Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1818-06-19

| Its long established dogmas ought 10 be
respected. But il we extend this indul-
gence 10 every new opinion or wild inven-
ton of any particular sect, il may lead TO
the most dangerous and fatal errors. The
maxim of our republic, consecrated in
the act for establishing religious freedom,
is thai truth is all-poweriul in any con-
fiicts with error, a9,fess she as disatmed Of
ker natural nedponS, free argument and de-
bate" But she IS so disarmed, If her voice
cannot be raised where it may 30 heard,
aud If The press is closed to one side, while
The pulpit is open TO the other. We know
and feel the powerful influence OF this last
upon public opinion. Next to the press,
IL is the most formidable OF all auxiliaries
10 either good or evil, and within its par
iicular sphere of action, /; has even more
influence than the press itself. II then,
most un!iappily, ii should lend itself TO
error, what security have we against eve
ry species oftalse doctrine and ridiculous
pretensiep, other than the independence
of a press which will come fearlessly for
ward, and arm truth with her natural
and proper Weapons ? We hare none other
We should look for il, 10 the wisdom, the
prudcuce, the unambitious humility Of
The clergy, in vain. The ministers and
leaders of every religious sect have BEEN
at all times more or less fond OF the pos
session and exercise of p0per. Ii is nalu-
raj they should feel the same anxiety 10
extend their influence over the rest OF
mankind, as any other class of men; and
accordingly we find they have never been
The last in attempting TO acquire II. Con
uected with the civil authority, they have
uniformly prosecuted those who were I'M
fortunate enough TO differ from them in
opinion. Unsupported byii, they endea
vor 10 attain their objects by working on
The Tears, the feelings, and passions Of
men. No church is altogether free from
Tins spirit-tie, history of all proves It.
fhey have all been in their turns the OBJ
iects or the instruments OF persecution.
They have all offered human victims as
an acceptable sacrifice to the God of
inercy-and when the spirit OF the age has
dri, ell them from this abomnation, they
have all resoried to other eNpedients 10
tetter the minds and tyrannize over the
conscitnceS OF non coniormists. First
they used whips and dungeons, pains, pc
naliles and forteiures. The immortal
Locke opened the eyes of men TO the cru
ely, the injustice and ine!iicacy of these
attempts 10 produce" uniformity of opin-
ion, and They were necessarily relinquish-
ed. But one strong hold still remained
men might be governed by their hopes,
If moi by their fears and negation of
rewards could not be complained of as a
punishment. Of course the governing
sect was al liberty to mOnopoliZe all the
honors OF the state, and deny them 10
their opponents. From this, and as il was
supposed, their last entrenchment, they
were dislndged IN this stale, by the glori-
GUS act for establishing freedom, which
places all attempts 10 influence the mind
by . civil interpretations" on the same
footing with attempts TO influence il by
temporal punislments or burthens," and
Indignantly denounces &" The impious pre-
sumption of legislators and rulers, civil as
well as ecclesiastical. who being themselves
but .Jathtte and uninSpired men, have as
sumed dominion over the faith of others,
setting up their own opinions and medes
OF thinking as the only true and inJaihGte"
Seeing tllenthis tendency 10 mischief and
evil even in the best establishments, ought
any man TO he blamed for attempting TO
counteract II Is II enough to say that in
this country no such scenes can be re-
Pea,ed And are there no dangers TO be
apprehended here from puriians * bigots?
do nct affirm that they will ever again
have the same authority which they once
possessed. | no moi think it al all likely
mat III THIS enlightened age any Court of
High Commission can be instituted. or
solemn league and covenant renewed, or
InqulsitiOn established: but [ verify do
think that clerical influence NAV, even
here, be obtained, which if not resisted i'm
time, might prove fatal TO free and man
~ expression OF opinion fatal 10 The lib
erty OF conscieuce-and fatal 10 domestic
psace and happiness.
We have indeed heard in some Of our
SISTER states, OF the existence and effects
of this influence, and even in orr own, if
report is 10 be believed, il has reared 4
daring aEd presumptuous head. would
willingly conceal the facts which are said
10 exist i'll proof of this assertion bat
owe II to truth to state the prevalence of
a report, which heartily wish NAV be
proved 10 be without foundation" that
III certain parts of Virginia communi-
Giants of the Episcopal Church have not
only been sharply cbidden in private lei
ters by their Pastors, for daring to- differ
from them in opinion, but have, when
coming 20 the communion table, been
stopped with the question have youbeen
TO a ball or the theatre and if they an
swered IN the affirmative, refused admis
sion, until they had signed III the face of
the congregation promise TO abstain
from them III future; which fest ii is adj
ded, has been offered, and The promise
III that situation extorted even from young
inexperienced, unprotected females" If
these reports are true, il is time for those
10 besir themselves, who are unwilling
to be priest rlddeu-ObSfa principiiS, is
sound maxim applicable TO church or state.
WeoUgbtifwe wOuIdresist successfully, to
oppose The first encTOachments of power.
The oak IN Tie fable, which admitted
the small point of the wedge, soon paid
for his fenier,y by his Misunderstanding
men disguise their ultimate objects iinder