Portland gazette and Maine advertiser. (Portland, Me.) 1805-1818, 1809-06-12

Defpetuae their poWer.-N hep cresds ano
opinions unknown TO the contribution are rem.
dered nsceaary TO employment, they very
ioon become the only qualification required
and fupply the place, not only of ,alsn,s, tor
the performance of the highelt duties, but
even Of common honeify, necehary to the dir.
charge of all. Already, we have ba, toe
much reslon 20 deplore the violence and ami.
monty of party fpirt. II has gone far TO de
flroy focal intercourse, and all the en1earing
charities of life, between ancient friends and
neighbors, and TO fublti;ute political opinions
for virtue, intelligence aud pa,rioiifm. Al
ready the wife aud good, Of all parties, enter.
tain approximations, len the intereas of the
people, and the duties of government might
be forgotten in the folicitude for party power,
aud the hatred of political opponents. They
experienced, but they have dread of evils
iiill greater, even the dehruction of our free
government, as necehary consequence of
parry patton, unleis afluaged by temper of
conciiauon, of mutual forbesrance, of can.
dor and refpeet for each other, and by the un-
qualified furrender of every interea, and eve.
ry defre 20 the pre- eminent claim OF country,
in thofe, who have been leletted by the ci,i-
zens 10 guard their rights, and advance their
PROPERTY Let us then, gentlemen, truffees
for the public good alone, of the power and
authority of JUL and enlightened communi-
ty, by The candor and liberaliy Of our own
conduct endeavor TO fer the example 10 much
delired, by deliberately weighing and juitly
approaching the meafures, aud motives of each
other, and by purifying within the circle of
our REFLECTIVE duties, unbiahed by any preju.
dices, or prepoilefiions, the happiness and
PROPERTY of the people. and the iecurity of
their rights. Such an example from the gov
eminent, we might fafely ,rulf, would be fol-
lowed by our felow-cllizens, and would at
ford the beii profpett of continuing the Free
dom, and glory Of the country.
Our forefathers, from the fri fettlemer, of
the country, Judged it necedary to provide for
the religious initruetion of she fociety, and to
enjoin On all the members thereof, the wor-
fhip aud alteration of the Supreme Being. the
effects of which, have been felt at
every iiage of our political exiitence, in the
good order Of fociety and 2refervation of civ.
il government, IN the peculiar happiness, and
profperity of the people, and in the mott fig.
nal initances Of divine interpoGtiou, in behalf
Of our highly favored land.
White the people of this Commonwealth
iniilt ON the rights of confidence,
and guarantee, to every man, perfect freedom
to worihp the great Creator. and preferver of
The univerie, according TO the dictates of his
own mind, they, alio, invel the Legislature
with power, and render il their duty to au-
Ihorize, aud require the citizens, in their few.
erzl corporate capacities, 10 make fuitAbe
proviiion, for the inititution Of the public
worih,p Of God, and for the fspport aud
Of public Proieitant teachers of
piety, religion and morality, if il be DOT done
alto TO enjoin on all fubjects,
an attendance upon the inftruetions OF fuch
public teachers, II there be any, ON whole in
they can confcisntiouny and cnve-
niently attend. 'e-s.s4
The principle, adopted by the people, is.
evidently, noe to iRpofe articles OF faith on
the confidence but to declare their own obli-
CATION, and that of the Legislature to enjoin
aud promote the means of initruction. aud the
maintenance and communication of the pro-
teltant religion, of pie,y, and morality, - ef-
iential to the Happiness of the citizens.
The leaf reflection on the relations of civil
focie,y, and the limited power OF government
will manieIt the great temporal advantag,, to
be derived from promoting the worihip OF God
IN ipirit aud IN truth.
The power of government does NOT extend
beyond that clsis of duties which relult from
poilive law and perfect obligation, nor to
for The breach of fuch, unlels the
came be proved, according to certain effabIifh-
ed and kHown rules.
AL thole duties, which are not of poiitive
law, but of imperfect obligation, iuch as grati-
tube, love to ourneighbour, hofpitality, paren.
fal aud iilizi Affection and offences againit the
fame, are NOT the fubjed of human laws.
'Theie and numerous Others, which are incul-
Gated, taught, or forbidden, by the preeepts OF
that holy religion, which is acknowledged by
our ConltitutoD. are neither prefcribed, nor
prohibited, nor even determined upon, by the
law of the rate. Yet no man can doubt, that
a hrm belief. in their truth, promotes the hap
pineis of iocie,y, and that an exact perform.
anee of the duties, not fubjec to human con-
trout, but enjoined by chr,flanity, renders the
CITIZEN better member Of the community,
and difpenfes with the neeeility of multiplying
laws and encreaGng forfeitures Society can
not deter from committing crimes, by infiet-
ing puniihment for their commiiii.n, uniels
the lame be fully proved 1t therefore has no
hold on one, who can perpetrate wickednefs
in iecrecy and perclude all ,eltimony of his
guilt but religion teaches that the omnileient
Judge OF crimes prevades every recefs ofhuman
concealmeut, and that, from his all piercing
eye, it is mpoiiible TO keep .ecret aught that
the hand can execute, or the mind conceive.
Hence, we may juilly conclude, that in COM
plying with the regulations of our fundamen-
tai laws, a. regards The woriiip Of God, and of
public initruetons,in piety, religion and NOR
atty, we COMM, no offence againi. the rights
of confidence, we promote the progress of
truth, the peace and Happiness of ioeetyf and
prelervasion OF government.
IL cannot eicApe the obiervation of wife
Legislature. that for mott of the duties, which
are OF poiitive law, religion affords fanetions,
ftrongsr than can be creafed by any human