The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1809-10-03
,o'rsyoitns the people. by alarming their eensoi-


60 commit the sam crimes, and to destroy rei-
gion ?-Pretended philosophers from hatred a
gsi9st 1t pretended Christians from hatred 10
every priest, who had submitted to the law re-
curing oath They would rather have seen
our affairs overturned, our sanctuares proianed
and covered with filth and sacrilege, than to be-
hold their brethren in tlle same sacerdotal ha-
bits, but, faithful to their God anl their country
offer the same sacrifice. and preach the same Cos
pei.
These distressing rccouectiuns will be crgra-
we'd by history, they will resound in future ages
and when reason shall surmount extinguisl.et,
u sions impartial posterity will decide on which
side were truth, charity and Justice.
Does not your engraving appear to retrace,
not as regards the manner, but the results, what
ou' prosecutors have executed The Iusory
theories of lmpiety are faisifed by the most de-
cisive experience which attests that morality
is wavermg, and without support, if it does not
receive 1T from the hands of religion that reii-
giOn is without conscience, fit is not positive,
that is to say, founded ON facts and on revelati.
on. conversed o. this subject with your coun-
uyman, Thomas Paine. Write, said / TO him,
on political rights, but not religious matters
your ASe Of Reason has discovered your iscapa-
city you will never be able to oppose any thing
solid To the exoellentrefutation ofyour system br
crowd of writers, above all by the learned 5j.h
Op of landau.
Some Of our Prosecutors, who styled themselves
Philosophers, are already thrown intothe sew
fers Of history the rest will be in ther turn. The
greatest part of those who have sIrvived, vent
themselves in macdctons over TAI tomb of Ro
besperre, that it may be iorgotteyf they were his
accomplces his guards, and his banditti. They
would he so again, If he and Eis power were re-
overwhelmingly under srotesquc names
and cynical dress, they dIsaonored the cause of
liberty vile Proteuses, Jthey have changed their
language still more tim their dress. Formerly
they blasphemed against Christianity bigots
now, and at no TINE pIous, limited to certain
forms, certain tr,ting customs, neg!ecting in re-
iIgion every tt'ing that restraints them perverting
ITS august truths their interest may dictate,
from The ciotives which St. Augustine has devel-
oped ir so striking mann er iii his City n GoG,T
they cell themselves Christians through policy
because according to the expression of modern
orator, religion rs necessary for the people and
as the secret OF their heart always hetray: itself
l. mbre by their conduct than then. discourse, tina
sScred instrument they would pervert is broken in
their hands for among that race always frivo-
iOus and without character, that is called French
men, there is not one, even TO the servant girl,
who, in robbing her master, does not repeat
that religion is sesessarp for lhe people, on con-
dition that she may be dispensed from having it
herself
Religion, necessary to every individual, is still
more SO TO those magistrates vino are the regu.
lators Of states. Fatal experience of the misfor-
ttiilSS5 by OF christi
anity, has not yet opened our eyes We have re-
course to palliative to the wounds which
have been made by irrehgicn, and its offspring
immortality they have looseRed the bonds Of So
clety to such degree, that they menace it with
decomposition, which will be common to many
lneighborinG nations. If ever decrepid Europe
makes stop towards moral ORDER it will ba les,
from love of that than from iassitude of crime
but il will be under the escort OF christianity and
IN consequence of inevitable catastrophes In
spite OF the clouds that cover the FUTURE this e
pooh may be perceived, though we are unable to
predict 1t in precise manner, though unable to
calculate its term, or its disasters.
fthe bounds of this letter permitted me, /
would oppose to the evils engendered by infidel-
iy, the benefits profusely spread by the christian
religion its Introduction was the most vast of
all revolutions, and the most beautiful because
the most useful to the human race The cross
and the gospel i'll preparing us for the happiness
of eternity, have civilized the world; virtue and
knowledge have every where marched in their
train every region has been abandoned by virtue
aid knowledge which has lost christianity those
regions have returned to barbarism: Witness
the church of Africa, iustrious for SO MANY
learned men, and which was once one of the most
brilliant portions of chrlstendom. Witness AL
gers where you resided two years such would
be the lot which the United States would feel, if
ever they should cease to be christians.
And is not this equivalent to what you propose
IN some lines, and by an engraving, which dis
ciple Of the gospel repels with horror? The at.
tributes of pure christianity classed among
the emblems of prejudices. Where are votIT
proofs 1t /. iii the nature of things that what
is invariably useful should be essentially true IN
stead OF proofs you give up to derision objects
revered by many hundred millions of men. who
Willno believe you on your word they will see
that your anti-chrstian sentence wants business
thatit is consequence without premises that
without reasoning at ALL you decide that all the
principles OF the gospel reason falsely
Virtuous minds would sigh to behold calumny,
a.. sety, and lubrlcity dis Jay themselves with
etirontery, protected by the liberty of the press
If we attempt to- establish by law repressiye
measures, this evil would be counterbalanoed by
others, if our mouths were locked and our pens
crushed by tyranny. The press is free in your
country thus you are not reprehensible by the
law, bat condsmnable at the tribunal Of opinion
the supreme judge Of all crimes that offend pro
priety and justice. Yours uilends both
1t oHcnds justice, because IL is a gratuitous
outrage, that resembles that 9th JesuDiy at ia
pan, What would you say, IS the attributes ofli-
! betty, which are so dear 10 you, were trampled
under DOT between your eyes
1t oifends prOpriety, because, in holding ont as
iP'ejadiees the emblems Of the christian religion
1t IS saying to all those who rofes, it, that they
are fools ;this compliment addresses itscfto the
disciples of the gospel IN every part ofthe globe ;
it addresses tselfto the e5timaole descendants Of
those catholics, who, ayin% from British perse.
cuti0n, established in Mary isJid, state belong
ing to your confederation II addresses Itself to
the venerable Carroll bishop Of Baltimore you
tramPie on the attributes Of lis pastOra! charas.
ter. In france ia