The Litchfield County post., 1827-12-06

name a. fallen Oraham,Or why ucInr Caf IS no. en-
titled good wreath e aures rs victor Barton.
Both Quarres originated at the card table-hey have
terminated alike and enlightened public viii view
all the parties in the same light the murdered and
the murderers.
Il is not much over a week since Mr.. Graham, the
deceased dueist spoke thus upon the subject ofduel
ling. 1t appears that he considered the practice too
honorable to be adopted by of common standing
in society that but gentlemen could with PRO-
priety appeal the pistol for the settlement Of dis
putes. We happen to disagree with the sentiment for
we believe that none but lawless bloodhounds will
engage in the business and if such characters
are gentlemen, then ignorant of the value
importance of the phrase.
Here, in New-York. within few days,a case has
occurred which ended it ought to end and which,
whilst it throws ridcule the practice generally,
shows with what IMMUNITY the laws may be violated.
Two lads Of obscure professions, and in low life, thot
they were bound in honour TO appease their wounded
feelings (wOunded in reference to dispute pal
try themselvesby resort to pistols. They borrow
ed these from somebody, and footed it mile or two
beyond the city, and fired at each other. Fortunately,
the consequence merely loss Of an TO of
the combattants. If the whole squad be
cropped and brched they would be treated according
to their stations and conduct When every whlpper
snapper in the community reach the honorable
eminence of dueist surely, men of sense, charac-
and standing, ought to hold the usage in utter
SCorn."
"Relig;ous Liberty"-The Circuit Court Of the
United States commenced its session at Providence,
the 10th utmo present Justices Story and Pitt
man. Judge Story ordered the following record to be
made previous the opening ofthe Court with prayer.
sit having been intmated from authority, entitled
great respect that the opening of this Court with
the soesnny of prayer is supposed to be an intere
renee with the religious liberty Of the citizens OF
Rhode Island because it imposes an obligation upon
the jurors and others, whose duty it is to attend the
Court be present at and unite in such solemnity;
the Court desires it to be understood, that never has
supposed any such obligation to exist and that all per-
at liberty to withdraw during the solemnty
who do wish to unite in imptoring the Divine bes-
sing and assistance in public manner this occa-
SION"
"Reigious liberty" is principle much talked ofat
the present; & with many people means any thing &
every thing, except humble acknowledgement Of the
obligations of to love, serve, and obey his Crea
tor. Who could have thot that beings calling them
selves men, would have complained that the opening
court ofjuetice with solemn petition to the God Of
Justice for wisdom and discretion, is an infringement
upon Religious Liberty" We have ever supposed
that such like characters nothing more about
gSon than to treat it, and its professors with ridcuc
and oontempt and yet it appears they the first to
raise Glamour about Religious Liberty What
do they know or care about religion7 What interest
have they in its ddtcs and practices? Why do they
trouble themselves about short exercise Of prayer
as though by it their conscience would be defled
Surely they might from the exalted eminence upon
which ir-rehgion has placed them, look down with
pity upon the poor worms who were thus acknowled-
ging their dependence upon Higher Arm, instead Of
complaining at the practice of their weaker fellow
citizens as an infringement upon religious liberty AT
least the Religious Liberty which they SO
deeply interested in preserving nvioate, gives one
man the right to acknowledge an overruling
providence as it does another to deny it; and we
know not how the consistent practices of the former,
can be considered infringement upon the liberties
Of the latter, unless evil conscience is rather too
much alarmed at tho deas,-naturally conveyed in
appropriate addresses the Almighty, Independence,
obligations love and obey, and the danger there is
in refusing acknowledge, neglecting to practice
upon these principles. Shade Of Roger Williams has
it come this, that the inhabitants Of that very city
which thou ddst lay the foundation Of and name as a
memento of the Providence of God shall consider
their liberties encroaced upon, simply by address
to that glorious Being who guided thy little bark
the angry waters, and gave them peaceful home in
this tn en- bowling wilderness
During the Session of this court, two witnesses ma
med Richardson, father and son, were rejected as in
competent testify, it being proved that the had
often stated that he did not believe in God, or in
future state " and that the father held to the same
very similar sentiments, although he now protested to
be an universais. This act Of Judge Story is attack
ed with quite uncommon zeal-as superstitious, pur-
tanical-bgotry-a revival of the reign Of prestcraf
and in open violation of all right both civil and re-
Igious by six eight enlightened editors at the
cast In opinion the superstition Of the act rests
in tire fact that Judge Story really supposed that an
oath impes that religious & moral accountability is
fch the Supreme Being and that this the sanc-
ton which the law requires upon the conscience Of
person. before it admits him to testify" instead of Ia
king the broad ground Of modern liberals in denying
all accountability to any supposed spiritual & unseen
being.'' purtanism of the act consists in its
bearing very faint resemblance to the precepts Of
the renowned founder of Providence, who held that
no regeaerate person. should be admitted to testi-
ly upon oath-that but those who practically be-
loved in God, and future of rewards and pun
sbments could be materially influenced by the soem-
nifty of an oath. Its Bigotry consists in the desire
which the learned Judge thus indirectly expressed OF
rightly adhering to the party usually denominated