DUTY OF THE CHURCH BULLS PAPER MONEY. 



143 



natural influence possessed by a church whose members are spread 

 all over the republic, the hierarchy of Mexico, has exacted a con- 

 stitutional recognition not only of its permanence, but of its right 

 to exclude all other faiths, and all other religious reunions for wor- 

 ship. It appears, therefore, just that in such a republic it was the 

 duty of the Roman church voluntarily to unfetter its wealth, to re- 

 form its priesthood, to sweep into the public coffers the useless 

 jewels that adorn the altars and statues, yet do not glorify the Al- 

 mighty; and to imitate the virtues, resolution and self-denial of its 

 ministers in our country, who, while blending themselves in politics 

 and public spirit most effectually with the masses, have devoted 

 their lives to the education of people of all creeds and classes for 

 support and independence. 



"Far from the goods of the church being exempted because they 

 are consecrated to God, " says Vattel in his immortal work, " it is 

 for that very reason that they should be the first taken for the wel- 

 fare of the state. There is nothing more agreeable to the common 

 Father of men than to preserve a nation from destruction. As God 

 has no need of property, the consecration of goods to him, is their 

 devotion to such purposes as are pleasant to him. Besides, — the 

 property of the church, by the confession of the clergy themselves, 

 is chiefly destined for the poor ; and when the state is in want, it 

 is, doubtless, the first pauper, and the worthiest of succor. " 1 



1 We trust that it will not be regarded as levity if we relate an anecdote which 

 shows that the church has contributed to the money if not to the wealth of the 

 country, in years past, in a most unexampled manner. It will be recollected that 

 in the historical part of this work there is an account of the mode in which a large 

 revenue was derived by the government from the sale of Bulls issued by the church 

 permitting the people a variety of indulgences and acts which, without the posses- 

 sion of such a document, were not allowed by the spiritual laws of Rome, or the 

 temporal laws of Spain. Immense packages of these Bulls were found in the 

 treasury after the revolution, and, when it became necessary for the government to 

 issue a temporary paper money, the financiers of the nation thought it a wise stroke 

 to make these Bulls at once a license of indulgence to the holder, and a security 

 against counterfeiters. Accordingly they printed the government notes on the blank 

 back of the Bulls, which had been sent from Spain to supply her revenue. One of 

 these treasury notes, now before us, measures twelve inches in length by nine in 

 breadth, and promises to pay two dollars. The Bull upon which it is printed is an 

 indulgence, valued at " two coined silver reals, " or, twenty-five cents, allowing the 

 possessor to eat " wholesome meat, eggs and milk, " during lent and on fast days. 



