Constitutional Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1824-1832, 1830-04-27


decide, upon balance struck between the tempora
advantages and disadvantages of making an excep
ton to the mail, make exception in repars
to other matters.
Your next proposition is, that the Wise and Good
Ruler of the Universe has made an appoint nent nj
which appointment the carriage ofthe mail on Sunday
is trausgression. We have how reached the poiri,
for recurring your disavownl of any disposition o
blend religious with civil affairs. Does not single
moments reflection suffice TO make manifest that i.
Congress were to found any act of theirs upon this
proposition, it would involve decision on their part
as to what are the appointments of the Supreme Be-
ing' Would it not imply this train of thought, ne
are Interpreters of HIS toW. JVe pronounce IL TO
be inconsistent Nth HIS mill, that mails should be
transported Sunaay-.rnd in conformity ,oilh this
decision, stall The mails be regulated. What more
intimate and radical blendng of religious and civil af
fairs be imagined, than assumption on the
part of Congress, who conassedly clothed with
mere temporal authority, decide what is the will
Of the CREATOR As individuals, tie body may all be
deeply impressed with certain belief in regard to
that will. But members of Congress, can they
found any official act of theirs upon such belief, with
out thereby blending religion with temporal power?
iH it not be exercise Of temporal po,cer, fou-
ded on, and directed by religious 5eie? IfCongress
stops the mails, because they believe the measure
greeaole to the Divinity, is there any other of the
powers with which they are entrusted, whici, ;iry
may not regulate the exercise of upon the same prn-
cple? The Constitution colides to them the reou-
latlon OF the mails 1t authorizes them also to regu-
Il
particular manner, because of particular reason
may they not, because of the same reason regulate
naturalization III particular manner? If for instance,
with DR. Ely, (who by the bye has the credit of being
the original contver and chefagtator of the Sunday
mail question: that Popcry is the reign of the man of
sIn, may they not, because they believe deny ma
turaliZation and admission into the country to
Poplsh priests? 1t Is too manifest to require further
remark that, whatever be the regulations to which
Congress may fit to subject the mail they cannot
without offending civil and religious affairs adopt
any regulation, Tie ground, that is agreeable to
The Divinity.
The blending of ecclesiastical with civil power
in what does it consist In being Influenced in The
exercise Of temporal p0lcer by religious belief OF
the ''unon of Church and State" so generally and
so justly deprecated by countrymen, this is the
essence. 1t matters not by what name the public
functionares, exercising civil power be called. a
Pope Bishop might be the repositories of tenn
poral power; and this arrangement not necessarily
involve union of Church and State. Whether
this union did did not exist, would depend entirely
on the considerations which influenced them in the
exercise of that power. If of purely temporal
nature, then would the union Of Church and State
not exist; If of religious nature, then the union
looufd exist The same is strictly true to King,
President, Divan, Congress. If. in the dis
charge of their political functions, they anywise
under the influence of religious motives then, not
outstanding their nominayaical character, Church
and State united. You Sir, have, by your Off
cial oath, entered into solemn covenant with the
Deity, to support the Constitution under which you
act. Unless, therefore, you conscientousy believe
it TO be perfectly consistent with the spirit cf The
Constitutions that religious and civil affairs be blend
ed, you caanoi Attoso so,tssey IN me eregsfAe e III
temporal porcr entrusted 10 you, To Alueneedd,
religious Lelsf: Under that Covenant You bount
by the most solemn of sanctions ssiuouHy suart
your mind against such influence. 1nregard to any
vote you may feel disposed to give upon point any
wise connected with religion; considerations it your
sacred duty to search the Utmost reCesses of your
conscience, and to ascertain that religious belief is
not operating your mind, as a motive to that vote
If you find any such motive lurking there. it is the
first Of your religious obligations to eXpel ii, and to
cnlancpate your mind from its influence
I shall pursue this review in my next
Il Fs5sa4 10 Pure Religion anu Undcftcd"