Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1811-08-05

or Observation-Disclosures. Upon this point wish to
he distinctly understood don't conceive this 60 he
the spirit oi existing law, ol the duty of
this act upon that principle in the way COM
tcndel for. In times. thank God now past, the
laws would have warranted such doctrines. Those
laws owed their existence 10 unfortunate combnati-
ons OF circumstances TINT thought render
them necessary is',t If VIC look back with sorrow
~ their enactment let Ms look forward with Kindness
aai grat'tlle to their repeal. Produced Inv nation
al calamity, they were brought by national bencvo-
Fence as Scll as by national contrton to the altar
OF public justice and concord, and there offered as
s2oIfkSc TO atore, to heal, and to concatc, to
store social Confidence and to give that hope of
prosperity and safety which no person ever had or
Ss'ed to have except where IL is founded COM
manitv OF interests and perfectly aud equal
participation OF Just rights and consequent contr-
hutton of al the strength OF all the parts equal
~ Interested in the defence of the whole.
know they have been supposed originate in
religious higo,rv-that is religious yea: carried 20 ex-
ecSs-I never Thought The real spirit ofour lio-
" religion is too incorrNptbly pure and bcnefcient
IN lie dcpravcd into any such excess. Analysc the
hgots object, and he takes nothins from re-
hcioa butah,msy preteNt in the proclamation of its
name; he PROCESSES the correction of error and the
Propagation OF truth. But when he has gained the
victory what are the terms he makes-for himself !
Power and profit. What terms docs he make for
religion Profession and conformity. What is that
Profession I The mere Utteranec of the Eps-the
uttcrnce of sounds, that after apus.ton or two ny
audible. What is the conformity Is ii the plac-
tee Of any social virtue CHRISTIAN duty Is il the
forgiveness OF injuries, the payment of debts, the
practice of charity? No such things Ii is the
performance of some bodily gesture or attribute
Iii going to some place Of worship. 1t is 10 stand
or ERccl, or To bow To the poor box, but il
Is cot conformity that has any thing 10 do th the
judgment, OF the heart, or the Conduct All these
thugs hgotry NEEDLES not with, but leaves them to
religion herself to perform BigOtry ohly adds one
mare, aud that very olious one, to the numher of
these human stains, which it is the business of true
religion, not to burn out with the bigos fire. but to
expupge and wash away by the christians tears
Such invariably in all countries and ages have been
the motives TO the bigots conflicts, and such the IL
ses otis Victories; not the propagation oil any OPT
mon, but the engrossment of power and punder-of
homage and tribute Such, much fear, was the
real origin of our popery laws But power and
privilege must necessarily be confined very few.
In hostile armies YOU find them pretty equal, the
Nctors and the vanqulshed in the number OF their hos
pi,als and in their zcal il is with nations; the
great mass despoiied and degraded, but the spoil
itself is confined tofew indeed. The result finally
can be nothngb but the disease of dropsy and decep-
tude In Ireland this particularly the case Re
iigion WIS dishonored, degraded, aud social
affections were almost extinguished A few, very
lew prohted BY this abascment of humanity. ,
but let 1t be remembered, with a just feeling OF
grateful respect TO their patriotic and disntercsted
virtue, and for this purpose that have alluded as
have done, that thatfew composed the whole power
of the legislature which eoncurred in the repeal of
that system and left remaining OF it not ediice to
he demolished but mere heap of rubbish unsightly
perhaps pernicious, to be carried away 1.-THE repeal
OF those laws had been mere abjuraton of ntoicr-
ance, should have gwen il little credit The grow
ing knowledge of the world, particularly of the sis
Ter nation, had disclosed and unmarked in tolerance
had put IT to shame and consequently to fight !
:" Bat the public opinion may prescribe intolerance
II cannot take away powers privileges established
by law Those powers OF exclusion and monopoly
eoGid he given up ouly by the generous renquisli-
n'cnt OF those repe ling statutes. Those lovers &c
Their country saw the public necessity of the sacri-
nee, and most disinterestediy did they make it, II
TOO, they have been singular in thsvirue, they have
been singuariv fortunate in their reward L., zen
eral the LEGISLATOR though he sows the seed of pub
lie good, is himself numbered with the dead before
harvest can be gathered. With us il has not been
so-wIth us the public bcnefactors, many of them
at least, lived to see the blessings Of heaven upon
their virtue, in uniformly aceelerang progress of
industry and comfort, and iberaty and social afec-
ton, and commonintercst, such / do believe
that any age or nation has ever Witnessed
ouch do know was the view, and such the hope
with which the legislature, now no MORE, procee-
ded SO far as they in the repeal of those laws so
repealed And well 10 know how warmly il Is now
remembered by every thinking Catholic, that a
sugie voice Tor those repeats was or could be given
except by protestant leg sator With infinite plea
sure 90 also know and feel that the same sense
OF justice and good WILL which then produced the
repeal OF those laws. is continuing to act ard with
increasing energy, upon those persons in both eoun-
tries whose wistion is likely to explode whatever
principles dictated by bigotry OF folly and to give
currency and action to whatever prnciplei wise and
sanitary Sneh also know to be the feeling of eve
~ court in tins hall IL is from the enlarged and
humsniscd spirit oflcaisaton that courts of justice
ought to take ther principles ofexponndng law. at
another time should probably have deemed il right
20 nave preserved more respectful distance from
some subjects which have presumed, but certainly
with the best intentions, aud hope with no uhbe-
coming freedom, to approach. But see the inter.
est the question has excited and think II right TO
~ no person carry away with him any mistake as
10 the grounds Of my decision, or suppose that il is
ei4er the duty the disposition of our courts to
make any harsh or Jealous distinction, in their Judge
mcnt founded ON any difference Of religious sects or
tetet think, therefore, the motion cught to be
refused, and think myself bound 20 mark sti more
strongly my sense of tS improperly, BY refusing it
WITH PULL COSTS