The Portland gazette. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1818-1824, 1819-10-21

pay somewhere for il or TO compel towns
and parishes to support religious instruction
We have, (said Mr.. w. already adopted
every safeguard against oppression. we
have provided that there shall be no prefer
ence of one sect to another and have secured
religious freedom in IFS fullest extent; and
there we are to stop. Religion IS certainly
cot only valuable in itself as il respects The
prospects OF our future welfafe but it is con
ducive TO the best interest nt c.i society
The government which sv gmiHirtered Is
best and government c3.uot bz tvel' >inis
tered where the morals OF MY. uaov ". and
their rulers are corrupt; and in a ay can
we be sure Of good morals withou, e aid Of
religion. Ii not only inculca:es the best Of
principles, but rvets them upon the mind. Il
is the duty therefore of civil government, 70
adopt the best means for the preservation Of
the morals of the people. We all know the
effects Of virtuous education We have all
experienced the utility of public religious in
structon The early Instructions we receive
in private & inpublic sink deep 10 the youth
full mind /; and grow with their growth aud
strengthen with their strength. Ifthen, morals
depend on religion, and the support Of civil
government upon morals, is it not the duty #
every goverpment, by all suitable means to
uphold and Encourage the institution, for pub
lie instruction in the principles of religion
What would be The situation of any govern
ment without religion How much depends
on the obligations OF an oath What, but for
this, would be the situation OF our tribunals Of
Justice Without this sanction they would
be but engines OF oppression. Shall civil
COVE nment then, the administration of which
has It's basis in religion, refuse to it the aid of
its encouragement VIII you lie the hands of
your Legislature, and deprive it of all power
TO promote your best good ?
The alarms OF my colleague, continued Mr..
w. are groundless. am astonshed that he
should no. discern what will be The import of
this article should this amendment be adopted.
No single provision taken by itself, and dis
connected with every other, but may be dis
torted, and made what, if taken in connection
with the residue, it would not mean. Let
this amendment be. adopted, and the posi-
bility OF an undue exercise OF power will, by
the provisions already adopted, be so guarded
that this amendment will but furnish salutary
power, which ought 10 be lodged some where.
Pious donations may be made TO societies and
acts of incorporation of Trustees for their man
agement may be necessary without which
the benevolent intention OF the donors cannot
be carried into effect, And shall your Legs
ature afford them no aid y? And is il intend
ed that the Legislature shall never aid 10 the
cause of religion, for fear it will abuse the
power
The argument of the gentleman from Alfred,
(Mr. Holmes) would 70 TO the destruction of
all power in any body ofmea whatever. There
is no power but may be abused. Yet we are
about to entrust our Legislature with our lives
and fortunes. II may create offences and an
mex penalties in any number & to any degree
And, yet, you cannot entrust il with po4,er 10
encourage and uphold religion power which
never has been abused under the constitution
of Massachusetts, and (which we may safely
calculate will never be abused under our own
Are we growing less enlightened and less lib
era Can we doubt that our Legislators
men of our own chusiDg--who must be sub
lect TO the laws they mske-who are 10 be e.
Iected for short periods md are then TO re
turn to the mass Of the peope--can we doubt
that the power to encourage. and uphold the
institutions for public instruction would be
safe in such bands
Mr.. w. said he believed he had never been
suspected or accused Of religious bigotry or
intolerance-that from experience and OBJ
cory tiop he had been AIDE to believe tbs
support Of any sect or denomination Of chris.
tians, seriously believed to be such, would he
preferable 10 the support of no religion. He
would therefore cheerfuly afford them, all,
equal encouragement and support. Although
religion, as it respects individuals, may be
question between man and his maker, civil
society, nevertheless, as such, may and ought
TO derive from it every possible advantage.
consistent with the rights of conscience With
this view, IL with no other. it is the FIRST duty.
of every government 70 encourage, uphold and
maintain it: Mr.. w. hoped, therefore, that
an amendment so innocent, and intended TO
confer power 50 desirable, encircled as it
would be by so many barriers against an a.
buse of it, would not be refused TO thi. con-
stituion.
After some desultory conversation on the
subject Of Mr. Whitman's amendment, a vote
was taken and it was lost. adj.
WEDNESDAY, oeT. 90.
COL .aherton, of Prospect, proposed the
following article TO he adopted into the Bill of
Rights. viz Ne law shall be made by which
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