t, whose arbitrary decision was the only law. But
might not he, who was so great a reformer, have contrived to cause the law
to be altered? Such alteration could not have affected the Mortara case. A
change, besides, would have been quite unnecessary, as it was not probable
that after such a storm, and the lesson which it taught, either Jews or
Christians would expose themselves to the consequences of a violation of
their country's laws. And were not those laws a sufficient protection to
the Jewish people?

(M61) From the first days of his Pontificate, America engaged the
solicitude of Pius IX. So rapid was the growth of the church on that
continent that it became necessary to give bishops to several countries
where the Catholic faith had been scarcely known. So early as 1846 Oregon
was constituted an Archiepiscopal See. In 1850 Episcopal Sees were erected
at Monterey and Santa Fe, in the Spanish American territory, which was
recently annexed to the United States, and in Savannah, Wheeling, St. Paul
and Nesqualy. The Indian territory became a Vicariate Apostolic, under the
jurisdiction of a bishop. Three years afterwards six more sees were
established--San Francisco, Brooklyn, Burlington, Covington, Erie and
Natchitoches. Later still, 1857, Pius IX. gave bishops to Illinois; Fort
Wayne, in Indiana; and Marquette, in Michigan. This last city derived its
name from the celebrated missionary who first explored the river
Mississippi. It was now more important than ever, having become a centre
of Catholic life and action.

(M62) In 1852, Pius IX. beatified John de Britto, a martyr in India, John
Grande and the renowned Paul of the Cross, who founded the zealous and
austere order of Passionists. In 1853, the like honor was conferred on the
pious French shepherdess, Germaine Cousin, and the Jesuit father, Andrew
Bobola, who was martyred by the Cossacks. In 1861, John Leonardi was
beatified.

(M63) It is now time to record events of a less pleasing nature. In 1853,
several attempts had been made on the life of the Emperor Napoleon III. In
1855, Pianori made a similar attempt. In 1858, Count Felix Orsini almost
succeeded in assassinating him. This Orsini was an accomplice of Louis
Napoleon in raising an insurrection in Romagna in 1831. He was condemned
for conspiracy in 1845, and was amnestied by Pius IX. In 1849, he was a
member of the Roman Constituent Assembly. In his political testament,
dated at the Mazas prison, and read