Dubernard, Jean Honoré, Spring-Hill, Alabama, to Archbishop Anthony Blanc, New Orleans, Louisiana, 1855 October 28

The President having warned him to prepare for certain orders, on the 10th of next month, Dubernard submits to Blanc 2 cases regarding himself. The first would be ex defectu lenitatis?, during the war in Africa. But as this war was probably just and he killed no one perhaps it does not apply. The second case would be ex defectu libertatis which Dubernard told Blanc about last year through Mr. Willermos . At that time Dubernard feared this but after Blanc's letter and after consulting Fathers Andrieux and Brands, he was reassured. After serving 7 years in the army, he signed up for the same length of time and obtained permission to live at home. Being called to the ecclesiastical state, he left for Martinique intending to serve that diocese. He soon learned that the state of war in France obliged the government to call all military on leave. This made Dubernard immediately take measures to get out from under a law which could not bind him in conscience since he had served 7 years. It was then that Dubernard came to Blanc's diocese. He asks Blanc to give him a definitive decision so that the thought of having got into the ministry illictly could never trouble him. As Father F. Gautrelet, S.J. simply said to prepare for ordination, Dubernard asks Blanc if the Bishop of Mobile is to confer the sub-diaconate. :: VI-1-i A.L.S. French 3pp. 4to.