Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1826-07-08

| other nations Of the earth, IN the rights OF con-
science. IN the endowment Of religious freedom.
Here we see every sect worshipping the author
of nature. according to the dictates OF consci-
ence, no one daring 20 disturb another, and all
uniting in society in social and harmonious
Friendship. What would be the emotions OF
furious zealot of the 10th century, who had as
sisted in lighting up Sm'thheid with the flames
Of nersecution, who believed that ne was propit'
iatine his Maker, by roasting his fellow being
in ,be Gre because he differed with him in opin-
ION in matter of conscience, could he be per-
mitted TO visi, this world again and witness the
happy condition Of the United States under her
laws Of universal toleration1 To See on Sab
bath Day, in one Of our large cities, the numer-
Gus denominations Of religious sects, repairing
to their different places of public worship, and
all unmolested pouring forth their prayers to the
Almighty Ruler OF the Universe. and extending
to each other afterwards the hand % brotheriy
! friendship? Should he contrast this scene with
those he had witnessed in his day, during the
,hroes and commissions of the ancient world, &
the agonising spasm of infuriated man seeking,
! through blood and slaughter, his long lost ioer-
ty, in what language could he do justice to the
author of these bl, ssings we enjoy, were he per-
mitted 10 feel and think like rational being?
| lido not know any subject that is so curious
and so interestingto the human mind as the his
tory of man in different ages of the world, as
connected with his religious opinions: In other
words, the history OF the christian religion
| from its birth to the present period. How
strange and unaccountable, that system of mo.
| raj conduct which inculcates, peace, charity,
and good will to all mankind, whose autborwas
an example Of meekness, humility and benevo-
lence, should have been made the pretext OF the
mos, horrible enormi,ies that have ever been
practised in the world. "There is no human
| depravity which can equal revenge and cruelty,
| when covered with the mantle Of religion -
| =" Human nature appears, not on any occasion
SO detestablc, and, at the same time, so absurd,
as in religious prosecutions, which sink men be-
low internal spirits, in wickedness, and below
! the beasts in folly" These are the sentiments
Of an elegant writer aud a wise philosopher
What, for instance, can strike the mind with
more horror than the picture Of Galileo's sut-
ferings and torments for his sublime dscove-
res in astronomy, in the brightest age of litera-
ture in modern Italy? This great and immor-
lescope, confirmed the system Of Copernicus,
and unveiled to man the mysteries Of the hea-
venly world He discovered mountains in the
ANl
satellites of Jupiter-spots in the Sun-the
phases Of Venus, and the rotation Of the Sun
upon its own axis. For these important disco
veries, which have given such delight to all the
friends of scence-for thus holding up the
lamp Of knowledge TO benighled world" he
was summoned before the inqusition, COM
manded to renounce his horrible heresisS, and
thrown into prison, where he suffered long
and loathsome confinement: And, in relation TO
him, the following decree was promulgated to
the disgrace Of the are in which he lived "To
saw that the Sun is in the centre, and without
loo al motion is a proposition absurd and false
in sound philosophy and even heretical being
expressly contrary 10 the holy scri Pture and 10
say that the Earth is not placed in the centre Of
the Universe, nor immoveable, but that it has
so much as diurnal motion, is also proposition
false and absurd in sound philosophy, as well
as erroneous in the faith" The absurdity, the
folly and stupidity Of superstition and fanati-
cism, is no where more strikingly illustrated
than in thi. single fact. Had the genius of
Raphael, l would select this incident in history
for the employment ofmy pencil. would plant
Calico in prison, suffering the torments OF the
inouistion for his sublime discoveries in astro.
nomy, and Jefferson should appear upon the
canvass holding before the world his redeeming
act of religious freedom. 1t would be more af-
fecting to my mind than the picture of the ex-
lied Marius seated upon the ruins of Carthage,
associating his own adverse fortune with the de-
cay Of that celebrated city, and Illuminating on
the downfall Of empires and the heeting glory
Of man. In the history of the aged warrior, we
admire the spirit as well as genius which dicta-
ted his celebrated reply to the officer, who ask
ed him what he should say TO the governor who
had directed him in his forlorn condition to
leave the coast of Africa. Go tell him you
have seen the exiled Marius sitting upon the
ruins If Carthage" thus reminding him bNthis
happy association of the uncertainty Of his own
power. Butwhat sympathies can we feel for a
ruthless tyrant who had deluged his country in
blood? Although he had fallen from the height
Of power, and was wretched wanderer in q
foreign land, can feel nothing like compass
sion for him, however much we may admire
the genius Of the painter in the picture he has
drawn of him But in rejecting upon the fate
of Calico, all the finest feelings of the human
heart are excited, and all our Indignation rous |
ed against the superstitious ignorance and ~
ranny by which he was prosecuted.
When we see the spirit Of religious intoler
ance producing such iniquilies, how grateful
should we feel to the liberal and enlightened
men of America, who have freed US from its in
6uence?
Luther, Calvin, Cranmer, and Knox, the great
in thpir