Barnabo, Alexandro, Cardinal Prefect of The Sacred Congregation of Propaganda, Rome, Italy, to Archbishop John Mary Odin, of New Orleans, Louisiana, 1861 September 10

Since there has been proposed to the Sacred Congregation a doubt whether Catholics can be magistrates in case by that office they have to witness marriages between persons of color or no color in good conscience, the Fathers of the Council ask Odin to get for them information on the force of the law and especially of the civil laws in each of the States in so far as they bear on Catholic magistrates who by reason of their office have to or do assist at marriages of Catholics, non-Catholics, infidels or non-baptized persons and also at marriages between persons of mixed or the same color and especially about peculiar laws to which there could be a canonical diriment impediment not accepted by the civil laws. They wish this information as clearly stated as possible. Capalti signs as secretary. :: VI-2-e A.L.S. Latin 1p. 4to.