The Rhode-Island Republican. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1809-1841, 1815-07-05
Fran ne F.fisEeid San.
CLERICAL. INTOLERANCE.

from our Republican friends in Dalton. and as AYERS,
! as We may be, to spreading the flame OF religious
| discord, after unprejudiccd peruss', We cannot
| deny il place in our eolufhs The envenomed
| spleen Of some of pulpit psrtizans, has contri
| buted more TO opening the Aoodgates of nfdelity
than any other act Of immortality ia the present age
In the revolutionary war the clergy OF NewEngland
were decidedly American; but how mournfui IS The
contrast between their conduct in that contest, and
the one just terminated.
With some honorable exceptions, they havc--rais-
ed their sacrilegous hands against that country, and
against that cause, for which a Pike, Lawrence,
and Covihgtcn cheerfaily died Had they been
governed by the principles Of honorable opposition
had thry raised their voices in sincere and humble
prayers for the conversion Of their political oppo-
nents, it might have excited our pity, but not our
indignation.
That the bgottest enthusiast in politics or relig-
ION will find his own violence recoil upon himself
yet when consider the former influence and res
pect attached 10 the clerical habt-when We consid-
er that vast majority Of the ciergymen, lawyers,
and merchants Of New England have sided with the
enemy IN the late contest, We really wonder that the
republican phalanx OF farmers and mechanics has
SO long remained unbroken. We have neither time
nor room for a full expression OF our thoughts on
this subje9i and conclude With observing, that not
withstanding the degenersUon oi our clergy, there
are yet characters among ths IN. who adorn. and
shed brilliant ustre on the cause Of q martyred
Saviour.
The Congregation vs the Priest.
There are occasions when MEN OF dignity,
of feeling, and of virtue, are compelled to a.
poligize for chas,ising the insults which bi.
gotry, ignorance, or folly have offered. Gus
tom IS The lazv ofohinion ; and tho good sense
OF our country had early established the Gus
tom of deeply respecting the holy ministers ct
God. Their prccepts and their examples
formed the basis Of social order, and protect
ed whatever was worthy in the community a
gainst the frc,ful insoencc Of impie'y or the
licentious insults Of crime.
The opinion springing from this custom
demands without hesitation, as Improper aud
oft times as impious, all attempts, to scorn
the bigotry, display the ignorance, or laugh
al the folly OF the man who wears the symbols
OF god!iness, or bears the commission ot the
Lamb Men, therefore, VINO reverence and
respect the gospel, who arc moral from hab.
il, and pisus from principle, have difficult
task to perform in abjuring :hs mingled he.
resies of priest.
We believed these prel mary ena'ks
necessary TO fair introduc,,on 10 that Pnb'ic
to whose candid judgmen; ve aumhly sob
nit our cause.--We are repgo!icans--ou'
principles are drawn from the oeturai rights
Of our government Many Of as sGed our
blood in the var Of the revouiion and many
of US have grown up under the coHsecrated
spirit Of that contes,--such are oC principles
e We are inhabitants Of the ,owc vi Dalton,
and as such have for many years contributed
TO the maintenance Of the Rev. Mr.. JEN-
NINGs. -
We have Withdrawn from his support, and
for that we have been censured..
That we may vindica,e ourselves, in some
degree, from the vile calumnics abroad, we
submit the following as among the reasons
which persuaded us TO the step we have taken.
We agreed TO suppor, Mr.. Jennings as a
minister Of the gospel but he has departed
from "the high vocation whereunto he was
called" In his zeal 20 prop the crumblInS
pillars of party, he has lost the priest IN
tho politician, and forfeited all pretepsions
to our friendship. We have no objections to
the Parsons turning patriot, and preaching
to his humble followers from tho tex, Of his
political crced--but, sve do ocject 10 receiving
as goshei has ute denuneiafioas Of The besf
men Of the country and quietly pocketing
the base and indecent insults, which his ig-
norance or maze violence may offer 10 the po-
litical party of which we are members.
In the PULPIT he has SAID, that II oil
democrats svere nor Horse Zh'eVes, al Horse
Thieves gvere demoe, ats !!'
Now, candid rcader, wna, thin. YOU of
this If in the viIesi sink of pollution, in
the loathsome mansion of riot and drunken-
ness, you should hear reciing, oloa,ed mis-.
crcsnt profanc the whole republican party by
so foul reproach, would not your pity for
the wretch give way to your indignation at
the charge IL SO, transfer the scene to the
holy altar, and receive the reproach from the
minister, mingled with tho devoiions to that
God, who has commanded his followers to
{" sheak peace 10 aN men -
This, then, is one of the many insults We
have received. But one mere shall be Sc
lected. On the day of National rhanksgiv-
log for the glorious peace we have conquer
ed, when Republicans were disposed to ex.
,.rd ,he hanl of friendshi, IN their politiraI