Alexandria daily gazette, commercial & political. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1808-1812, 1809-10-21

OF intolerance, or pefsccu.'V'', "1's" VA :,
tends God and man.
The unlimited freedom ofreligicn IN the
limited States, confers on no sect charac-
~ &c domination, nor any OF those exclusive
! nr;viIeees. that are possessed in different
| countries of Europe by the churches OF the
Catholics, Greeks, Lutheraas' Ca!van.',s,
| &c. &c. Let us leave to the partisans OF the
isEnpiish church the endless dispute on the
ynteTogatiyes of the established church, on the
,t;l;,vof those c,vu establishments which,
already shaken, will crumble, perhaps, on all
sides. at no very distant epoch. Though
am bv conviction, by sentiment, catholic,
and honored with the episcopal character,
after deliberate examination, l think that
;l VIE owe to the state guarantee or obedl-
ence when it requires it, that nevertheless
tbe.. r;p;i establishments, which may be in
favor Of errors as we'll as of truth. are often
un;us, ;mpolitic, dangerous in more than
one respect, though providence may draw
good Fl ON them, as it does from masy other
evils which it tolerates.
Let very thing relating to conscience, as
we'll as every thing that belongs to social or
GAM alton. be freely discussed truth de.
mands examination, which despotsm only
can fear: this alone finds it necessary to in
woke ignorance, to surround itself with dark
ness. to repel the light which breaks out
from the researches that are directed by
good faith and sagacity.
But what will be the result, if, instead OF
reasoning with calmncss and respect on re-
lip;on, the most important object for man in
the course of his fugitive existence, calumny
should point its sarcasns, and spread its
black colors over historical facts which it
misreprrsenis if, instead OF speaking to
the understanding to eulighten it, we address
ourselves to the passions to seduce This
has been the conduct which our inhdel
Frenchmen have followed, pluming them
| selves with the title of philosophers. 1t is
important to recolcct, and toreco!lect often,
! that Of those who have colnbatted christiani-
| ty, the greater part Fave vomltrd the most
! infamous Things against dec-ncy and moral
| itv Lamettrie, Voltaire, ]. J. Rousseau,
! Diderot, Muabeau, Of the constituent as
| sembly, P, &c. Others have said before
! me, that incredulity almost always has its
source in the heart, and that the antago-
nsts of religion, whose morality is SO
I pure. are advocates who defend their own
| cause.
! Almost all Of them have attacked CHRIS
I tianity by reproaching it with the abuses it
I has experienced, as if the abuses were the
thing its-!f; as if, after having directed the
| wind on the straw, We must still blow away
the grain; as if wine and iron ought to be
prescribed, because there are debauchees
and assassins.
In the stormy course of oue ,evolut On,
! the inhdvls held. during some years, the
! sceptre of power you were witness of the
| use they made oft. In an instant, these
| champions of toierasion and humanity were
! seen to display al! the ic'ocity of DIocietian;
| to shut up, profane, and destroy our tenn
| pies; to pursue that religion nan even into
| the assvlum of his thoughts +; to incaree-
rate and transport bishops and priests. A
great number Of catholic pastors were drag.
ged to the scafold during eightee ZEN months
| feared and expected the same fate ; it is
we'll known with what outrages | was load
ed in the midst Of the national convention,
for having b.aved the infatuated howlings of
impiely the greatest favor that was &C.
! corded US, was only 10 mark Us QUO as su-
! berst;t;0us, as fanatics these were the {.
| pthets in fashion. For several years we
were constantly under the axe Of execution.
ers, calling themselves philosophers. DO
you hasten to tell me they usurped this IL
tie: we are agreed. God preserve me
from attributing to philosophy the crimes of
! brigands, who dressed in their liyeries. In
the face even of the altar, | have justified
! her from crimes she abhors * but will our
| infdelsever exercise good faith? Will they
ever cease to reproach christianity With the