ple to such delays, and ordered his minister to proceed with the revision of church property sales in accordance with the laws under which they had taken place.[1] Several prelates joined the archbishop in loud protest, only to receive a sharp reprimand from the sovereign,[2] and the haughty nuncio was silenced by the observation that, while Maximilian as member of the christian community inclined submissively before the spiritual authority of the pope, as emperor, representing Mexican sovereignty, he recognized no power superior to his own.[3] This put a stop to further communications; and the nuncio soon after took his leave,[4] preceded by a commission which should seek to form an amicable arrangement with the holy see.[5]
Meanwhile the government hastened to carry out the policy outlined, by issuing a decree for religious freedom, ordering the council of state to revise the nationalization of church estates, confirming sales legally made, and subjecting bulls to government approval ere they could be issued.[6]
- ↑ Ratifying all that seemed legal, and with tolerance principles. Letter of Dec. 27, 1864.
- ↑ They knew not what agreement he had made with the pontiff; the latter had been warned already in July to send an effective representative, and here came a nuncio without power; he could not await the slow proceedings of the vatican. The bishops had been meddling too much in politics, and were neglecting duty by staying away from their dioceses. They had a good excuse for absence in the lack of protection from the Juarists.
- ↑ The nuncio had declared the papal superiority supreme in the matter.
- ↑ He proceeded to the Central American republics, there to await orders from Rome. He embarked at Vera Cruz June 2d, receiving every attention. For details concerning his mission, see Lefêvre, Doc. Maximiliano, ii. 5-32; Zamacois, Hist. Méj., xvii. 491 et seq.; and Arrangoiz, ubi sup., wherein the church is upheld. Niox takes a sensible middle course in Expéd. du Mex., 397-405. Se also Domenech, Hist. Mex., iii. 207-10; Valle, Viagero Mex., 117-42. Testory's defence of Maximilian's policy in Imp. y Clero, 33-44. Counter-arguments in Id., Observ. sobre, 1-47; Bustamante, Cuatro Palabras, 8-103; Arrillaga, Observ., 1-67, 1-87; Pinart Coll.; Ormaechea, Expos., 3-29.
- ↑ It consisted of the plastic Velazquez de Leon, the only and nominal conservative in the cabinet; Joaquin Degollado, a lawyer with republican principles, like his father, the late Juarist general, and Bishop Ramirez of Tamaulipas, appointed imperial almoner in July, Méx.. Boletin Ley., 1864, 42, whom Arrangoiz terms an ignorant Indian, serving with his office to give tone to the commission. They embarked in Feb. following. Minister Aguilar wrote from Rome in March expressing faint hope for any arrangement. Lefêvre, Doc. Maximiliano, ii. 23-9.
- ↑ The latter decree was issued in time to stop the publication of an ency-
