Chronicles of Notre Dame du Lac
Edward Sorin, CSC -- Translated by John M. Toohey, CSC, 1895

---

1859

pg 382            9.  You seem to have no fear of the scandal that would result 
             from legal proceedings in this matter.  I assure you that I could 
             not be so insensible thereto, although it seems to me that I 
             should have no reason to fear.  Because I assure that I have full 
             faith in the goodness of our cause if it ever could be brought 
             into our courts.  When I proposed a legal arbitration, I gave 
             sufficient proof of this.  But sooner than go before court in a 
             suit with a Bishop, I would prefer even a greater loss and a 
             deeper humiliation to the assurance of gaining a case of such a 
             ruinous nature.  You must have foreseen from the first that this 
             would be our final determination.  Hence, when you seriously 
             threaten to resort to legal means to eject the community, you take 
             a high-handed way of settling the difficulty to your own 
             satisfaction.  As to your doubts as to whether our Congregation is 
             approved, however painful it was to me yesterday to hear you 
             express them, I humbly beg you to permit me to say that I think it 
             is.