Important collection of polemic texts on Church and State in Colombia

José Manuel Fernández Saavedra (1796-1877).

El Arzobispo de Bogotá ante la Nación.

Bogotá: [Imprenta del Neo-granadino], 1852.

[With:]

Rufino Cuervo y Barreto (1801-1853).

Defensa del arzobispo de Bogotá, u observaciones del Doctor Rufino Cuervo al cuaderno titulado “El Arzobispo de Bogota ante la Nacion”.

Bogotá, [no name], 1852.

[With:]

Venancio Restrepo Villegas (1819-1863).

Impugnacion del Doctor Venancio Restrepo al libelo infamatorio titulado: “El Arzebispo de Bogota ante la Nacion.”.

Bogotá, [no name], 1852.

8°. 111; 80; 50 pp.

Contemporary half calf with marbled sides.

First and only edition of an anonymous phillipic by Mons. Manuel Fernández Saavedra, treasurer of the Bogota Cathedral, calling into question Mons. Manuel José Mosquera's episcopate. He attacks the Archbishop on various points for being immoral and having done wrong during the time he was in charge of the Archdiocese of Bogotá.
Bound in the same book are two defences of the Archbishop of Bogotá, both first and only editions. The first is by President Rufino Cuervo, who makes several arguments in favour of Archbishop Mosquera and his career. It is divided into two parts, the first being a brief biographical sketch of the religious and political eventualities he went through during the exercise of his profession. In the second, a detailed defence of the faith is formulated, based on the different accusations that were made against him. The other defence is by Governor Venancio Restrepo Villegas, who accuses Manuel Fernández Saavedra of being the author of the libelous attack.
After the independence of Colombia the once close union between Church and State turned into conflict that saw the Church and the State opposing in Colombia, and in general in Central and South America. This gradually turns into open hostility. Archbishop Mosquera's harsh protest against jurisdictional laws led to his expulsion from Colombia. He died in Marseille. The year 1851 marked an important development for the history of Colombian publishing because absolute freedom of the press was decreed under the José Hilario López presidency.

Condition: Spine ends and corners slightly rubbed. Owner’s label on front paste-down: “Bibliotheca Valenzuela”. Some foxing. Otherwise in very good condition.

Reference: Not in Palau; Sabin.

Copies: Banco de la República, Misc. 1253, 262.986 D47; National Library of Colombia, fpineda_211_pza1; Vanderbilt islandora:97541, local: P00901.