The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1810-10-19

ourselves freedom to embrace, to profess.
and observe the religion which we believe 10
he OF divine origin We cannot deny an equal
freedom to those whose minds have not We,
yielded to the evidence which has conyinc
ed US. II this freedom be abused. il is AN
offence against God. not against man. To
God. Therefore. and not to nan, must an &C
Count oft be rendered
l. as the bill violates equality, by subject.
ing some TO peculiar burdens so i, xio
la'es the same principleby granting to others
peculiar exemptions. Are the Ouakers 8,
nlenonists the only sects who think a CON
}Puisiye support OF their religions unns cessa
~ and unwarrantable ? Can their piety
lone be entrusted with the care of public
Worship? Ought their religious to be en-
lowed above al, Others, with extraordna-
ry privileges. by which proselytes NAV be
enuced from all others We think too fl
yorably OF the justice and guod sense of these
denominations, TO believe, that they either
coVet pre-eminences over their fellow citi :
Gems. or that they will be seduced BY them
from the common opposition to. the mea
sure, ,s
Because the bib implies, either that the
civil magistrate is competent judge of re
iig'ous truths. or that he may employ re'igi-
ON as an engine of civil policy. The first is
an arrogant pretension. falsifed by the ex.
traordlnary opinion of rulers, in allages. and
throughout the world the second, an un
haiiowed psrversiou Of the means Of salyati
on. y. >,
Because the establishment proposed by
the bill is not requisite for the support of
the christian religion. To say that il is. ia
a contradiction to the christian religion it
self tor every page of it disavows a Deepen
dence on the power of this world i, is. a
contradiction to fact, for it is knows that
inns religion both existed and 4 1urished not
only without the support OF human laws. but
IN spite OF every opposition from them and
not only during the period of miraculous aid.
out long after it had been left to its own
violence and me ordinary care of Providence !:
nay, 1t is contradiction in terms for
| rehSion not invented by human policy must
nave Pre- EXISTED and been supported, before
1t was established by hum IN policy; i, ia
moreover 10 weaken in those who profess
TINS religion pious confidence in its innate
excellence and the patronage of its author ;:
and to tosier IN those who still reject it, a sus
Ptcion that Its friends are too conscious of It's
faltacies, to trust 1t to its own merits.
| because experience witnesses that eccle
siasticai establishments. instead of main
tanning the purity and efficacy of religion.
nave had Contrary ope, alton. During al
most hi'een Centuries has the legal esta
l :.
what have been its fruits more or less in
/ all places. pride and Incidence in the cler
gy ignorance and servility in the laity in
ooth' superstition, bigotry. and persecution
enquire OF the teachers of christianity for
the ages IN which it appeared in it's great
est lustre those of every sect point to the
ages prior to its incorpor ation with civil DO
icy' Propose restoration of this primitive
state ~ which Its teachers depend on the
voluntary rewards of their Rocks, many of
them predict its downfall. On which side
ought their testimony to have greai est
weight, when for, or when against their in
terests =
because the establishment in question. is
no. necessary for the support OF civil gov
ernment. Ii IL be urged as ne cessary for the
support OF civil government, oaly as il is a
means OF supporting religion, and it be not
necessary tor The latter purpose, it cannot
be necessary for The former . IT religion be
nor .wlthln the cognzaDce of civil govern
rhent- how can its legal establishment be
sand to be necessary to civil governments p
What influence in fact have eccIesiast;ca
establishments had on civil societyp In
some instances they have been seen to G
rect spiritual tyranny on the ruins of the
civil u'horlty lii more instances have thew
oech seen upholding the thrones of political
tyranny inno Instance have they been seen
the guardians of the liberties of the r,eopIe
Rulers VINO wish to subvert the public Ii
oerty, may have found an established cler.
Sy convenient auxiliaries A lust goye rr
went instituied.tO secure aud perpetuate IL
needS tnem, no.! such a government will
De best supported by protecting every citi
zen IN the enjoyment of his religion; with
the same equal hand which protects his per
sou and his property by neither Invading
the equal rghtsof any sect nor SUFFERING
any sect to invade those of another. y
because the proposed establishment is a
departure IRON that generous policy, which
oHecing an asylum to the persecurs cd aud Cd
pressed OF every nation and religion pro
missed lustre to our country and an acces
sion TO the number of its citizens. What a
melancholy mark is the bill of sudden de
generacy' Instead ofholding forth an asy
ium to the prosecuted, it is itself a signal oI
persecution. 1t degrades from the eoual
rank OF citizens all those whose opinions in
religion do not bend to those of the lepisIa
i've authority. Distant as it may be- in il,
present form, from the Imposition. il diff.r
from u only in degree: inc one is the frs,
step, the other the last, in the career of,in
tolerance. The magnanim1us sufferer un
der the cruel scourge in foreign regions
must view the bill a beacon OH our co,st
| warning him to seek some other haven
where liberty and philanthropy IN their due
extent may offer more certain repose frorr
| his troubles,
Because it will have like. tendency tc
OdnlSh our Citizens I'hs ailurao.,,. -.