The Rhode-Island Republican. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1809-1841, 1826-03-02

INSERTED BY REQUEST. I

INSERTED BY REQUEST.
The following is an extract from Mr. TysonN
Speech on the " Jew Bill, in the Legisla-
ture Of Maryland.
Their defendants, from generation to
generation, for twenty centuries, have been
the victims Of q persecution, unparalleled
in the history of any other people. incy-
cry nation under heaven, by every sect
they have been imprisoned, tortured and
massacred-sewcd up in the skins Of wild
boasts md thrown to the dogs in Asia
chained to the CALLING car for life in Africa
burned to death in Spain --faycd alive
in ltaly--flceccd and sentenced to bansh-
rcnt from time to time IN n.England---plung-
cd into the catacombs in Francc---knouted
IN Russia, or driven to perish in the wilds
Of Siberia. Is not this enough
10 was only few years since that q
poor Jew III Polish Lithuania, was condem-
ned to be tortured to death on account of
his religion. They cut off his hands, and
then thrusting the bleeding stumps into
q pot Of boiling pitch, called upon him to
recant. lie only exclaimed, Oh God of
Abraham. have mercy upon theml oh God
OF Isaac! have mercy upon them! Oh God
of Christ! have mercy upon them; and then
expired. Which of these Mr.. Speaker was
The christan?' The records (may | say) of
Heaven will bear testimony in favor Of TIE
Jew.
Ought not the world to be tired Of such
scenes? Shall wc instead of eXecratng
them, join in the fell spirit by which they
are prompted? We Join this spirit if we
deny them the rights of freemen--the un-
alienablo rights of human nature. We do
deny them ,hese rights, when we refuse to
pass the bill now upon your table. by the
constitution of our and their country. by
the constitution of human nature, are they
entitled 20 those civil and religious privie-
gcs, which this bill is intended to confer
upon them.
AS the data upon which found this po-
>sition, refer you to the immortal instru-
mcnt which preserved to us the like pr-
,ileges, when the hand of foreign domina-
tion was raised TO crush them. | mean the
charter of our. Independence. ave hold
these truths to DC selfevident--that all
men arc created equal" The Jews are
men. therefore created your equals-but
do you treat them as such? No.--For you
say, they are unworthy to sit by your side
IN the administration of n free government
---"And endowed with certain unalicnable
rights. That among these are life, liberty.
and the pursuit Of happiness. But you
have curtailed them of their libcrty--you
have hindered them in their pursuit ofhap-
pincss; the best of all kinds of liberty, re-
lgous liberty: aud the purest Of all sorts of
happiness, eternal happiness. " For the
preservation of these, governments are in
stituted among men, But your govern
ment is instituted for their destruction.
You have put them under the ban OF the
republic. Deriving their just power from
The consent OF the governed. They never
gave you power To deprive them Of their
civil and religious privileges. The people
of Maryland Cd not surrender to the con-
vention who framed their constitution the
right TO control their consccnccs. They
could not surrender it, because 1t was an
unalienable right.
Sir, do you acknowledge the force of
this sinstrument Your articles of conlcd-
Grafton arc founded upon il; and your exis.
teuce as a state in this great union, Is found
ed on the articles Of confederation Ii is
component part Of the constitution of
that union, and endowed with its power.
In opposition 70 every state enactment,
this power is omuipotcnt. The clause
therefore denying civil and religious free
dom to the Jews, is expunged from your
constitution. The bill now on your table
gives to that people no new rights, it mere
ly preserves to them rights which are im-
mutually and unalienably theirs.
Sir. If you continue TO enforce this out
lawed clause ofyour constitution, YOU rear
up with the hand of arbitrary power that
worst Of monsters, a religious hierarchy.
DO not the words frighton you? and vet
q they are true.--Thc principles upon which
you upheld even the pure christian religion
TO the exclusion of every other, are the prin-
siyIcs which. uphold the inguisi;os.al &c.