Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1826-07-14

,il.A ieS.uuiasely, oy me grace oil God. - Area
dy has this grea, truth aroused the one half of this
continent from the lethargy in which il has so long
reposed. Already are the pGsns of liberty chaunt-
ed from the Gulf OF Mexico TO the Rio de La
fiata ana ITS affairs are erecting on the ruins of a
superstitious idolatry. \ mighty spirit walksa-
broad upon the earth, which shall in its onward
march overturn principalites and powers, and
trample thrones and sceptres in the dust. And
when the happy era shall arrive for the eman-
cipation oil nations, fastened on as it will be
by the example of America, shall they no, re-
sort 10 the Declaration of Independence as the
charter OF their rights, and will not its author be
nailed as the beneiactor OF the redeemed
BUT my countrymen, this state paper is not the
only lasting testimonial which he has left of his
devotion to the rights of man. Where should
stop, were TO recount the multiplied and various
acts of his life, all directed to the security of those
| rights: The Statute Book of this State almost
all that Is wise in policy, sanctf cd by Justice
pears the Impress oil his genius, s. furnishes evidence
OF that devotion. / choose to present him 10 YOU
IN the light OF Mighty Reformer He was born to
ovetur systems, and to pull down establishments
lie mad more difficult task accomplish than the
warrior IN the embatlled field. He had to CONQUER
man and bring him TO true knowledge of his
own dignity. He had TO encounter preiudices be-
come venerable by age-to assa error in its strong
p!aces' anu to expel II even from its lasnesses-
re advanced 10 the charge with bold and reck-
less in'repidity, but with calculating coolness-
me declaration OF which have Just spoken had
| announced the great truth, that man was capable
oil self government; but il still remained for him
10 achieve a conquest over an error which was
sanctiisd by age and fortified by the pre,udices
OF mankind. lie dared TO proclaim the important.
Tu'h- hat Almighty God hath created the
| mihu Tree; that all attempts TO influence il by
temporal punishmenis, or burthens or by civil
nc"pae""'ions tend only TO heSet hypocrisy and
! me'hhess, and are departure from tie plan of
the ho!N author OF our religion yyLo beins Lord
ooth OF cody and OF mind yet chose not 10 propa-
gate IL by coercons on either, as was Sin his Al
! mighty fower 10 do that the imDious oresunn-
non oil Legislators and rulers civil as ~ ell as ec-
cesiastical, who being themselves but fail,ble and
! uhinspired men, have assumed dominion oyer
| Inc faiih OF Others setting up their own opinions
anu modes OF thinking the only true and infal-
libie, ana as such endeavorng to i,npose them on
o'her-, hath established s. maintained s.lsc religions
over the greatest part OF the world and through ell
ume. Ahat truth IL great and will preyau if
Ieit 10 herself; that she is the proper and Sufficient
ht"soh'St 10 error, and has nothing 10 fear from
me conflict, unless, by human intcrposition. dis
armed al her natural weapons, free argument and
debate, errors ceasing 10 be dangerous when il is
permitted freely to contradict Them Tbi. is tbe
language OF the Dil establishing Religious Free
dom, and Is TO be found on our Statue Book
how solemn aud sublime, and how transcendaotIv
important are the truths which il announces to the
worid. what but mis- great ard powerful genius
could have contemplated the breaking asunde
those bonds in which the conscience had been
bound Tor Centuries! Who bu, the ardent and de-
voted friend Of man, would have exno,ed himself
TO The thunders and denuncaicn oil the church
throughout all Chrstendom, by breaking into its
very Sanctuary and dssolving its connection with
government! II he consulted the page of his
tory, he found that the church establishment. ex
ercI-lng unlimited conuoul over the conscience
and unlocking, at its pleasure the yery gates nj
Heaven TO the faithful devotee. had in all ages
governed the world That Kings had bes,
made by ITS ihunders TO trembie on their thrones
and that thrones had been slvered by the light;
ninSs OF its wrath. In casting his eyes over the
lace OF the Globe, ke beheld il is true The niob,,
sp'r oil Professionalism walking on the waters. but
c"hhhed ana limited ~ lis empire, and even its
garments dyed in the blood OF the martyr. Over
the rest OF the world he behed the religion of the
meek and blessed Redeemer, converted into =
supersi:ious rite and locked up in a gloomy and
ierocous mystery. The sentence oil the terrible in
qusitor sounded in his ears follow ed by the can,
OF chains and the groans of the yic;im II no
looked In tie direction from wkcnce the snpnd
proceeded, he the fires OF the The auto 10 g.
CONSUMING the asonized body OF the offender and
thus finishing the last OF this terrible raredv
lie ieit the full force OF this picture, and regard
piishmen OF the noble purpose of setting rec the
mind. He who had so much contributed IN ,bs
unbindiBg oil the hands of his countryrnen vvouId
have left his work unfinished If lie had no, aIso
unlettered their consciences. True he had in all
this great work able coadjuiors who, like himself
had adyentured all for their country, but he was
the great Captain - no arrayed the forces and III
Fected the assault. Let it then be hencefortb nro
| claimed 10 the world Tat mans conscenra ,,,,s
cre'ted free that lie is no longer accountable IN
1 his fellow man Tor his li.iols Opinions. heinz,
responsible therefor only to bis God-;hat j, is inn
pieus in mortal man whether clothed in pprple or
| IN lawn, TO assume the judgment seat, that the
| connection between church and State is an unboIr
| alliance and the fruitful source Of slavery and on
pression; and let it De dissolved. What an imna.
rishabe monument has MIR. Jefferson thus reared
10 his memory, and how strong are bis claims 10
our gratitude. When from every part of this OK
tended Tepnolic, The prayers and thanksgivioa Of
countless thousands shall ascend to tie Throne NJ
Grace, each bending at his own altar, and ,yor-
shipping his creator after his own way, shall NOT
every lip breathe blessing bis name and every
! tongue speak forth his praise? Yes, lie was b,rn
a blessing 10 his country and in The fulnes. of time
shall become a blessing to mankind lie was in
deed, precious gift, most beloved reformer.
! Shall we not then, while weeping over his loss
offer thanks 10 the gver OF every perfect elf, for
having permitted him to live?
But, my counlrymen, we have still further rea-
| son Tor the deepest gratitude. He had not vet fn
sned his memorable Efforts in the cause of human
liberty. The temple hal been reared but il was
yet exposed 10 violent assaults from vi,hop, :
Those principles which in former ,sc- lad defeated
the hopes OF man, and had overihrown republics.
| remained to be hunted out, exposed and guarded
! against. The most powerful of these was The
concentration s. perpetuaon Of wealth in the hand,
oil particular iamies and the creation thereby Of an