Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1802-11-24
rRoM rHG NArIoNAL Eels.
70 ne Psot.ie II Connecticut and Dfassacha.
seEts.

Sstbo. 4
TIE hardness with hich n,snSind 3ro-
coed 20 the practical adoption OF demon
stratcd TRUTHS, IS luattev Of SERIOUS regret
20 the hun,aue pilosopher. Truths loust
he delivered ~ "A tIouSauds iorins; they !
mus. DC written; they mus; be spoken o.
yer and over again the rvccssity al their I
adoption MUST sc felix in practice, by a |
thousand Inconvenience, before they will |,
in some measure result from the timjdity Of
Ioankind, bat principally from the opposi
ton OF tliosc tunc.oUs classes, which in
every society maintain their power and IL
fiuence, 10y the blindness OF their fellow CT
tizens.
The necessity ofthi* address arises Who'll
w from the above facts. BY the laws OF
the states Of Mass achusetts and Conech-
cut, several regulations are made, which,
in the opinion of tie writer, are infringe
ucuts OF the sacred rights ot conscience.
Fle trusts that = demonstration Of the prin-
riple, hat cover;rnenJ ought 10 have no
CONCERN with religion, that 40 man ought
TO De >men0bi- 10 humau uvthoriiy sor his
religious opinions o. practices, Is at this
time wholly unnecessary or il might be
Newu hon history, that half the crimes
ch polhre It's pages, have arisen from
interference oT government IN matters
religious opinion. II might be shcwn
there Is, and las been, greater mass
iciousp practices lnthosc countries where
.Srnment has been most selections TO
&c religion Under its care; that there
ave lccn fewer wees where il has not
ltertered NJ all; and It might also be
Shewn, that pure, vital MORALITY and rcli-
STcn have uniformly been more llourishiug
when lett to themselves, than when at
tsmpts have been made 20 regulate them.
AL this might be shewn in al incontro.
vertiblr manner; but it is 70 be hoped That
the frequency with which these truths have
been rer ted, will render nothing more
rsovssar1 han their application 70 the
~-ovis the above Tneutioned1aws.
the law Of these states pro.
majority of the freeh oIders
or i0hsl OF any town, may establish u
protestf cher Of morality and religion,
ana lev aN.upon al the Inhabitants foy
MS mai nanCe, is evidently an Infringe
mcnr Of the sacred rights Of conscience
because II supposei, that " Lich cannot be
true' via. that the opinion Of the uloioritv
Is the testc Of truth. But il is said, that
any person may procure an exemption
G7nmthcccntrlbGtion 10 support such teach
or, ~ producing certificate that he Is
regular attendant upon any other teacher
OF relA 'on, az public worship. But, sup
pose that there IS no other teachcr Of re-
hgien, within a convenient distance, on
whose a1IniStrations he can conscientious
j. attend. He is utterly without remedy.
And 4 is>a kRowD fact, that there are great
Numbers OF persons, of va1jous opinions,
IN these states, who are in this situation.
But suppose a man does not believe in sup
porting any pablo minister az religion, or
varying the case sin more suppose hi,
does not believe in anJ form of worshin
whatever, must he re compelled TO contri-
butte 70 the support Of that which he be-
lieyes TO be detrimental, provided that It is
not necessary for the existence OF govern
roent. But il is said that none but believ-
srs in the Christian system arc to be tale.
TGted, as II is called This has been the
Uniform pratlIce OF higots in allaees. They
have attemptedt 20 set h. unds to the sEl-h,
Of the human mind they have said .'fh5ls
far 9H hugo and 70 farfbc." In Some
countries you NAV doubt the infailbility ,oi
the f2he, but shall assert nothing against
the doctrine Of Consubstantation. In o.
shess YOU may cohtroyert both, bat SHALL
not n4cddlc with the doctrine Of The T54utg.
(attki could take upon hinSeif 20 reform
the system ofpopcry, but condemn the IN.
happy Srj-Ocs to the flames, because ne
dared 10 contrqdiE, come OF the positions
OF the ReftHTner. SocisaNs would main.
iain the divine unity, but rnust Join in thr
rerse cutioDs against Dauid, BECAUSE he
roucluded that Christ not being a divine
psr5onage, he ought rot to be addressed in
prayer, more than any other man. Oflhe
same tenor is the condua OF TO many
Christians a, the present day. You shall
be aiiowedto question the infsiIibiiity both
Of RoBiqn, and ,Nrgg HaVcn, pou01' YOU
may doubt whether Kissing the great toe
Of either, viii be Of any benefit; indeed
you NAV DOUBT many other tcneis Just as
firmly established hut il you shall pre-
terd 20 ss~ert that the scriptures are not
true, YOU shall MOI be tolerated ~ this d.
piniop. Thisis as muck As To- say almich-
g. G1d shall not DO ~ liberty 70 receive wor.
ship Il any one, who differs from as in this
opinion. What presumption! That a
worm 81 the dHgf shcud DrcfeHd .l dir