American watchman and Delaware advertiser. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1822-1828, 1826-11-21

power, are bound, as fai,hlul members OF Tree
State, to demonstrate against Il and to declare the
reasons by which we are determined We remon
strale against the said Biz
Because, We hold it for fundamental and unde
niable truth, "tha Religion or the duty which we
owe to our Creator and the manner OF dscharging
it, can be directed only By reason and conviction
not BY force or violence.'* The Religion then oil
every man mus, be left TO the conviction and con
science of every man; and it is the right of every
man 10 exercise it as these may dictate This chi
is in its nature unaenable right. 1t is snalicna
Bile; because the opinions OF men, depending only
OIL The evidence contemplated in their own minds
cannot follow the dictates Of other men: II is una
lenabe also because what is here right towards
men, is a duty towards the Creator 1t is the duty
Of every man render to the Creator such homage,
and such only he believes TO be acceptable to him
this duty is precedent, both in order OF TING, and IN
degree Of obligation, to the claims OF civil society
Before any man can be considered member oil civil
society," he must be considered as subject OF the
Governor of the Universe: And il member oil
civil society, who enters into any subordinate asso
citation, must always do it with reservation OF his
duty to the general authority much more must
every man who becomes member of any particu
lar civil society, do it with saving Of his allegiance
10 the Universal Sovereign. We maintain, there
fore, that in matters OF religion, no mans right is
abridged by the institution OF civil e-cety and that
felieion is wholly exempt from its cognizance.
True It is, that no other rule exists. by which any
question which may divide society, be ultimate
ly determined, but the will of the majority but il
also true, that the majority may trespass on the
rights of the minority,
Because, L! religion be exempt from the aulhori.
ty of the society large, still less be subject
10 that Of the Legislative Body. The latter are but
the creatures and vlcegerens Of the former. Their
jurisdiction Is both dcrivalive and limited--lt is
united with regard to the co ordinate departments
mote :cessarily is il limited with regard 10 the
constituents. The presei WALTON Of a flee govern.
ment requires not merely that .e metcs and bounds
which separate each department OF power be nva
tIably maintained; but more especially, that uei her
Of them be ed 10 osereap the great barrier,
which defends the rights oil the people The
ulers who guilty Of such encroaoh ment,
exceed the commission .rom which they derive their
authority, and lyranis The people WIZ Sub
mi. 10 il are governed BY laws made neither by
themselves, nor BY an authority derived from them,
and are slaves,
Because, Il is proper 10 take alarm al The first ex
pertinent OH our liberties. We hold this prudent
jealousy TO he the FIST duty Of citizens, and Of
the nohlest Characteristics Of tie late revolution.
The reemen Of America did not wait Till usurped
power had strengthened itself by exercise, and en-
tangled the gu stlon in precedenls They all
the consequences in The principle. aud they avoided
the consequences by denying the principle We
revere this lesson loo much, 70 forget it,
Who does not see that the same authority which
an establish Christianity. in exclusion Of all other
Religions, may establish, with the same ease, any
particular sect Of Christians in exclusion Of all other
sectss That the same authority which force a
citizen to contribute three pence only of his proper.
" Ter the support oil any establishments NAV
force him 70 conform to any other establishment in
all cases whatsoever!
Because. The bill violates tina, equality which |
ought to be the basis OF every law and which is |
more indispensable. IN properties as The validity or
expedlency OF any law is more liable to be impeach
I'd. II : all men are by nature equally free and in |
dependent,'f all men are TO be considered as enter |
ing into society on equal conditions, as ienquish- |
ing no more, and therefore retaining no less one
han another, of their rights. Above ALL are they
to be considered as retaining an "eqaat title 10 the
Tree exercise OF religion according the dictates Of
Whilst We assert for ourselves
freedom TO embrace to profess and 10 observe the
Ielgon which We believe 10 be OF divine origin, we
canno, deny al equal freedom to those, whose minds
have not YET yielded TO the evidence which has con-
sinced US. II this lteedom be abused il is an of.
ence against God, not against man: To Cod there.
tore, not TO men, must an account Of it be rendefed
As the bill violates equality by subJccting some 10
peculiar burdens; 50 il violates The same principle
BY granting 10 others peculiar exemptions. Are
he Quakcrs and Menonists the only scots who think
. compulaive support Of their religions unnecessary
and unwarrsntable! Can their pety alone be in,
lusled with the care Of public worship? Ought
heir religions to be endowed, above II Others with
.xt aordlnary privileges by which proselytes NAV
Dc enlieed from all others We think too iavorably
u the justice and good sense Of these dcnomna
ions, 10 believe that they eli her cove pre- eminen.
'es over their fellow citizens, that they will be
'educed by them, from the common opposition to
he measure.
Because, The bill implies, either that the Civil
Magistrate is a competent Judge Of religious truth !;
'r that he may employ religion as an engine OF ci
'bsH ie