American watchman and Delaware advertiser. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1822-1828, 1826-08-01

the Declaration OF our Independence as The 49,
of their rights, and will moi its author BE- ba,al
the benefactor Of the redeemed!
But, my counrymen, this State paper ia mo-,
only lasting testimonial which he has left of bis wy
voiioD to the rights of man. Where should ,,a.
we're to recount the multiplied and various ars p
ms HE, all directed to the security Of those ti,bs
The Statute Book of this State. almost all ,ba,;'
wise in policy or sanc.ieed by justice, bears "a
impress OF his genius, and furnishes eyideneo" 1 y,
that devotion II choose 10 present him 10 VIM ="
the light OF mighty reformer. He was born ~
overturn systems, and to pull down establishment"
He had more difficult task to accomplish than ,s
warrior in the embatted field. He had to cono" m
man and bring him TO true knowledge of h;s nsa
dignity He had to encounter prejudces, becor"
venerable by ageto assail error in its stronp NJ.
ces, and to expel it even from its fasinesses' II.
advanced 10 the charge with bold and rec krss ~
,repidi,y but with calculating GOODNESS. Tbr d.
claration 0! which have just spoken, had anpounc
ed the great truth that man was capable oil self o.
vernment, butit still remained for him to achievp
conquest over an error which was sancifed by 40.
aud fortified by the preiudices Of mankind IT,
dared to proclaim the important truths, "tbat Al
mighty God na,h created the mind free, that all d,
"lemp,s to influence it by temporal punishment.
" OF burthsns, orby civil interpretations tend ouy IN
:" beget hypocrisy and meanness. and are a d.nor.
E" ture from the plan of the holy Author of our r..
"ligion, who being Lord both Of body and of mind
"yet chose not to propagate it by coercions On
"either, as was 10 his almighty power to do-,ha,
the impious presumption Of Legislators and ruler,
" civil well ecclesiastical who being bemsel,.
" but fallible and uninsprrd men, have assumed a..
" minon over the iaith of Others setting up their
Z" own opinions and modes OF thinking as me onlv
''true and infalible, and as such endeavorinp IN
" impose them on others, hath established and
" maintained false religions over the greatest ?ar,
" OF the world and through all time - "Tha, truth
sis gres! and will prevail if left to herse-,ha, she
is the proper and sufficient antagonist to error.
/" and has nothing 30 fear from The conflict, uoes,
!" by human in,erposilion disarmed oil her natural
" weapons free argument AID debate, errors cess.
(" ing 10 be dangerous when il is permitted ftey 10
T" contradict them" This is the language Of the
bill establishing religious freedom, and to be found
on our statue book. How solemn and sublime vnd
how transcenden'ly important are the truths wbth
it announces TO the world. What but his great and
powerful genius could have contemplated the break.
ing asunder those bonds in which the Conscience
had been bound for centuries Who but the ardent
and devoted friend Of man would have exposed him.
self to the thunders and denuncialoLs of the church
throughout all Chrstendom, by breaking into il,
very sanctuary and dissolvng It's connection with
governments If he consulted The page Of history
he found that the church establishment exercising
unlimited control the conscience, and unlock.
Ing at its pleasure, the very gates OF Heaven to Tie
faithful devoee, had IN all ages governed the world
, That Kings had been made by Its thunders 70
trembls their thrones, and that thrones had been
shvered by the lightninss of its wrath. In casting
his eyes over the lace OF the globe, he beheld IS
true, the mighty spirit of Professionalism walking on
the waters but confined and limited in its empire and
even its garments dyed in the blood OF the Marty.
Over The rest oil the world he beheld the religion Of
the meek and blessed Redeemer, converted into q
, superstous rite and locked up in gloomy and le
rocious mystery. The sentence Of The terrible in
quistor sounded in his ears, followed by the clabE
of chains and the groans OF the victim. If he looked
IN the direction whence the sound proceeded, he saw
the fires OF the auto de fe consuming the agonlzet
budy OF the OFFENDERS and thus finishing The last &C
OF this horrible tragedy. He felt the full lorce
this picture and regardless OF all personal danger
set about the accomplishment OF the noble purpose
of setting free the mind. He who had SO muc
contributed TO the unbinding of the hands Of NJ
:, country men, would have lett his work unfinished,
= he had not also uneucred their consciences. Iru'
he had in all this great work able coad]utors, wht
like himself had vrntured all for their country
but he the great captain who arrsyed the lorcs
;, and directed the assault. Let il then be henceoI'
proclaimed TO the world, that mans conscience wa
created iree-that he is no longer accountable
his fellow man for his religious opinions, oeh
= responsible therefor only 10 his God-lhat IL
" impions in mortal man, whether clothed in purp
. or IN lawn, to assume the judgment seat-lhal IN
connection between church and state is an unhol
alliance, and the fruitful source Of slavery and OF
!, PRESTON and let it be dissolved. What an impe
" ishablc monument has MIR. Jefferson thus reared
!, his memory, and how strong are his claims 10 OF
gratitude. When from every part OF this ex'snae
:, Republic, the prayers end thanksg'ings oil couo
less thousands shall ascend 10 the throne OF grac
:, each bending at his own altar, and worshpPlng
Creator after his way, shall no, every lip brea'
~ blessing on his name, and every tongue sPe'
forth his praise? Yes, he was born blessing TO .
country, and in the tullness of time, shall become