Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1826-07-17

OF civilized man:--Sounded In tue ears Vi "
rants, thew shall trembe on theirthrones-while
man, so long the victim of oppression, awakes
from the sleep of ages and bursts his chains.
The day is rapidly approaching, prophetic
tongue has pronounced it, ito some nations soon.
er, to Others later, but finally to all, when II VIII
be made manifest, that the mass OF mankind
have not been born with saddles oil their backs,
nor fayoured few booted and spurred ready to
ride them Iegitimately, BY the grace OF God.
Already has this great truth aroused the one
halfofihis continent from the lethargy in which
i, has so long reposed. Already are the peans
of liberty chaunted from the Gulf OF Mexico TO
the Rio de Ia Plata. and its affairs are erecting
on the ruins oil a supersticious ldolatry. A
mighty spirit walks abroad upon the earth,
which shall in its onward march oyerturn prin-
cipalities and powers, and trample thrones and
sccptres in the dust. And when the happy era
shall arrive for the emancipation OF nations
fastened on as it will be by the example OF A
merica, shall they not resort to the Declaration
Of our Independence as the charter OF their rights
and will not its author be hriled as the benefac-
tor Of the redeemed.
But my countrvmen, this state paper Is not
the only testimonial which he has left Of his de-
votion to the rights of ms Where should
stop, were to recount the multiplied and vari-
Gus acts Of his life all directed to the security
of those rights. The statute book Of this state,
almost all tina, is wise IN policy or sanCthed by
Justice bears the impress Of his genius and fur
nishes evidence Of that devotion. | choose to
present him TO YOU in the light of a mighty re-
former He was born 10 overurn systems and
pull down establishments. lie had more dii-
icult task 10 accomplish than the warrior III the
embattled field. He had 10 conquer man ana
bring him to true knowledge OF his own dignity
He had to encounter prejudices become venera-
BILE by age,-to assail errors in its strong places
and 10 expel it even from its Businesses. He
advanced TO the charge with bold and reek-
less intrepiditv, but with calculating GOODNESS.
The declaration Of which l have Jast spoken
had announced the great truth that man was
capable Of self-governmcnt, but 1t still remained
for him 10 achieve conquest over an error
which was sanctiitd by age, and fortified by the
preiudices Of mankind. He dared TO proclaim
the important truths "That Almighty God had
created the mind free; that all attempts 10 III
huence it by temporal punishments or burIhens,
or by civil interpretations, tend only to beget
hypocrisy and meanness, and are departure
from the plan Of the holy author ofour religion,
who being Lord both of body and Ct mind, yet
chose not TO propagate il by coercions on either,
as was in his Almighty power to do; that the
impious presumption of legislators and rulers,
civil as we'll as ecclesiastical, who being them
selves but fallible and uninspireG men, have as
sumed dominion over the faith Of others, setting
up their own opinions and modes of thinking
as the only true and infa,lible, and as such en-
deavoring to impose them on others, hath es-
al rale
the greater part Of the world and through all
times" "That truth is great and will prevail if
left to hersef--that she is the proper and sufii-
Gent antagonist Of erroS, and has nothing to fear
from the conflict, unless by human interpretation
disarmed of her natural weapons, free argd-
ment and debate, errors ceasng 10 be. danger
Gus when it is permitted freely TO contradict
them" This is the language Of the Bill estab-
fishing religious freedom, and is to be found on
our Statute Book: how solemn and Sublime and
how transcendantly important, are the truths
Which it announces TO the world. What but
his great and powerful genius, coald have con.
templatcd the breaking asunder, those bonds in
which the conscience had been bound for cen
turtles? Who but the ardent aud devoted friend
Of man would have exposed himself to the thun-
der and dcnunciation of the church throughout
all CnttStSDCOn ny dreaming iHNO llS WY oauS
tuary and dissolving its connex!on with govern
ment' If he consulted the page of history he
found that the church establishment exercising
unlimited control over the conscience, and I'M
locking at its pleasure the very gates of heaven
to the faithful Gevotec, had in all ages governed
the word--that kings had been made by its
thunders to trcmble on their thrones, and that
thrones had been shivered by the lightnings Of
its wrath. In casting his eyes over the face Of
the globe he beheld il is true the mighty spirit
Of Professionalism walking on the waters, but
confined and limited in its empire, and even its
garments dyed in the blood of the martyrs
Over the res. of the world he beheld the rcl
gion of the meek and blessed Redeemer, con-
verted into superstitious right and locked Up
in a gloomy and ferocious mystery. The SEN
tence of the terrible Inquisitor sounded in his
ears, followed by the clank Of chains and the
groans of the victim. Ifhe looked in the d.
rection from whence.the sound proceeded he
saw the fires of the auto de ie consuming the
agonized body of the offender, and thus finishing
the last act Of this horrible tragedy. He felt the
full force of this picture, and regardless of per-
sonal danger, set about the accomplishment Of
the noble purpose Of setting free the mind. He
who had so much contributed TO the unbnding
Of the hands Of his countrymen, would have left
his work unfinished il he had not also unietter-
ed their consciences. True he had in all this
Il l.. l. raF