Portland gazette and Maine advertiser., 1810-05-21

THE surest test of religions, in the choice
of rulers, is afforded by the prevalence of
correct principles and habits among tie pco-
LIE How often do We he ar il asserted, that
Repubican;sm is to be sustained only by
general virtue and that religion is the on
ly genuine source of virtue But, how lii
tie regard is paid to these sentiments, even
by those who make the ioudest professions
impressed upon the heart, this important
truth. that, withou, being good men, it is
impossible to be good citizens Immoral,
irreIgious persons, with all :hey can say OF
do in the superficial character Of mere %
fvs, will never be able to counterfeit the in-
Ruence of their example as members Of
free and Christisn Community 1t is true
they may assist in bringing good men into
Office yet they do not encourage them as
good men; but are ready to drop them,
whenever another instrument appears more
favorable to the views Of party.
Would you therefore use your influence
for furnishing the civil departments with
men, having the :" fear Ct God before th>ir
eyes," do every thing in your power to pro-
mote the public Institutions ofreligion. An
enlightened and faithful Clergy, is the high
est and frrnest tower which defends the
walls eff free community. What sort Of
friends to country then are they, who with
hold or grudse small tax for the support
ef this useful snd venerable body Of mem
when they readily part with much larger
sun for an id.e. CT even a criminal gratIfi-
cation 4 What apology shall be made fur
such as encourage religious and political
Feeders, who, with the specious preter.ce
Of liberty aud true Christian zeal, pursue a
course tending to destroy the natural and
necessary distinctions Of society. The in-
consistency of such conduct appears from
considering that these distinctions are con-
staniiy supposed and countenanced in the
word of God IS IS evident from the hume
rous moral and religious precepts in which
tiey are involved. IL is, however, nccessa.
ryto observe here, that such Of this class as
look f.rthest beyond the passing rnoinent,
by no means aim 1t permanent equality
hut, would avail themselves Of changes ay-
psrently terminating ia This state, for hrng
Eng the political scale, at last, to the great
est possible prepondersnce in their own "a
9pr. This Inference seems fairly 10 arise
isom the part they have taken in he affairs
ei a nation, whose history, when it shall be
ssript OF iiias familiarity which belongs to
actual observation, and contemporary knowl-
edge, viii seem incredible AS ifths world
had not been already AuaiciQRtly astoaished,
we now behold the man VINO has erected
anahtary despotism upon the ruins OF all an
tent dynasty, entering into affinity with a
snrone, which generals and armies, seua-
tors and consuls, and he himself The most
Conspicuous figure among them, have, for
years, been traa.pling under their feet. Ye
WAC have followed this snadnan" through
tae rapid stages of MS bloody career, with
% interest. borlering uPol alteration, allow
ne 70 suggest one shor5 lesson--pe coasis-
'e"t- See If Won can place together Tie dis
sordaat characters OF Republican General
~ evolutionary times, and, when events IA
FoFed eleva;icn. FIRST Consul, Emperor,
N'ns. And lastly, witi respect to religion,
" fHassulnass IN Egypt, Catholic in France,
and thsoughout the world, Gy tang, thai
might best secure The - rs of absolute ar:a
Universal dsnlins,ion. r.
sAMulL P. s THarcaEs, was aar;,,ed
81 Attorney at the az Ap,l ,erra II YORK