Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1816-05-15
VIRGINIA ARGUS.
.Ne dIspafes iamais, 60 sonpenf .hgc1ne-.
Richmond, .WaY Is. 1916.
LNTOLERa.MCr.

=
We have often fcrvently thanked heaven FIR
having graci 'usly condescended to place us IN a
country which possesses over all Countries al
least, one species of indlsputable superoritv--
We mean ex ensive religious, as well as DoI,t,csl
freedom. We cannot, however, extend tn ali
the individuals who cOmnose our variegtted no.
pulatIon the PRAISE Of intellectual liberaIity n
is true that the peaceabie, meek, and bensvo.
lent disciples of William Penn, are no LONGER
hunted,perSecu d IA rasSed IN any part of these
happy regions-No longer do the grim sDeo,reg
OF witchcraf delude the fancies, and. bv their
magic touch, steel the hearts of our Fns,ar,
Ire'hren-On every honest cheek, bjnsb an.
pears at the very mention of the gibbets which
were once erected, as bloody affairs to tbose
maleyoient Detles; in short, IT is for us. az
people, 5ust subject of exultation aud pride that
we know neither the fires, nor the chains. nor the
whips ofthe inquisition--that Religion stands
here on the only footing on which il ought 10
stand, ITS intrinsic beauty, indestruct,bIe tr,,tb
and divine origin Yet, there are, even arnone,
US, individuals who do not participate in the ere.
neral emancipation and liberality of rniod. Tbey
degrade the majesty Of Religion hy imagining
That It stands IN need other puny efforts To re.
pei the assaults of its enenies--They do more =
They arrogantly assume the functions oF the
DEITY himself, by passing "a rash Judgment ON
the motives, views, and objects of their FeIloy
Creatures. Whenever science sheds on any inte
resting subject its bright rrradiationsZnov
whenever modest research steps forth with :,
humble taper, they INN edatelv take the alarm
and sound he tOcsin offlnatcism They are ,,re
cisely such men as compelled Cal leo 10 abiure
on hrs knees, theory which is now uu;,,ersaIi,
admitted-that ofthe double motion of iIe I'll,
Eppure, 81 muaue Ia terra 7 exclaimed the inJig.
nant sage, whist asserting, through violence +,
what ne Knew TO be false Truth finally tr;,,rnrb
Ell, and the shame has remained with ts absurl
and tyrannicai enemies, the Inquisitora .Tbsse
are 'he men who, even now, rashly and virulent.
~ abuse the late venerable B,sfop uad;go1
man whose active pety and unshaken r,;,b 1,e
intimately knew.--His successor, the pre,ep,
President Of William and Mary COLLEGE nr
A Smith, has himself been attacked bv tbos.
men.--In the Introductory Lecture winch he 40
livered 1903, as Professor Of Anatomv aud Co.,
geTy,in the University of N. York, he had occse;,,
to examine the opinions ofa Gentleman of ,bo
same name, WIN has long presided over the Col.
iege az Prillce'on, respecting the causes of The
VaTieues OF colour &c. which the human race
exhibits. The Anatomist did not al al ,orr.
With The Divine. Hence SUBSEQUENT cbaros -
imPiety was leyellcd at him With incred;b1,. q,
ry-a charge so lilberal and so revolving IN itseir
mat Mr.. Walsh The eloquent Editor of the 4
merican Review, with equal justice, warntl
and ability, gave vent to the ind oyna,,a,
which it had excited in his breaq; ar',
which It was, indeed, Calculated 10 excite I,
every honorable and enlightened mind -.
Thus is violence offered to the rights of fro,
Enqulry--Tbus are he channels of inf .rmalion
obstructed investigation disc0uraged--;rnprove
meat and knowledge checked in tier proyress
me citadeis OF true Religion arc inezp1guable-
what have those QuKotic champions of Christi.
ani'y to apprehend for It's cause few vesrs
since, Mr. Dell published in Philadeipb,,
. work which re consider as a mere rbsnso'
dy from beginning to end--one Of his tenefs Il
that tie werld IS selfcreated-lt was enough 70
laugh At the absurJny. However (uUon ne AN.
thority OF what law, weare yet TO learn) the baHl
S'azy seolog'st, was, we t5h1, prosecuted by the