Portland gazette and Maine advertiser. (Portland, Me.) 1805-1818, 1816-06-11
LdtilTe.

>. htSpetoHg HtS cHdfSc " Puf es"o
zig ard Intolerance an TIE Legs
ldture.
This body are accused of endowing the lns'iu
ton of Andover. They nerer gaze Il q ee1d he.
haye as in other cases. limited The sum II IS permit
ted receive from other sources al has been ed-
bowed solely by the munifcence Of individuals.
The Legislature are accused of granting 10 the
same institution extraordinary Potrers Nots sin'
ge power is given 20 It's rdstees or Instructors,
Nhich is no given 10 Harvard Williams, and Bow
dom Colleges not ere which is not claimed by
the BAPTIST Literary and theological Institution.
They can manage their funds, support their .ineors
aud INDECENT students, and require O. The put
piis good conduct end ATTENTION 20 The ea.rcss~
But they cannot bud the conscience, ior ,mPo|
their sentiments upon any. They eanEel iices.
tArr students to preach after they have completed
their studies binder their iniradac,ion 10 the
ministry even if they should deeni them heletcs'
nut sTuITTIIrs d1 70 III mt
usual method. They alpiy 10 any association
they chuse. either taiviaistic Arlninian or So
cinan;" nor are they in the leas, restrained If
they prefer taking cence from Bapust churches,
as some actual cases testify. 1t is difficult 10
| esige hat great injury this a. monied n...tuipn'
| is likely 10 produce can one imagine where
| TO look for is extraordinary powers.
| The Legislature accused OF endowing Earv-
ard University. answer, ii is made their duty by
the Constitution. Aud as il is for the benefit Of
general literature and Baptsts, or any Others who
shuse, may enjoy the benefit there seems to be no
valid objection TO it.
| The only ahjection therefore appears TO be that
this kindness has been eactusire that the has
been withholden from baptist institution. But
the other institutions are open to all whereas the
Baptst institution i. exclusre intended for building
| up that den omjhatioh and that Of the Methodsts.
! Perhaps therefore the Legislature might properly
have hesitated to afford legal support TO such an
! ertipSire object. But they hare mol wthoden il.
! hat institution is Incorporated. And Mr.. owen
csnddly and voluntarily states that he resived sup
port from Congregatonalists both in committee
and in the House, and saw no Indications of par.
| tal or ntoleraut spirit.
! The Legislature have given TO the Trustees
township of land, with The liberty Of selecting il
Tor themselves. They intend TO plaee the COLLEGE
in the town, which will enhance the value If Their
| ian,is and sill doubtless chuse such a situation
Gf they have not aIreadv) viii be highly bene-
fcal TO both objects This grant, il is believed, is
all the Trustees petitioners have ak d for
| Ii Is probably as mach as is usua given to
institution in similar circumstances. And eh.a it
is considered that this is literary" institution in
part, and that there previously College ~
the District, open TO all and sufficient for all fer
many years to Gene, We may ior exouer
atiug the Legislature from the charge ofintoier
anCe aud exclusion. If not for censiiring them
for mn excess of liberaty. feel no disposition
TO bring The latter charge against the Rulers OF the
people but presume il is evident toalI that Pc
titiou from tongregaionaIis,s for another College
I in Maine would have been refused at the time that
! OF the Baptsts was granted.
| The Legislature are accused of acting an exclu-
sive ana oppressive part in forming their punish
laws. ifit We're true that they favor the Gongre-
gationa any other denomination to the injury OF
IL
and the rights OF the people both as citizens and
as christians But it i nOttrue; aud il is time the
subject better understood.
I he observance OF the Lords day and the public
instructions Of he gospel ministry are necessary
secure TO people the protection OF God and con.
duce more to the welfare OF society, than all laws
aud public regulations could do without them.
Acquainted 9Th this fac., aud intent the public
good, the Legislature provided that each town Of
sufficient ability should maintain preacher.
8 4 he Baptsto admits that the teachers of religion
should be supported And in this civil point Of
view there can be no objection TO requiring the
people to pay them. Ii is as proper to take their
money for this purpose, de to>take il 10 endow a
College, or an Academy, or even Baptist Inst,u.
ton as proper as 10 require every town TO sup
port schools maintain hshw avs or any other thing
Which conduces 10 public aud private benefit.
but in securing the support OF such beneficial in
stutions OF religion, il is necessary guard the
rights of conscience, and prevent any ercisirs priv,
ilegts and Bsurpations. In securing one object,
the Legislature did not lose -,sht OF the other.
hey require that the religious Ca, her should be
chosen BY the people in each town which OF cour,e
is done by majority. he minority in such eases,
if true patriots and christians, will be willing 10
submit TO some Inconvenience, and even pay for
the support of " HON they do not aitogs Their
approve, for the sake of the public order and hap
riness nor does their case differ materially from
that Of miuorites in elections aud in ell her town
and state Affairs. Many in every place proba
bly, obliged every year 10 submit To- expsnccs, and
to the crossing of their wishes by the decision of
| a major pari of their fellow citizens. And .hey
submit cheeriuIy because, without adhenng to
the rule that the majority shall decide, there could
be no order in society no enjoy ment OF the right OF
suffrage, no republican government, no liberty J;
but anarchy and confusion.
However, in case of religious Institutions there
are facilities afforded for the relief OF nnorlies,
atieh are Roi az other cases Ii minority in any
town, eonscentionsly differing frsm the majority,
or belonging to another sect are sufficiently
GU, and able 10 form another society for public
ship they have full liberty to do it, and usually
ready cncoura cement from Legislature in respect
10 incorporation. Besides This il early pro-
vided by law that indiriduals should be excused
froa, ministerial taxes by producing cert Gates from
other teachers that they usually attended with
4 them I il NOT paS m enueeiXa n cathulle