The Rhode-Island Republican. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1809-1841, 1830-01-21

ought we to debar our fellow citizens OF
the Jewish faith from extending the prin.
ciple TO them2
Might they not, with correlativc propri-
city demand that Saturday be, also, set a.
part from all 'manner of work !"
And, if it were denied them, might they
not complain that the sacred compsct of
our national organization was violated in
the Infringement of their rights, by the
accordance ofpriviegcs to particular sects;
And might they not degenerate our proud
est naional boast, and HE them to another
! Arrarat?
Might not the Quakers demand that the
keystone ofour judicial procedure g. fiscal
regulations be taken outs and entrenchlng
themselves behind a text of scripture, eX-
claim: "Swear not at all-but let your yea
be yea! and your nay! nay,
The advocates of this prohibitory pro.
ject deny its restrictive purport. They
say that the existing laws require that the
mails be transported and delivered on the
Sabbath, they pretend that the laws arc
injunctional, whilst the tendency Of their
demands is negative Does the law require
OF them to receive their letters on Sunday?
Is it not enactive to them, so long as they
choose TO let il rest ?
But, reioin they, (and this argument has
been propoundcd from the pulpit,) the pres
| ent regulations debar us-us icio are not
ike these puJiicans-from accepting offices
that involve the performance OF active du.
ties on the Sabbath day
And why not the Quaker and the Jew
contend in the same words Equal rights
are guaranteed to them by the constitu-
ton.
And I'VE ask il as humble advocates Of
Christianity what respect can be accorded
to those professors ofreligon, who, because
they cannnet make their doctrines quad
rate with temporal circumstances, would
fashiO.i and fit national eypediency, geDer.
al morality and universal equity, into the
mould and shape and distortions of their
tenets
So let il not be, Citizens Of this Repub-
lie Let us defend the hirthright of free
thought and action, which our toretathers
have transmitted to u.s. Let us meet these
nspirants for "high places men
who would hookwink us with their "broad
philacters," that they may set themselves
up for "rulers in Israel" Let us meet
them with the declaration, that the Consti
tuition Of our Government recognizes all
notifications Of Religion in suilerance--
but. in preference, it acknowledges none
Examine well, we beseech you, tho front
and compass of an insidious project, Of
which tho scope and issue would be men,
tai bondage!
Let not the apparent insigniRcance Of
.hn A-..-u- lall you irto Seeariig rrssnif
que cundo! Strangle the Python ere its
coils convolye around you Or let your
solves DO crcumvened into spirital thral-
dom and transmit il TO your children, Tor
an heritage, with an anomalous government
"A shredded constitution--tho relics Of
rights and the ruins Of LIBERTY
The memorials addressed TO Congress
the last eessioD, from this city, in favor OF
tho proposed restrictions, contained the
names of six thousand two hundred and
eighty-six petitioners, purporiing to be the
signatures OF respectable adult citizens Of
this cty--only three thousand and thirteen
of which names are to be found in tho city
Directory Where then were procured
the signatures Of more than one hnlf Of
those petitioners whose respectablity ls
doubtless Indicated by 'ho obscurity which
excluded their names from the Public Di-
rectory? .Asceridined facts point to the
truth OH this subject, and furnish 4 salts
factory solution to the question just pro-
posed MS known Tint great numbers OF
the Children ofMe Sunday Schools at the
instance Of their Teachers, wore induced
to sign those petitions, and thus were made
instruments Of deception TO influence and
mislead tho political authorities OF their
country
When we sec juvenile literary instiu-
tiors, under the auspices Of the Sunday
School Union, made use Of for such pur
pose, and perverted to the attainment Of
political power by religious sectarians. can
we be blind to the reason why they aspire
to a controlling influence, which, in truth,
they have obtained, over most Of the
Schools and Colleges ofthe country Does
not the political power attempted to be ac-
quired by such means, sufficiently show the
uses to which il would be applied, should
clerical ambition ever attain leading lnfiu-
ence in the political councils CT the nation