The Rhode-Island Republican. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1809-1841, 1830-12-30

ding with private property, to say that the
principles or opinions of a man are pernic-
ious TO society, without knowing that they
are go.
The advantages that viii grow out Of
such q decision nre incalculable. When
those principles come to BE- fawly under.
stood and acted upOn, mans character
will be safe in the society; he will have
uolhing 10 do but act uprghily and know
that hc does not deserve reproach, ln or.
der to keep clear oft. Each orc mny use
his own property as usual, but he must
have n little more mOdesty with that which
belongs to others; he may build his own
Babies and carve ont his own images, and
worship them in his own way lie may sit
under his own vine and his own hg tree,
aud 40 one shall make him afraid II hc
m1kc nobody believe that his tower will
reach 10 heaven, he may carry line s0d
mortar himself: and when he is weary and
heavy laden, he may tarry by the wny side,
for no ono shall be his task master. neither
shall any one set up stake, and say how
high be shall erect IL; for lee may continue
TO build md conirivc until he ceases To nn
dcrstand bis own langnng or comprehend
his own views. Or he mav make images
/ of silver and of gold; or ofslll! more costly
matori1ls:--hc may add to them every OK
! travagancc. and make them in all things
/ like unto those OF Npbnchadnezznr, except
tina, Of rrquiring others to fall down and
| worship them Or he may cultivate The
enloymcn's of social life, and make the
best of The realities that surround him, Sy
improving the condition Of himself andUlh
ers.
I'm such n state Of society, know Of no
! indurcmcnt sny individual can have to
mako disturbance, bul thst uf promotion in
oli q, which evil perhaps cannot be avoid.
cd but w mnking sll the society officers
! !5nt generally speaking. those principles
/ { acted upon, musl necessarily produce
peacc and harmony in the community.
IF the principles upon which the society
/ is founded, ale truc--it they have n real
existence in our n9turc, NJ believe they
have then is free investigation, then is a
7 Free Press, 10 this society and 10 the world
at largo, Of The highest importance ofNny
thing that could possibly he established.
! FOR nearly all the fnmily Of mankind, are
/ divided into religious sccts; oil dispuiing
| with one another about the true laith;--nnd
| | ,hink it will be admitted by every candid
man, tha, none but The trnc religion can
eyer stand the shock ui' {, ee press; and no
honest man. certainly, Wishes TO belong to
any sect bnt The ono possessing the genus
| inc charYC,cf:--so that If every religious
society would introduce free investigation
into III ir congregations the truth would be
I settled in less thon twcuiy five wears, and
1.-THE millennium Of good feeling introduced
into the world. Hence | consider the
principle tested IN this meeting, as one of
the greatest Importance that ever was ag-
tated or contcnded for by the spirit Of lib,
crty, in any country; and fcarrlel ont rnt
introduced into every religions sect, wpHld
banish misery and want aud crnac, from
the face of the earth,
It's question in which is involved the
destinies OF millions yet unbnrn. 1t is
nothing short oftho question, whether man
shall bc governed by the laws impressed on
him by the Author OF his being. or submit
to the tyranny of usnrpiny authority
whether tho iron grasp ofspirlual despot
ism shall not in It's turn be made 20 feel
the omnpotencc Of that spirit Of freedom.
which IL now marching with steady and
determined pnce to the acme of human
peace and human liberty whether the
naturally peaceful and gentle spirit Of mau
shall continue to be the slave Of absolute
authority, his noblcst and finest feelings
chilled in the bud, by a set Of ambitious,
overbearng, spiritual. minded demagogues,
or have his mind left free as he received il
from the Author of his being. 10 grow and
expand in the soil of intellectual liberty.
until he shall. by the irresistible force Of
his genius, conquer every obstacle in the
way of his happiness.
This principle OF improvcmcnt---,his
light witbin--this spirit of liber,y--cither
mental or physical, is n holy principle; ITS
power is omnipotent il never forsakes
those who pct confidence in it. II is al.
ways most powerful when mos, depended
upon; vet in every dispensation Of life, ts
reward is sure. II nerved the heroes Of
our revolution, but mere forbearance on
their part was not consistent with the state
of mind they we're then in; hence they re.
sisted with violence; yet they had their
reward, 5ut still it was in proportion to their,
lorbcarance.
in the purity OF non resistance this spirit
can never be conquered; for it then plants
the seed in the heart of the oppressor;--
man being so organised thatin this state
he must own IL. The mantle from the ly.
ing martyr folsupon the execu,ioncr, and
he again comes to be a martyr in his turn;
hence in that state i, never dies is i'm
mortal.
lfall the presses on earth were free, what
could they do in destroying the belief in
such principle with those who took part
in and witnessed this meeting; They
might just as well say that drink would not
allay thirst nor food the cravings ofhunger;
for this power was seen and felt and
MANN L. r,nrnh ,,.n, Mill h.,t r,,;.-h