Tlie Prefecture, 1840-1841
57
your pet1t1oner humbly solicits a decision declaring that all the churches built or donated by the former governments for the use of the Roman Catholic worship shall be reserved and maintained for the same use and end. Such a decision will be a great favor conferred on the Catholic part of this community.' 3 The Petition was immediately referred to a select committee composed of Congressmen Porter, Reily, Huling, Blow, Williamson, Thatcher, and Ensworth. It is to be noted that Odin wisely requested not a grant of property for the Church, but. confirmation by the Government of the undisputed title to property previously held by the Church for religious purposes. On this same day Senator James Miller offered a resolution in the Senate that a committee of three be appointed to wait on Reverend John M. Odin and request that he act as Chaplain of the Senate in the absence of Chaplain Richardson. The resolution was adopted and Senators Miller, Byrne, and Greer were named to inform Odin of the appointment. The Vice-Prefect, who had gained considerable popularity during his stay in Austin, was glad to accept." In his letter to the President of the Republic brought personally by Timon, Cardinal Fransoni, in the name of the Sacred Congregation for the Propagation of the Faith had, after invoking the protection of the Executive for the Apostolic envoy, tactfully suggested that as an act of justice he should cause "whatever property may belong to the Church to be handed over to him, as to the lawful pastor." Thus, the appeal had been made to both the Executive and the Congress of the Republic almost simultaneously. In his official reply to the Cardinal. Acting President Burnet, to whom the letter had been sent by Lamar from Independence with a request for action, frankly declared: "That there is property of diverse descriptions within our territory, which rightfully belongs to the Church of which you are so eminent a member, there is no doubt; and I am confident, that whenever it may be properly identified, it will be cheerfully restored to the sacred uses for [from] which it has been temporarily diverted by inevitable events, incidental 0 Petitio11 of John ,II. Odin, P.re/ecl A'f!oslolic in refermc.• /,1 d111rr,', propt1ri1• in Teras, file number 1717, Fifth Congre;.::, December .?I, 1840 (photo;.tat copy in C. A. T.). 44 /ournal of th.t S.t11ale of lht1 Republh· of Texas. Fifth Congre!'.s, First Stssion (Houston, 1841), 83.
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