Literary cadet and Rhode-Island statesman. [volume] (Providence, R.I.) 1827-1829, 1827-11-24
RELIGION, &c.

). os,,,s,a VIII 81. Jsiiro eass~s he Ia. a NATURAL
RiGMrS ~ rsiaiivs TO Reiyi,as Frssfom
~De Acrcf,r en,c,ea, by the General Assembly, AMI Ny
,he nahosiy thereof enacted That sxsn he
Pallet feaaen or support a.y religion; iSo,'Ap place tr
.s snrssn, n h sy e. sos nor .ha stssnsi..
NJ syS.s 90 socoTSr OF lbs lEIiaious OPINIONS
s' @ ALL ~ SfS ,,sHtN sNasI ps s,r rhax 20 pre-
atrf o rs Hsic sa that The shau Ia DiMtN
Isn, ESLAhoE, or AFFECT their CIVIL CApAcf-
TlEs Did
The above exsracts, arc made from a statute
established BY the wisdom Of our forcfahcrs,
to cut Of the encroa chments Of the puritans,
AMI fanatics; aad to ward OF the assaults of
that racc OF tyrants who wonld form an union
of church and state. and establish the iaquisit-
ion. in land Of religious tolerance and free
dom.
Probing W the examples, which had been
set by the earlier settlers of the colony, they
e,rly prepared themselves TO receive the as
siuIts OF, bgots and infaria,ed hypocrtes; and
by thus preparing, they secured tho inesthnablc
privileges Of religious freedom, to their desoen-
darts For this we shoad feel grateful, and.
Iove.ng aronui the tombs OF our ancestors
bless their venerable shades, and profit by
their manly and patriotic examples.
AT length, however, the hour has arrived,
whom an attempt is made, to break down this
barrier agans' ecclesiastical encroachmen's
and citizen of another state, public officer,
in the pay of the national government, clad IN
The robes ofjudical o.Iice has been prcsailed
Npon. either by his inherent Thirst for notorc-
", or by the soiici' atoms of pllalaax of pro-
scrbns bigots, to lead the van Of a crusade,
whose object is, 10 crush tho existence Of re-
i;gous freedom. and to PROSTATE all, who DO
not believe, as those believe, who are anxious
for the creation Of an established church, and
the isquisition.
: On recent occasion, the views Of this Of
deer were most palprbly displayed and for
roasons best known to himself. and to those
who ,hiuk, and act as he does, he denied two
rcspe ctable citizens, the right Of giving in the
testimony, when called upon 10 do SO; and
urged in his objections, that one did not be-
iicve ia the existence Of God, and that the
other, was an Univorsaist, and did not believe
in faturo rewards and pun;shments. In the
first case, as we said on former occasion. the
objection was good, SO far as the oath was
Concerned, but yet the individual was an egi-
bic witness, anJ was entitled to his affirmation,
according to the law Of the land, which ex-
pressly declares, "that all men shall be free
TO profess and by argument maintain, theIr
opinions in matters Of religion, and that the
sane shall ia no wise diminish, enlarge. or af-
feet their eipu capacities;" and here it is evil
dent. that every man. who sostsins fair rep
vtatfon, and whose integrity mas never been
in,peaehsd, is entitled to his affirmation lis
entitled to bear testimony to Court Of Justice.
"a, matter whether he believes in one God, three
Gods. or no God; and we hope that the day is
far distant, when this inesti,nabie privilege, will
be taken from Rhode Islanders, oy the address
Of puritans and hypocrites.
In tho other case, the witness was denied
the right Of bearing testimony, because lie did
no: believe in future rewards and punishments,
though he believed in the existence Of a
God; or in other word hc was rejected, be
cause he was an Universalist! And now it be-
comes US to ask, if the people Of Rhode Island,
after having enjoyed tho blessing, Of religious
liberty, for almost two hundred years, are 10
be told by an officer Of the United States tha,
thar laws, regulating religious concernments
are 10 be uampied upon,o laid aside las inaccu-
rate and founded on false principles, simply be-
cause, n mere mortal, decorated with the par
aphernalia OF Office, pronounces them absurd
and irrational! Are the people of Rhode Isl
and to bo derided, and disgraced. and cut OF
from society, and to bc held up to the world.
as inhdels, and unworthy Of credencc as the
outc,sts Of creation, and the abandoned Of
society simply to crafty. and pamper the
pride Of opinion, and the prcjudoc cs, ,en'ert aimed
by the Honorable Joseph Story. The laws of
Rhode Island expressly declare that call men
maintain, their opinions, in matters Of religion,
anu that the same shall in no wise diminish,
enlarge, or sss;ct their civil capacities;" bui
tho Honorable Joseph Story Says they do not
and that all that DO not happen to believe as
he does, shall be prescribed and recorded as
men unworthy of oredence. AS men who ought
not, and shall not Lc trusted On this point.
he and the Rhode Isnndcrs join issue, and tho
MISTER Jenains to be settled between the par
ties.
According 10 the decision OF this celebrated
- l. a