Northern star, and Warren and Bristol gazette. [volume] (Warren [R.I.]) 1826-1830, 1826-12-09

= The following Remonstrance wa
written by James Madison, Esq. to tn,
Legislature of Virginia. During ttt
session ofthat body in 1884. bill wa.
Introduced into the house Of delegates
providing for the legal support Of teach
srs of the Christian Religion and. be.
ing pstronized by the most popular tai,
ents in the house. scented likely to OBJ.
tain minority Of votes. In order IL
arrest its progress, II was insisted with
success, that the bill should be post.
poned until the ensuing session, aud,
IN the mean time be printed for pub.
lick consideration. That the sense of
the people might be the better called
out, it was thought ADVISABLE that a
rcmopstrance against the bill should be
prepared for general circulation and
signature, and the task Of drawing such
paper imposed on Mr.. Madison. The
draught was SO extensively sigacd by
people of every religioas denomination
that al the ensuing session the pro-
jcctel measure was entirely frustrated.
For richness in ideas, closeness Of
reasoning, and Eberality Of thoaght
and sentiment, we have never seen
any thing on the same subject, equal to
it. 1t is worthy the attentive Perasal
. OF ali.
A MEMORIAL AND REAoNs TRANCE.
We, the subscribers, citizens of the
commonweaitn of Virginia, having ta-
ken intQ serious consideration, bill
printed ~ 0sder Of the last session of
the genesal a5SeIhbIy, entitled Ia bill
e;tsblishins 1 Psoviaion for the ,eachers
OF the christian religion. I" and conce.y.
ing that The same, il finslly armed with
the SANCTIONS Of Law, will be danger
Gus abuse OF p ,wer, are bound, as faith
fal members Of a free state, to remon-
strate aga'ns' it and to declare The
reasons by which we are determined
We demonstrate against the said bill,
Because, we hold il for fnodamen-
tal and uadeniable truth, that religion.
or the duty wuich we owe 10 our Gre
ator, and the manner Of discharsing it,
Can be directed only by reason and
conviction, not by force or violence
The religion thea Of every man must
be leA to the conviction and conscience
OF every mau and it is the right of
every man 10 exercise il rs these may
dictate. This right is, in its nature,
an unalienable right. tits uualienabe
because the opinions Of men, depend
ing only on the evidence contemplated
in their own minds, cannot follow the
dictates OF other men 1t ia unalieDa-
bic, also, because what is here right
towards men, is duty towards the Gre
ator. 1t is the duty OF every man to
render to the Creator such homage,
and such only, as he believes to be ac-
ceptable TO him TINS duly is precedent
both in order Of time, and in degree Of
obligation, to the claims Of civil society.
Before any man cau be considered a
member Of civil society. he must be con
slderel as subject OF the Governour
OF the Univ rse Aad il member Of
civil socie y, VIZ enters into any sub
ordinate assor,.t % must always do il
with reservation OF hi, duty to the
general aiinoritl mucn more must
every mai who become member OF
any particular ciyii society, do itwIth .
saking of his alagacrto the Univer-
raj Gregg" We main ain, therefore
tina ~ matters OF ilg'on. 40 man's
right is Ab sed by toe 'n,u dt'on oi
cisft'so aud that rsil lion Is who'-
lyeSeupi iron lis cognizance. Ifue