The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1810-01-25

according 90 the dictates of their own con-
science. 1t is undoubtedly a natural right.
and when il il declared to pc an uIalienab!e
cic. BY the ?copie in their original capacity
any a,tc;npt to aiienatc it either W the Con
stitutioi or by law, must De vain aid fruit
less.
IL is difficult to conceive how such a pro
vision crspt into the constitution, unless it
was from the difficulty the human mind feels
ir suddenly emahcipating itself from letters
by which il has long been enchanted /; and
how avcrsc it is to the feelings and manners
OF the people OF tie present dav every gen
tleman may satisfy himself by CHANGING at
the religious belief OF the persons who fill
the various civil Offices IF this state; There
are Prssbyterians. Lu,hcrans, Caivinists,
Msnonists, Yaptis;s. Trinisarians Z. Unita-
,ians. -But as far as my observation extends,
there are fewer protestants, in the strict
sense of the word used by the convention,
than OF any other persuasion; for l suppose
that they meant by it the protestant religion
established by the law of England.
For other persuasions we see houses of
worship In almost every part of the state,
but very few for protestants so few, that
indeed ! fear that the people of this state
would for some time remain uprepresented
in this House, if that clause Of the canstitu
tion is supposed to be in force So far frosn
believing in the truth of the SO articles,
will venture to assert, that majority of the
people have never read them. Ii man
should hold religious principles imcompat
Bile 18th the t,eedom and safety of the state
j Go not hesitate to pronounce that he should
be excluded from the public councils of the
same; and trust know myself no one
would be more ready 10 aid and assist than
myself. But should really be at u oss to
specify and know religious principles which
are hus dangerous. L is surely question
between man and his maker and requires
more than human attributes to pronounce
which Of the numerous sects prevailing in
the world is most accept able to the deitv-
1t man fu,hls the duties of that religion.
which his education or his conscience has
Pointed Guy tobim as the true one, no person,
bold in ths our land o.. liberty, mas a rlgnt
u arraign him Al the bar Of any lug uisi,iun.
fad tbs day trust is lorg past, WHEN prin-
ClpteS merely speculative were proparated
BY force, VIXEN the sincere and pious wers
made victims, and the light minded bribed
into hypocrites.
nc proud monuments of liberty knew
that the purest homage man culid render
TO the Almighty, was ~ the sacrifice of his
passions aHd N the performance OF his du
ties; that the ruler of the universe would
receive with equal henigHity. the various
offerings OF mans alteration, if they proceed
from an humble spirit ard sincere mind !;
that Intolerance III matters of faith had
been frcm the earliest ages of he world the
scverest torment BY which mankind could
be afflicted and that governments were ONLY
concerned about the actions aud conduct of
man, aud no. MS speculative notions. WI
among Us lees himself 81 exalted above his
fellows, as tohave right to, dictate to them
their node OF belief? Snail this tree country
N oSla pyNlR CF
the returning reasnn Of epslavcd Europe
would no. submit to, viii YOU bind the
Conscience in cha.',S, and iaslen conviction
on the minds III spIte of the conclusions of
reason and of those ties and habitudes which
are Blended with every puisation of the
heart! Are you prepared to plunge at once
from the sublime heights of moral legisla
ton, into the dark and gloomy caverns of
superstitious ignorance? Will YOU drive
from your shores and from the shelter Of
your constitutions, all who do not Law their
citations on the same altar, observe the
Same ritual, and subscribe 10 the same dog.
mas! ifso, which among the various sect.
into which we are divided, shall be the fa
vored one? l should insult the understand
7lo OF t'is house to tupp0sc il possible that
they could assent to suCn absurdities For
al know that persecution in all lis shanes
I'D notifications is Contrary to the genius
OF our government and the spirit OF our laws
and that it never can produce any other ;.f-
tecE, than to render fnen l!ypocriies or mar
tyrs. When Charles The 5di, Emperor o.
Germany, Gred Of the cares of government
resigned his Grown to his son, he retired t.
Monastery, where he amused the cvsaine
OF ms lie ia regulating the movements OF
watches. endeavoting to make Il number
Keep tae same time. bu; not being able tc
make ANY two exactly alike, it led him &c
liiect or the folly and crimes he had com
united, la ate mptIng the npossibility OF
making men think ,,.ikei
Noth'Hgi is more easily demons trated than
thai t'c conduct t.ione IS the subject Of hu
man laws, aud that man OUGHT TO suffer CT
Vi, capitalization for what he does, and not
toi wa. he drinks TIE I.lino can receive
laws on.y from him Of whose d vine essence
u IL aportion; he one can punish the dis
C'edeut; for VINO else cpu know its move
meutS. W estimate .heir .u,lits2 Jhe re
lgipu profess inculcatcs every duty winch
man owe, t. his fellow msu {, enicips uy.
OF. ''s yo,aries the practice Of every virtue
an" ihe de'eslu If every v, 1t teaches
thsm 20 hope FOR ,br tayor of Heaven. ex.
aCly IN proportion IS thei, lives ~, drec
ted ny u.s. honorable ADD ben hcent MAJ
ans MS, then. reaEic~er IS my creed
u vas impressed Upca u,, infant rnind il he,
bCen I've director Of ny ytu.h, the oni,or
of Ny manhood, ans. viii n.t be tie con
collation. 40 NJ oil see
Ajary rae, Mr speaker, ] an sure that
you cArhot sec any thing in t,,is religion
60 deprive .ue OF N, seat 10 this Hone. Sc
fAf - r~."Jts 90 ny life and Conduct, the