Literary cadet and Rhode-Island statesman. [volume] (Providence, R.I.) 1827-1829, 1827-11-21

M.
have within the last week. experienced some
eonnotion, in consequence Of refusal, on the
part Of Mr.. Justice Story, 10 receive the owl
dence Of respectable individual. which re-
fsli was based on the ground. that the witness
did not believe in future rewards and punish
rnents, or in other words. was not Deist, but
an Atheist. and denied the existence of God
Whilst we admit, that the learned Judge, Mad
law on h;r side, and could not receive All oath
from the wiincss--for he could not take the
Gus om,ry oath o." $50 help me Cod." f,r he
denied The existence Of that being. in whose
name bo Was called 10 swear-we contend.
that his affirm tito" eo,,ld be leg lily taken, and
that II ought TO have been taken, provided il
was evident 10 the Cour., that lie was a III IN
Of fair standing. and whose integrity had never
been impcacled.
But We suppose. thai Mr.. J,'siicc 81 lory, takes
Doctor Johnson's maxms for his guide, and
would not believe de.s', at any rate; aud
4 he were TO die With ore. would be caIc-
iul TO look at or his watch and v,luohlrs"--
We say we suppose, that he has aduped this
'yrnnncal rule of pro.cr,p,"n, for Is sus-
rep''b'e Of proof. that the REQ It'd. ,ncss Was
m,n of far standing. and had hcen 90 liy Of
n" o her or me, than iha OF refts ng 10 bell eve
as other men bel eve. and Of prcsu.nr,g o form
h . own opinions, on his own cony i,s, ard
sense Of right.
"A IVlt An r0 al H. L. 4. 4
a'heis'cal or dc sical opnons. We must be a.
lowed to sly. that We know Of some or the
most resi- &C ible citizens Of the country, who
are deists; men who have never d sgu sed :.,e'r
Sen'''nen's-men whose e,iden"e We presume
Judge ory would not rejcci. # they we're call.
cd uIoh TO cs fy befo G his trbm,l And
of tbs class, there are l., ,ndrcds, who FIJI
the most elevated posts, and who, Of oil
men, would be the Last 10 be suspected of be ng
too depiaved TO be allowed % test .fy in Co ri
Of Justice.
me Chinese, the H;ndo, the Tartar. the Ar-
"'a" Neg'o the IId'an Of America, and the
"''''' VI Aos'i'i'sin, .re all alla ed 10 tsxt,-
" IN our co ,rts Of justice and TO swear by the
Gods and Idols they may worship; and yet the
enlightened American. the cd &c i,ed Christian.
Who dares 10 TORN opinions for himself and to
express them. because he happens TO disagree
with the more rigid Of the pur,tanicai order, 10
refused his oath. and is prescribed and dsyra.cd
wnh"" PITY and without mercy. If the Ho,,en-
TO- cin swear by his God. why cannot the en-
lighted Deis be permitted to s~ ear by his God;
-!or the Hotten ot.has no more concept ion of
the God we worship. and OR system of frelig:on
than he has Of the q" daughters Of the SUM-"
and IN swearing by his God. he considers j, no
brs'eh OF faith, no act Of perjury, if inc vi,latcs
the obligations Of the chr stian oath.
As Tor At eisn'. it is barely possible 10 sup
r"'e' thar any man, possessed Of the rational
'icuI''es OF perception and conce ption. can for
a moment when he lo"ks upon surrounding crs-
alton and beholIs the wonders Of nature. DENY
tho ex:s'en'e Of ilc E,.,Lal Ind Of Hosts.
BIT II he does THIS bel eve aNer having wit
messed, aud studied. the Protu, Ions of H., Al
mighty. he sl.oaid not he stoned {, dea,L ,,r be
c.t ~ the thro. ; rnd though he cannot swear
ny the God Of crea ion, fh:s actcr be good.
u" shoa''i be allowed 10 testify on his affirm,.
''on; and we do honestly believe, that ther.
are among deiss good men men " no, in al;
'hit Is excellent, who in the discharge of the
duties and charities of LIE, woud not shrink
from comp soa with those, uhn on the
hoise top, make such extravag mt profess;ons
to p'e:y and san,tny
We respect the talents Of the Uo,or,h,,
Joseph Sto y. and are ready to ascr;bo to him
the possession of great s.racity aud dsccrn
'"en'' and nhmpe ,cha' IL n epri.,. But willis
we d" tins. We cannot. and will not d,,v. I'm,
We uo 'hhk' 'haf he sometimes acis with ioo |
'"nch prec pi'nncy. and ofen violates tie rem
81" ngs ct prop-ety. Hr ing ror u number nj
years enjoyed tie conrden,c of tie peop,c.
ana received at their hands tie most unoual. |
ned applause, his vanity has be ONE inflated. !
aud never having been opposed by the publi,
vo &C II is evident that hc supposes himself J
l'nna culate, and conceives that he r,n do NJ, |
wrong. lie Is a' hest, but n more mortal, as |
liable to error others are, and bc sbo,,J |
know. that Jeni.es and a Mansfield, and
Others Of equal distinction. have erred and fall.
en- and Pr"'iing by their example he should
ackro"Iedge his own inpcrfe ction., and learn
'haf he cannot control the public voice.
Though elevated to n distinguished DOS, Of
honour. and man led by the robes Of Office. ho
should remember that his official conduct. is
open TO he anim'dvers:on oi,he press. and The
void ai Large.
H. the case under considerat on, lie ubdoub,-
IDLY &C ed in conformity with hi, own private
md honest op mons; but be that as il NAV. !,