Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1826-07-08

the support OF dominant seC3 ~ hoi'e' -
widely he may differ from it in the tenets OF his
religious faith. S1ch is the absurd condition
of human society in every part OF civilized tu'
rope at this time, and such was Its condition IN
this country, until the religious bigotry and IN
tolerance which produced 1t, were torn up oy
the roots by the enlightened statesmen OF Anne
RIGA, at the head of whom was Thomas JEFFERSON
The arguments contained in the following
paper, were the weapons which he used In pro-
ducing this great change in our political con-
dition. y.
Preamble TO the 4ct establishing Religious Freedom.
Passed December 16. 1785.
"WHEREAs Almighty God hath created the
mind free; that all attempts to influence Il oy
temporal punishments or burthens, or by civil
interpretations, tend only TO beset habits OF
hypocrisy and meanness, and are departure
from the plan Of the Holy author Of our rel
gion, who being Lord both OF body and mind,
yet chose not TO propagate 1t by coerclons 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 themselves but fallible and unlnspred
men, have assumed dominion over the latin OF
others, setting up their own opinions and modes
Of thinking as the only true and iriaillole, ana
as such endeavoring to impose them on others,
hath established and maintained false religions
over the greatest part Of the world, land through
all time; that TO compel man TO furnish con-
tribulions of money for the propagation OF o.
pinions which he disbelieves, is sinful and ty'
rannical; that even forcing him to support this
or that teacher Of his own religious persuasion,
is depriving him of the comfortable liberty OF
giving his contributions to the particular pas
tor, whose morals he.would make his pattern,
and whose powers he feels most persuasive to
righteousness, and is Withdrawing from the mi
nstry those temporary rewards, which, pro-
ceeding from an appreciation OF their personal
conduct, are an additional inci,ement to earnest
and anremit:ing labours for the instruction Of
mankind; that our civil rights have no Deepen
dence OH our seligous Opinions, any more than
our opinions in physics or geometry; that there
fore the prescribing any citizen as unworthy
the public confidence, by laying upon him an
incapaci,y of being called to Offices OF trust and
emolument, unless he profess, or renounce
this or that religious opinion, is denriving him
injuriously, of those privileges and advantages,
to which, in common with his fellow-citizens,
he has natural right; that it tends only 10 cor
rupt the principles ofthat religion it is meant to
encourage, by bribing with monopoly OF world
ly honours and emoluments, those who will ex-
ternally profess and conform TO it, that thouga
indeed these are criminal who do not withstand
such temptation, yet neither are those innocent
who lay the bait in their way; that to- suffer the
civil Magistrate to intrude his powers into the
field Of opinion, and to restrain the profession
or propagation Of principles on supposition OF
their i'll tendency, is dangerous fallacy, which
at once destroys all religious liberty, because
he, being of course Judge Of that tendency, will
make his opinions the rule of Judgment, and
approve or condemn the sentiments OF Others
only as they shall square with or differ from his
own; that it is time enough for the rightful
purposes of Civil Government, for its officers to
interfere when principles break out into overt
acts against peace and good order; and finally,
that truth is great and will prevail If left to htr-
SELF that she is the proper and sufficient antago-
mist to error, and has nothing to fear from the
conflict, unless by human interposiGon disarm-
ed Of her natural weapons, free argument and
debate, errors ceasins to be danger Gus when it
is permitted freely 10 contradict them"