American watchman and Delaware advertiser. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1822-1828, 1823-01-10

tate al numbering his reputation by falsehood o,aH
This should have taught the Atorp.s
General circumspection in giving credit to anv =.
presentations unriendy to his character that rno
have reached his ear. IL does not appear, thouS,
from the effort ne has recently made, to dscrtI,
and disiranchise him, that he was inspired with h
caution, which might have been expected from HI, /
prudence. II would seem as if he had listened WIKI
unusual attention 10 the slanderous communicative
lot his adyeisaries or he would not have been I'm,
nishedwith matter, 10 draw up so formidable an art
Iol interrogalories against him. His inlorma,oT
must have been derived from that source, for with
the man himself he has had no intimacy or int,
course, SO as TO acquire such knowledge Of ri,
character, to induce him to suspect him Of Dis,
regard OF all moral obligation. When he CON-
menced his nqusltIon, be reckoned OF nothing les,
than liking on him the stigma OF atheism. In thu
he was disappointed. Nor did he succeed in extor.
Ting from him, The anticipated answer to a single
Iquestion that was put to him. Had his reply o,hp
last question proposed been in the negative had
he declared his disbelief in the immortality Of he
SOUL still he could not with Justice have been ora
nounced 10 te an atheist, having in his answer 10
previous question, acknowledged his belief in he
Deity. cant help feeling great surprize, there
tore, at the decision OF the Court after hearing hs
REPLIES.
Oh all the devices that have ever been rcsorted
to- for The exercise of tyranny aud oppression none
lis so unjust, SO unnatural, aud detestabe, as com.
lpeiling men TO accuse themselves by answering in.
lerrogatlons, which tend to their ignominy. The
mere putting Of such questions implies on the par,
OF the inqulsilor suspicion that they will be an.
swel ed IN manner, TO disgrace the respondent
And even when not SO answered, they have the ei.
iect to scandaize him.
No evil can result to society from allowing every
one the liberty OF indulging the utmost range Of
Thought oil which he is capable. Free thought has
10 unkindly influence on truth. Ii is the enemy Of
error only which inks from the ordeal of uyes,
|usation No one, then should be prosecuted for
his opinions however erroneous they may be So
long as reason is left free o combat them they may
be tolerated with safety The effect Of persecution
IS not to make men change their principles OF be.
ret but to cling closer to them. The efforts that
aase been made, IN every country where one creed
and one mode OF worship have been established, 10
produce uniformity OF sentiment in the article Of
religion have invariably failed; and for the pa;nest
OF all reasons, because men are born to think dlf-
lereny And why should they no. be permitted
TO think varlousy on religious as well as other sub.
lecls! 10 the common transactions Of life in mat
lers OF science, OF philosophy and government d.
'ersliy OF opinion has always been exercised, md
has been beneficial not detrimental to society. ljsd
ms principle not formed part in tie human com
position; had men been so constituted as to thing
all exactly alike, II would have been no Improve
ment OF their condition. There could have been no
motives to action, or they must have been very
sreaIv diminished; the consequence OF which must
nave been an abridgment Of human happiness
What would seem to super6cial mind 4 saurc. ~
hiehcity to man, has been implanted il his nature
lof ne wlses purposes, and like other dispositions
'nu propenstIes IN him, requires only to be placed
luaer me objection OF reason to work for his good
u thSse remarks be correct, the inference is una
'oiaaoie, mat nntil human nature undergo change
my attempt at Stacking and controlling private
sentiment or Judgment, is 10 itself absurd and can
never promote the course Of justice, the cause Of
FellBion, or any one interest Of mankind.
IN combating the decision oil the Court have
mad my eye steadily fixed on the constitutional nri
'"ese, "nich every citizen possesses Of examining
ne o"lGiai conduct OF men acting in public cspa-
guy me proceeding on which have animadyer.
-eo' ana attempted to argue, is one which IL uot
marked with the dsapprobation, that. in nv view
! merits, might become precedent for future and
uf'her nroads on the rights OF the CITIZEN. In the
observations and arguments have venlured on Of
e'inh' II mas been my aim TO be decorous and lem.
Pe' ave- wen knowing that The mind is neither to be
convinced, nor persuaded by acrimony in dsous-
non 10 assailng the opinions and conduct of such
l'sn ana potent officers as the judges Of the So.
ofeme Court, and the Attorney General NJ tho
ta'e' am fully apprsed of the responsihiltv
nave incurred, Al the attack has been wan,on. or
uch as The occasion did not justify. The rights Of
fellow citizen had, in my opinion, been vioIated
nat was the cause But whether 1t has been nro.
'eriy sustained; in other words, whether nv case
las been made out, is Tor enlightened public to