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

". Nv oe"cs tuic eAists, 10y WhIt
any question which may divide a so 81,
~, Can be ultimately determined, b,
the will Of the majority ;bat it is all
true, that the majority my trespass Q
E the rights ofthe minority.
Because,,T religion be exempt froi
the authorityof the society at large
stu less CAN 1t be subject to that Of Ii
iegislative body. The latter are bu
the creatures and d4sicege rents of,h 70
mer. Their jurisdiction Is both deriy
ative and limited. It>is limited with r
gard to the coordinate departments
more necessarily is it limited with re
gard TO the constituents--the preser
walton ofa free government require
uot merely that the Inetes and bound
which separate each department ofpnv
er be invariably maintained hut more
especially, that neither Of them be suf
tered TO overleap the great barriel
which defends the rights Of the people
The rollers who are guilty Of such al
encroachment, exceed the cofnm sion
from which they derive their authority,
and are tyrants. The people who sub
nit to it are governed by laws made
neither by themselves, nor by an su-
thority derived from them; and are
slaves.
Because. it is proper to take alarm
at'the, FIRST exPe iment upon our liber-
ties. We hold this prudent jealousy to
be the first duty of citizens and one OF
the noblast characteristics Of the Iafe
evolution. The freemen of America
did not wait till usnrped power had
strengthenedi.self by exercise, and en-.
tangled the question in -precedents.
They saw all the consequences in the
principle, and they avoided tie conse-
qnences by denying the princii lie. We
revere this lesson too much, sosn to
forget it. Who does not see that the
same authority which Can establish
Christianity, in exclusion Of all other re
ligions. may establish with he same
ease, any particular sect Of Christians,
in exclusion of all other sects +? That
The same authority which can force
ci,ize, 10 coutriunte three-penc only
of his properly for the support of any
one establishment. may force him TO
conform TO any oiher establishment 10
all cases whatsoever
Because, the bill violates that equal
ity which ought 10 be the basis Of eve.
ry law and which is more indispen-
sable, Ia proportion as the validity or
exPediency Of any law is more-iisbie 10
be Impeached. II call men are by
nature free and independent" all men
are to be considered as entering into
society on equal conditions, as relin- |
quishes no more, aud therefore retain
ing no less, one than anothep OF their |.
rights. Above all, are they TO be con-
sfdered as retaining an equal title to
the free exercise Of religion according
10 the dictates OF conscience" Whilst
we assert for ourselves freedom to
embrace. to profess and TO Observe the
religion which we believe TO be Of di-
vine origin, we cannot deny ain equal
freedom to these, whose minds have
not yet yielded to the evidence which
has convinced us. If this freedom bc
abused, 1t is an offence against God, not
against man. 10 God, therefore, MT
70 men, must an account Of it he red
Tered. As the bill violates equality by
'uhjecting some TO peculiar burdens
10 it violates the same principle, BY
granting to others peculiar exemptions.
Are the Quakers and Menonlsts the
,nly sects who thiuk compulsiye sup
port Of their religions unnecessary and
2 Can their piety a!oue
be intrusted with the care Of pubiick
worship2 Ought their religions to be
endowed, above all others, with extra
ordinary privileges, by which prose.
Iytcs may be enticed from all others
We think too fayourably Of the JUSTICE
and good sense of these denominations
10 believe that they ei'her covet pre-
over their fellow citizens, OF
hat they will be seduced by them, from
the common opposition 10 the MEASURE.
Because, the bi1 implies, either that
the civil magistrate is IA competent judge
Of religious truth or that he may EN-
ploy religion as an engine Of civil poll
cy. The tir-t Is an arrogant preten-
sons, f,lsihed by the contradictory o.
piuions Of rulers ip all ages and through
out the world. The second an uubai-
lowed perversion ofthe means Of cal
yaiion.
Because, the establishment p opposed
by the bill is not requisite for the sup
port Of the Christian religion. To say
thai il is. is a contradiction TO that re'
llg;on itself; for every page Of it disa-
vows Independence on the power. OIL