Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1830-03-13


tenn ut touni,e, in the remotes, degree, Church
and State.
F,om the earliest period Of time, religious
teachers have arained great sscendancy over
the minds Of the people; and in every nation,
aociea, or modern, whether Pagan, Mahome'
dan. or Christian, have succeeded in the ineor.
marathon OF their reigioue tenels with the poll
,ical institutions of their, country. The Per-
sian idols ,rhe Gr.cian oracles, the Roman au
e.ries, and The modern priesthood OF Europe,
have all, in their turn, been the subject oil pc.
pular adulation, aud the agents OF po'i'icai
deception. 1.-THE measure recommended should
be adop,ed, i. would be Difficult, for human sa-
eaci,y to foresee how rapid would be The suc-
cession, or how numerous the train OF measures
which nigh, follow, involving the dearest rights
of alI-ihr right Of conscience. 1t is perhaps
fortunate for our country, that the proposition
should have been made al This early period,
while the spiri, Of the Revolution We, exists in
full vigor Religious zeal enlis,s the strongest
preiudires of the human mind; and when miss
directed, excites the worst passions OF our ma.
ture, under the delusive pre'ext OF doing Zoo
service. Nothing so infuria,es the heart 10
deeds Of rapine and blood; no'hIng Is so i"-
eessan, in It's tolls So persevering IN lis de'er-
limitations; so appalling In its course; or 50
dangerous in its consequences The equai.ty OF
rights secured Ly the constitution, may old oe
fance 10 mere political 'yrants; ou; the rooe
Of sanctity too often glitters 10 deceive. ne
+ onstitution regards the conscience Of the Jew
as sacred as that of The Christian; aud gives no
more authority to adopt a measure affecting
the conscience Of a solitary individual, than
that Of whole community. That representa-
tive who would violate this principle, would
lose his delegated character, and forfeit the
confidence of his constituents. 1t Congress
shall declare the frs, day Of The week holy. it
will not convince the Jew nor the Sabbaari.
an. II will dissa;isfy both; and, consequently
convert neither. Human power may e1toft
vain sacrifices but Deity alone Can command
the affections of the heart. II mus, be recol
lected, that, in The earliest settlement, OF this
country, the spirit OF persecution which drove
the pilgrims from their native home, was
brought with them 10 their new habi'auions /;
and that some Christians were scourged, and
Others put TO death, for no other Crime than
discerning from the dogmas Of their rulers.
With these facts before US, il mus, be sub
ject Of deep regret, that question should be
brought before Congress which involves 'he
deares, privileges Of The Constitution, and even
by those who enjoy its choisest blessings
We should all .reco!lect tba, Ca,aline, profess
sed patriot, was traitor 10 Rome; Arnold. a
prof ssed whig, was traitor TO America; and
Judas, protested disciple, was traitor 10 his
Divine Master.
With the exception Of the United States, the
whole human race consisting, IL is supposed,
OF eight hundred millions Of rational beings, is
in religious bondage; and, in reviewing the
scenes of persecution which history every
where presents, unless the Committee could
believe that the cries Of The burning victim, and
the flames by which he is consumed, bear 10
Hea,en a grateful incense, the conclusion is in.
liable, that the line cannot be too strongly
drawn between Church and State. If solemn
act of legislation SHALL in one point, define the
law Of God, or peinr out TO The CT izen one re-
igious duty, it may with equal propriey. pro-
coed to define eucry pat, Of divine revelation;
and enforce every religious obligation, even TO
the forms and ceremonies OF worship; the en-
dswmea, Of the church; and the support Of the
clergy
1t was with kiss that Judas betrayed his
Divine Master; and we should all be admon
ished mo matter what our faith may be that
the rights Of conscience, cannot be successful
~ assaulted, as under the pre,ex, of holiness -
The Christian religion made its way into the
world in opposition TO all human Governments
Punishment, tor,ures, and death, were i"fiic'-
ed 10 vain 10 stop It's progress. But many Of
It's professors, as soon as clothed with political
power, los, the meek spirit which their creed
incul, ared, and began to inflct on o,her reli.
gions, and on dissenting sects Of their own re-
ligiou, prosecutions more aggravated than
those which their own apostles had endured
The ten prosecutions If Pagan Emperors,
were exceeded, in atrocity, by the massa
cres and murders perPe'ra'ed by Christian
hands and IN vain shall we examine the
records of Imperial tyranny, for n engine
Of cruelty equal to the Holy inqu'sition Ev
cry religious sect, howeve' meek in its origin,
commenced the work Of persecution as soon
as i. acquired political power. The trainers
of The Constitution recognised the eternal prin-
cipie, that mans relation with his God, is
above human legislation, and his rights Of con-
science inaiisnable. Reasoning was no, ne
cessary TO establish this truth: we are conscious
of il in our own ho>oms. tits this conscious.
ness which in The dtfance Of human laws, hos
sustained so many martyrs in tortures and in
flames. They felt that their duly 10 God
an se en- n. rior IN human on ar tments and hat