Martinsburg gazette and public advertiser. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1826-1833, 1826-07-27
MARrINsBURG, VA THURSDAY, JULY g. 1926


sancti6ed BY justice bears the impress OF his
genius and furnishes evidence OF that devotion.
choose to present him to YOU ~ the light of
mighty reformer. He was horn to over,urn
systems ard pull down establishments. lie had
= more ditiicalt task 20 accomplish than the
warrior in the embattled field. lie had TO con.
quer man and bring HIM 20 a true knowledge
OF bis own dignity. lie had to encounter pre-
JUDGES become venerable by age,-to assail
errors in its strong places aud to expel 1t even
from its Businesses. He advanced TO the charge
With bold and reckless intr,pidty, but with
a calculating c0olness. The declaration OF
which have Just spoken had announced the
great truth that man was capable ct self tgov.
eminent, but Il still ren FAMED Tor him 10 a.
cheve conquest over an error which was sane
tiled BY age, and fortified by the preIudces of
mankind. He dared 10 proclaim the impor.
tan, truthsr'rhst Almighty God had created
the mind nee; that al attempts 20 influence !;
by temporal pun,shmen's o. burthens, or by
CIVIL interpretations, tend only to beget hFpo.
cfisy and mssnnt s, and a departure from the
plan OF the hol, author OF our religion, vino be.
Ing Lord both OF 5oly AID OF mind, set chose
rot TO propagate II by ooereious on either. as
WAS IN has Almighty power to d, that Tie iCl-
pious presumption ct Legislators and rulers, CT
selves bat iallhle ani uninspired men, have
assumed dominion over the tal'h Of others, set.
ting up their own opinions and modes of think.
ing as the only true and inialhble, aud as such
endeavouring 10 impose them on others, bath
established and maintained false religions over
the greater par, 81 the world and through all
time" 'Thlt truth - gre y will prevail i left
to herself that she is the proper and sufficient
Antagonist of error. and has nothing to fear from
The conflict, unless by human interposition
disarmed other natural weapons free argument
and debate, errors ceaelng TO be dangerous
when it is permitted freely TO contradict them y
This IS the language OF the Bill establishing
religious freedom. and is to be found on our
Statute Book how solem and sublime and how
transcendently important, are the truths which
it announces to the world. What but his
great and powerful genius. could have con-
tempated the breaking asander, those bonds
in which the conscience had been bound for
centuries? Who hu, the ardent and devoted
friend # man would have exposed himself to
the thunder and depunciation OF the church
throughout all CHRIS end ON by breaking into
its very sanctuary and q solving its connexlon
with government Ifhe consulted the page Of
history he found that the church establishment
exercising unlimited control over the con.
gates Of heaven to the faithful devotee, had ia
all ages governed the woTld-thst kings had
been made by It's thunders 10 uembe on their
thrones and that thrones had been shivered by
the lighnings Of its wrath. IN casting hs eyes
over the face of the globe he heheld II is true
the mighty spirit Of Protestant sFn walking en-
the waters. but cophned a. q uU5! c. ~ its S'ss-
pire, and even It's garments dyed IN the blood
of marty Ts.---Over the rect OF the world he be-
held gbe religion of the meek and blessed Re
deemer. converted into a supersttlous right
and locked Up in gloomy and ferocious mystic
ry The sentence Of the terrible inquiaItor
sounded in his ears, followed by the clank OF
chains and the groans of the victim. 1.-The look
ed in the direction from whence the sound pro-
ceeded he saw the fires of the auto de Re con.
ssming the agonized body of the offender, and
thus finishing the last act of this horrible trage.
DIV lie felt the force of this picture, and re-
gardless Of personal danger, set about the &C.
complement of the noble purpo.e of setting
free III, mind He who had so much contribu-
ted 10 the unbinding of the hands OF bis coun.
trymen would have lett his work unfinished IT
he had not also unfettered their consciences.
True he had in all this great work able coad-
tutors, who. like himself, had adventured all
for their country---but he was the great captain
who arranged the forces and directed the as.
sauIt. Let it then be henceforth proclaimed
10 the world that mans conscience was created
free-that he is no longer accountable to his
fellow man for his religious opinions being res
ponsible there for only 10 his God-that it is
impious in mortal man, whether cloathed in
purple or in lawn, TO assume the Judgment seat
that the connexion between church and state
is an unhoiy alliance, and The fruitful source OF
slavery and oppression-and let 1t be dissolved.
What an imperishsble monument has Mr.. JET.
ierson thus reared to his memory, and how
strong are his claims to our gratitude. When
from every part of this extended republic the
prayers and thsnksgivings OF countless thou
sands shall ascend to the throne of grace, each
bending at his own altar, and worshipping his
Creator after his own way, shall not every Up
breathe a blessing on his name, and every
tongue speak forth MS praise' Yes, he was
born blessing 10 his country, and m the fun
ness OF time, shall become blessing to man
kind. He was indeed. precious gift--a most
beloved refoFmer. Shall we not then, while
weeping over his loss, offer thanks 10 the giver
% every perfect gift, for having permitted him
TO live.
But, my countrymen, we have st;h further
reason for the deepest gratitude. He had not
vet finished bis memorable efforts in the cause
of human liberty-,he Temple had been rear
ed, but it was yet exposed to violent assaults
from without Those principles which in for.
mer ages had defeated the hopes of man, and
had oVerthrown republics, remained to be hunt
ed out, exposed and guarded against. The
most powerful Of these WIS the concentration
and pespetaation OF wealth in the hands Of par
ticular families, and the creation thereby OF an
aristocracy. The fatal influence
Of this principle had been felt in All ages and in
all countries The feelings Of pride and hsugh-
iinass y.hich u.ealth IL so well calculated to en-.