The Rhode-Island Republican. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1809-1841, 1810-11-21
Dra~n by JAMES .sLaDISON now Preside1
of Me Unted States.

WE, the subscribers, citizcns of the SAID
Com monwcalth, having taken into considcra-
ton bill, printed by order OF the last Session
uf General Assembly entitled {" bill estab-
ms ing provision for teachers OF the Chris
,ian religion 5" and conceiving that the same,
il finally armed with the sanctions OF law,
will be "a dangerous abuse Of power are
bound AS faithiul members OF free State
To demonstrate against IT, and TO declare the
reasons by which we are determined. We
demonstrate against the said bill,
Because we hold it for fundamental and
unalie nabIe truth, that religion, or the duty
which We owe 10 the Creator, and the NAH
ner Of discharging it, can be directed only by
reason and conviction, not by force or vio-
lente." The religion, then, OF every man.
must be felt to tho conviction and conscience
oil every man and it is the right Of every
man to exercise il as these may dictate. THIS
right is in its nature, an unali enable right. 1t
is sunalienable /; because the opinions OF men
depending only upon the evidence contem-
plated by their own minds, cannot follow the
dictates of other men. 1t is unalienable, also
because what is here right towards man is a
duty towards the Creator. 1t is the duty of
every man to render TO the Creator such hon-
cep,able TO him. This duty is precedent,
both in order Of time, and IN degree OF obli-
gution, 10 The claims OF civil society Before
any man Can be considered as member OF
civil society, he must he considered as "a sub
jeci of The Governour of the Universe. And
Il a member OF civil society, who enters into
any subordinate association, must always do
il with reservations oi his duty to the gener-
al authority; much more must every man
VINO becomes member of any particular
civil society, do il with saving of his ailegi-
ance 10 the universal Sovereign. We main
tin, therefore, that in matters of religion no
MANS right iy abridged By the institution OF
civil society: and tina, religion is wholly ex-
empt from its cognizance. True il is, that
no other rule exists by which any question
(which may divide society Can be ultimately
de ermined, but by the will of the majority.
But II is also true, that the majority may
trespass on the rights Of the minority.
Because, If religion be exempt from the
authority oi society at large, still less can il
be subject to that ol the Legislative body.
The latter are but the creatures and viccger-
cnts of the former. Their jurisdiction is
both derivative and limited. 1t is limited
with regard to the coordinate departm ents
more necessarily, it is limited with regard TO
the constituents. The preservation of free
government requires not merely that the
metes and bounds which seperate each de-
partment OF power, be invariably maintained;
but more especially that neither of them be
suffered 10 overleap the great barrier which
defends the rights of the people. The ru-
Iers who are guilty Of such an cncroachment
exceed the commission from which they de-
rive their authority, and arc tyrants. The
people who submit 10 II, are governed by
laws made neither by themselv Ives, nor by an
authority derived from them, and are siayes.
Because 1t Is proper to take alarm at the
first experiment on our liberties. We hold
this p,uden, jealousy TO be the first duty OF
ciuzens, and one oi the noblest characteris-
ticks of the late revolution. The freemen OF
America did not wait until usurped power
h'd strengthened itself by exercise, and en-
tangled the question in preceden,s. They
saw all consequences in the principle, and
they avoided the consequences by denying
the principle. We revere this lesson too
much, soon to forgit il. Who does not see
that the same authority which Can establish
in exclusion of all other religions
may establish, with the same case, any par
ucu'ar sect OF christians, in exclusion Of all
other sccts That the same authority which
Can force citizen to contribute three pence
only OF his property, for the support Of any
one establishment, may forge him to conform
% any other estabIishmenl in all cases what.
iocver.
Because the bill violates that equality which |
ought to be the basis OF every law and which |
IS more indispensable, in proportion us the
validity or expediency Of any law is more liza
Die to be impcached. II all meh are, by |
aa,urc, equally free and independently ali |
men are 10 be considered as entering into 80.
;iey on equal conditions, as relinquishing mo- |
more, and therefore retaining no less, one
han another, or their natural rights above
NJ, are they to be considered as retaining an
equal tile To the dictates of consciente."t
NV hllsi we assert Gnr ourxelrs.s -