Alexandria gazette, commercial and political. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1812-1817, 1813-02-25
From the, BosTos PALLADloA'
~. a,,.r,.,s. denuaenton Of the 'DA'ls
body Of The Clergy, as A0elle'' ana
hrotaaer. of the Sabbath
COMMONWEALTH OF MAZDA
CHUSETTS.


House Of Representatives. ee'' -.
Wb.rea. BY the third section OF the
DECLARATION of Rights, in the consotu-
ton of this commonwealth, IT Is s'le. 49,.
" inculcated, that the happiness OF the
people, the good order and preserVa.'on
If government, essentially depend upon
Piety, Religion and Morality:
And whereas it has become cos.o:n
almost universal with Clergy OF .",'
commonwealth, to profane the Holy
Sabbath, by introducing into their pun.
pit. political discourses, often taIss Al
their premises, imaginary In assert'oos'
inHammatory in their tendency and a.
ways offensive to real Piety, and totally
destructive of Religion and Morality
Di.courses, which, so tar from ADOPT
ing the heavenly doctrine OF peace On
earth and good will to men, awaken dof.
mant enmities, destroy the hrst x gFea,
connecting principle OF society," soclal
feeling, and render Gods earthly THRONE
an arena of the fcrcest passions Long
experience having evinced, that the
Priesthood in all ages have erectea
themselves into political dynasty under
the sanction of Religion, and have thus
become coordinate branch OF the civil
government and this has arisen from
their influence over the minds or the
people-an influence sometimes honest.
ly gained over rational mlnd7-but OIL
ton corrupt influence, falsely obtained
for political purposes, under the dark
cloak of pretended Piety, over fear and
superstition, in moments OF human inhr-
nifty. In Republic like this, whers
popular opinion governs the common
wealth, where public opinion aions
moves the wheels of e. 'ernment, 1t IS
all important, that the minds OF men
should be free and unfettered, and that
they never be subjected to state OF
passive obedience and non.resistance-
Hence it has become necessary, nay,
more, i, has become vital 20 the lnte-
rests of the commonw ealth, that the
Clergy, who, during six days in the
week, have an opportunity OF dissent.
mating their political principles, should
not, ON the Sabbath, without some re-
straint, proclaim temporal politics, un-
der the sanction of divine authority.
This evil having become the more
alarming, since the clergy, although
they differ among themselves in religl'
Gus principles, much more than either
of the learned professions differ in the
elements of their respective callings-
yet, as it regards hatred and opposition
10 the Administration of the Govern
ment OF our beloved country, their union,
their confraternity, their cooperation is
so unexampleI, and their zeal so inexo-
rao!e, that the great body of the Clergy,
if not united in religion, are so far unit
ed IN politics. as TO threaten to become
a new power in the state unknown to the
constitution, while their mighty iniiu-
ence in society collecting itself On the
Holy Sabbath TO point, gives them an
opportunity, amidst unhsiowed appeals
to Heaven, to riyct their chains on an
un"esisting audience
Therefore mopsd, That committee
be appointed to consider the expediency
Of permitting any individuals, in de-
cent and orderly manner, to answer,
correct. or explain, any part of a poli,i
cal discourse delivered on the Sabbath,
which may BE esteemed false, seditious,
or inHAmn,atory-with leave to report
by dill OF otherwise.