- tition is an evil only Because labor, : marketable com- modity, or because lependent upon in rie Lae of eter persone then the laberers..- Whether of foreign or native origin, its eflects are precisely the in this case. the competition that working- most reason to fear, is that of native growth. ‘The greatest distress is felt among the mwadufactaring ‘and mecbanical portion of the population, which is almost exclusively native born American. In conse- quence of the inability of farmers in the interior of the couptry, owping more land in proportion than they do of other sealed, there is # constant, uncess ng migration y and all otber commercial and manufacturing nd towns, and it i# to the competition thus that the existing distress is mainly attributable. he statistics of the Commissioners of Emigration, aud of the United States census conclusively show that more than coten a the beg its leave this city for the far , upon the rolling prairies of which the; and make their home, thereby Prcoming thes own seaghoe srs. There is no means of relieving the overstocked market, except by tuking Jabor out of the market alto- aetber. Your memorislists and itioners have, accor- cingly, united in a memorial to the United States govern- ment, and to the State Legisiature, to limit the quantity of land that apy person may acquire, and to probibit any person from obtaining ‘land but thore wi will settle upon and cultivate it for themselves, and to supply such persons from as over- flowing treasury with the means of effecting such settle- ment and cultivation. On their , 1m their own abe workmen may eee ae one another without anger, ually poser ene; means of . hrelibcod tuey ‘would be content #0 to do, popes Ba ally striving 10 acquire fortunes at the expense of each others’ life blood. Equally protected by law, the will of etl, if never before, would then be ‘teed by power of all, and the etm would me + the artificers of their own » @ over all.’’ WILLIAM WEST. New Yous, Feb. 10, 1805, ; 4