Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1826-11-08

his alegiance TO the Universal Sovereign.
maintain, therefore, that in matters OF reisio"
no mans right is abridged by the institution =,
civil society; and that religion is wnony
from its cognizance True it is tnat no o. INV
rule exists, by which any ques.oa Wiz
divide society, can be ultIma'ei! 49,. ,nne
but the will of the majority; out 20 a;m,,,s &c
that the majority may trespass y" WV
| the minority. e,o,, tho an
,han;.,. 80 ,ls soc;ety at large, still less can IT
No s.h;sot - thar fthe Legislative BODY ne !.
- 80 hnt ,be creatures and vlcegerents OF
~ far,ner Their jurisdiction is both deriya-
80. IA limited 1T is limited with regard 70
-. .o.ordinate departments: more necessarily
:. :, limited with regard TO the constituents
Tho preservation of free government requires
| -, MERELY tha. the metes and bounds which
ee,,ara,e each department OF power be lnvaria.
blr maintained: but more especially, that neither
&c them be suffered TO overleap the great barrier,
which defends the rights of the people. The
rulers who are guilty Of such an encroac hment,
exceed the commission from which they de-
rive their authority, and are tyrants The peo-
Dle who submit 10 it are governed by laws made
neither by themselves, nor by an authority de-
rived from them, and are slaves.
Because, ii is proper to take alarm at the first
experiment on our liberties We hold this
prudent ie alousy to be the first duty Of citizens
and one of the noblest characteristics of the
late re volution The freemen of America did
not wait till usurped power had strengthened
itself by exercise, and entangled the question in
precedents. They. saw all the conseq uences in
the principle, and Ney avoided the consequent
ces by denying the rinciple. We revere this
lesson TO much, sooh too forge, it,-Who does
not see that the same authority which can es-
'tablish Christianity, in exclusion of all other
Religions, may establish with the same ease,
any particular sect Of Christians, in exclusion
of all other sects? That the same authority
which can force a citizen to contribute three
pence only Of his property for the support of
any one establishment, may force him to con-
form TO any other establishment in all cases
whatsoever.
Because, The bill violates that equality which
ought 10 be the basis of every law; and which
is more indispensable, in proportion as the va
lidity or expediency Of any law is more liable
10 be impeached If "all men are by nature E.
qualy free and independents all men are
to be considered entering into society
on equal conditions, as relinqulshlng no
more, and therefore retaining no less, one than
another, of their rights. Above all, are they to
be considered as retaining an "equal title to the
free exercise of religion according to the die
tates of conscience" Whilst we assert for
ourselves freedom TO embrace, to profess and
TO observe the religion which we believe 10 be
Of divine origin, we cannot deny an equal free
dom to those, whose minds have not yet yield
ed to the evidence which has convinced us. If
this freedom be abused, it is an offence against
God. moi against man: To God, therefore, not
10 men. must an accoun, of lit be rendered. AS
the bill violates equality by subjecting some to
peculiar burtlens so it violates the same p:lncl-
pie, by granting 10 others peculiar exemptions.
Are the Quakers and Menonlsts the only sects
who think compulsive support of their rell-
gions unnecessary and unwarrantable? Can
their piety alone be intrusted with the care OF
public worship? Ought their religions TO be
endowed, above all others, with extraordinary
privileges, by which proselytes may be entlced
from all others? We think too favorably OF the
Justice and good sense of these denominations,
to believe, that they either covet pre-eminences
over their fellow citizens, or that they will he
seduced by them, from the common opposition
TO the measure.
Because, The bill implies, either that the CT
vii Magistrate is a competent Judge of religious
CINE of civil policy. The first is an arrogant
pretension, falshed by the contradictory OPT
Mons of rulers in all ages, and throughout the
world: The second an unhallowed perversion
of the means Of salvation
Because, The establishment proposed by the
bill is not requisite for the supper, of the Chris
tian Religion. To say that it is, is contradic-
ton TO the Christian Religion ITSELF for every
page of it disavows dependence on the pow.
ers of this world: II is contradiction TO fact;
for i, is known that this Religion both existed
and flourished, not only without the support OF
human laws, but in spite of every opposition
from them; and not only during the period OF
miraculous aid, but long after it had been left
to its own evidence, and the ordinary care OF
Providence: Nay, it is contradiction in terms;
for a Religion not invented by human pohcy'
must have pre-existed and been supported, oe-
fore it was established by human policy II IS
moreover TO weaken in those who profess this
Religion, a pious confidence in It's innate eA,
celIence, and the patronage of Its author; and
to foster IN those who still reject 1t, suspicion'
that it's friends are TOO conscious OF Its falacies,
n trust it to its own merits.
p.,es Fxner;ence WitneSseth, that eccle-