Litchfield enquirer., 1830-03-25

 Ss:.Es SsIusive pretext of doing God service. Noth;nr sO inflriates the heart to deeds Of ranine and blood nothing is so incessant In | its tolls: SO perseveringiD it's determinations SO appalling in it's course, or 90 dangerous 'n | it's consequences. The equality rights secu" red by the constitution, may bid defiance to l mere political tyrants; but the robe of sane" | tity too often glitters to deceive. The con- stitution regards the conscience Ottne Jew as sacred as that of the Christian; and glves no more authority to adopt measure aaecung the conscience of solitary individual tnan that of whole community. That rePresens, tative who would violate this principle, would lose his delegated character, and forfeit tue confidence of his constituents. If Congress shall declare the first day ofthe week nO'y' if will not convince the Jew nor the SaOOa- tarian. It will dissatisfy both; and, cOnse' ouentlv. convert neither. Human power may extort vain sacrifices but Deity alone can command the affections of the heart. It must be recoected, that in the earliest settlement ofthis country, the spirit of persecution wh'cn drove the pilgrims from their native home' was brought with them to their new haolta- tions; and that some Christians were scours- ed. and others put 10 death, flor no other crlme than dissenting from :he dogmas of their ru- lers.
 With these facts before us. it must be subject of deep regret, that question should he brought before Congress, which involves inc dearest privileges of the constitution, and even by those who enjoy its choicest blessings. We would all recolect that Cata- line, professed patriot. was traitor 10 Rome; Arnold, professed whlg' was !ra!- tor to America; and Judas, proiesseo o'sc'- ple. was a traitor to his Divine Master.
 With the exception of the United etates' the whole human race, cons'st'ng s suPPv sed of eight hundred millions Of rational n.y. man beings, is in religious bondage; ana m reviewing the scenes of persecution whlcn history every where presents, unless tne . committee could believe that the cries Of the burning victim. and the flames by which ne IS Nronsun1ed. bear to heaven a grateful incense. the conclusion is inevitable, that the llDe can mi he too strongly drawn between Churcn andSfate. Ifa solemn act of oflegls'at'On sna''. in. One point, define the law of Goo' o! Po"' ont to the citizen one religious o@ty' "'sy 2 with equal propriety define eUery par ol u vine revelation, and enforce e0eTy teMs"G. ,e l;r.t;on even to the forms and ceremonies ot worship, the endowment ol tue e""'e"' ""~ the support of the clergy. .;s
 Ii was with kiss that Judas betrayeo HIS D;v;ne Master. and we should all oe ao'ao"
 ished, no matter what our faNn may ne. ''a' .La r;rhts of conscience cannot be SD success G,llv assailed as under the pretext of holiness Ths Christian religion made it's way 'nto tne world in opposition to all human governaleen;.s e;". Punishment, tortures, and death were '"nIc', ed in vain to stop it's progress bm """y ", its professors, as soon as c!otneo VIII m .''"., r,,wsr lost the meek spirit which their creed !ncmIcatcd. and began to inAict on other re''- e;ons. and on dissenting sects of theLr own -I TIC -ren pprsecUtOns Of Pagan Emperors were exceeded in atrocity by the n1assacres and murders pcrpetrated by Christian hands and in vain shall we examine the records oI imperial tyranny for an engine of cruelty e. qual tu the Holy Inquisition.. Every religious sect, however meek in its origin, coDm"nced the work ofpersecution as soon as 1t acquired political power. The framers ot the constnu- ton recognized the eternal principle, that mans relation with his God is above human legislation, and his rights of conscience unal- ienable. Reasoning was not necessary to es- fablish this truth; we are conscious Of It in our own bos0ms. It is this consciousness which, in defiance of human laws has sus- tained SO many martyrs in tortures and m flames. They FELT that their duty to God was superior to human enactments, and that man could exercise nO authority over thelr condolences; it is an inbOrn principle winch nothing can eradicate.
 The bigOt, in the pride of his authority, may lose sight of it-but strip him of his pow :. CT; prescribe faith to him which his con science rejects; threaten him in turn with the dungeon and the faggot; and the spirit which God has implanted in him, rises up in rebellion and de6es you. Did the primitive Christians ask that Government should re- cognize and observe their religious institu- tiOns? All they asked was toler0tion all they complained of was persecution. What did the Protestants of Germany, or the Hu- guenots of France, ask of their Catholic su- ' periors? Federation. What do the persecu- ted Catholics of Ireland ask of their oppres- sors? Federation.
 Do not all men in this country enjoy every religious right which martyrs and saints ever asked Whence, then, the voice of cOm- plaint Who is it, that. in the full enjoyment of every principle which human laws can se- cure, wishes to wrest portion of these prin- ciples from his neighbor! Do :he petition CTS allege that they cannot conscicntiously participate in the profits ofthe mail contracts and the post offices, because the mail is car ried on Sunday Ifths he the motive. then tits worldly gain which stimulates to action. and not virtue or religion. Do they complain that men, less conscientious in relation to the Sabbath. obtain advantages over them. by receiving. their letters and attending to their contents! Still their motive is worldly and apInah Rnf sf hn A0 ;ndn |