Lynchburg Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1829-185?, 1830-03-18

and that same Christians were scourge =
md oihe.s ni to daath, for no other crime
than dissenag from the dogmas Of their ~
e's
= With thes facts hfeore us, il must bea sub
1ect deepregrei. that question should b.
brnugh beife Congtes. wnch involv, The
> dearr privileges IT the constitution aud even
u by thuSe VIII suJoy IT'S choicest blessings Ue
should all nc pllect thai c,ialinr, n profrs>ed
" patriot WASH iraluI 10 Rome Arno1, pro
tcssrd Vhiglwas traitor 10 America and
Judas, prdessed disciple. was a traitor 10 his
Divine Masrr.
With the exception of The United States,
the Whole hlInfn race, consisting, II IS supposed
II eight hupirei millions OF rational beings
Is in religious bondage and in reviewing the
scenes OF persecution which history every
where ptesents unless the committee could
, believe tha' the cries OF the burning victim and
the flames ~ which he is consumed, bear 10
Heaven grateful incense. The conclusion is
inevitable, That the line ,annot be too srongl,
drawn befseen Church aud sta's ~ " roia,,,"
| act 81 legislation s. ad III one point dein' the
" II God, or palra hui 10 the citizen one -
gious duty. il mat, with eqhnl propfwty, pro
coed ~ define ersrg uart III divine revelation
aud enforce s.Iry ligio litigation. even t.
the forms and aefe MONIES 'fwofshp; the en-
| ,,wmeni oi Is, church and The support ofihe
lerg,.
| II was witha kiss that Jul1s betrayed his
ID vIpc Mhsie, AID W Shout all he admnish-
| d-n' mat n What our flth maf be TIA
h" righ's OF conscience, M be so success
lily aSshlle as under me pr ext oi holmes.
| . Chr naa reteion male is way into the
world in opposition 10 all human Cove nmeni'
b'nshm lp,tnes dettb, =" inflicted
IA Va a. i.s5pi PROCESS. Bi many oi III
ar'dess -, 10 soon ap clothed with p"iilirnl
power. losl tn m ed spirit which their creed
moulcated aud began 10 inhICt on oihei rel
slons, and on dissenting seots of,hci, own re
hgion, prosecutions more aggravated than
hos which lher own ap sizes hal endured.
The en- ptrs. cutnas OF Pagan Emperors, W re
Y eeded u atroCIty by he mnssacres, AMI
nrrdcrs pefpruted by Christian haois aud
IN VAN all we Examine the records oi In
p"rial WAN "a sngln' If cruelty equ
the Holy hqu:5ition Every religious set
how vel meek III MS origin, comment"i tn"
work Of nefsecufion as soon As II acquired p"
riCnl po~rr Tue trainers oi the ronsifu
nop recognized the eternal plnciplr, that man :
! r'idTion wrh - God IS above human legls''
iioh, 'nd bis Isafs OF culsGieucr nall nablrs
| Reasoning WAS NJ necessary TO establish 1lirs
truth. We are conscious otit III our own bosom
II Is tins consciousness which il defiance 1t
human laws has susinupd 10 many MARTYRS -
l,riu,es and IN flames ThrV feH that th"lr
duiy TO God was superior 10 human "aacim ut
aud that mn could exercise n 'horry over
their consciences II Is an inborn pIincip winch
nothing IAN eradicate.
Tie bgol III the pride OF his authority, mhs
lose GIT OF It--bu' strip him OF his pow'r
escrbe faith 10 him which as conscience
rejects threaten HIN IN irnlh with tue dh =
gro1 and the faggot aud the spirit which God
has implanted IN him, rises up IN rebellinn aud
d IFS YOU Did t,e primitive Christmas ask
that Governmcal should recognise aud observe
lher ree ious institutions Al they as~ed
persecution. What did tho PR. -.a.'.- -
$ Germaiy, or Ia Hug IS Of Fancr, ask Of
their Catholic supe.iors liberation What
do the prosecuted Catholics II Ireland ask d
\ their oDprcssnrs 1oiefation.
Do aot Al mrn IN this c.ualry enjoy every
y religious rghl winch martyrs and saint esel
y ASA Il, Whence, ten, the voice Of Complhiut
Who !, II, hat IN full enjoyment of oVery
prin Iie which human iiws eau secure, W Ih
es 10 west portion of thesr principles from
his ueghbori d. the petitioners allegn thai
they cinnot coascionriou,ly participate n lne
proii'sof the mail contracts and post Off rs,
II hecaue the mail is carried on sun my II
u TINS be their motive, then it j. worldly gain
"hlbuSlliHbl itfS % hCllphp anu ~ Nll'h' "
religion. Do they com liam that men. l'ss
consc,n ious IN relation to III. Sabbath Obtain
advantages over th"m by RECEIVING Ih"ir letters
aud attending 10 thar conlrn,s still their
motive is worldly and selfish. But If ih'lr
: notly's he TO inda,e { 'ngrrss TO sanction, by
law, ner religious opinions and obSeruancts,
then their effort are 10 ~ resisted, 'slh ihtlr
tendeicy fatal, both to rell glons and putIiltal
freedom Why have the petitioners Gonf'rd
their prayer 10 he mails Why have tntY
not requested thatthe Government br rrqnilrd
10 suspend all its exc utlVe inactons on that
day Why do they not 'eqnl NJ 10 ehas'
that oar ships shall not sall that our arni 5
shall not march that lic'r Of jnsIice sh,Ii
, not seize the suspected, or guar the convicted
They seem 10 forget that government is as Ne.
= ces5ary on Sunday MS on any other day OF he
weeK The spirit Of ,gil does not rest ON hit
: day. II is the Government, ever active IN Is
functions, which enables Us all. even the pel
tones, TO worship IN our churches IN praU
$ Our c ,yernma mt furnishes very few blezslnts
e like cur mails. They bear from the GENRE D
/, our Rppiblic 10 us distant extremes the nd
Of ON legislative bodies, the decisions Of tie
r. nd cary, aud the orders of the Executive
i. Their speed is often essential 10 the defence .
% IN" country, the suppression OF CrIme. and tls
;; ! dearest interests OF the people. Were thei
bhppitsSed one hdy o' nv NechB ''h ""s'h''
T must be Often sappIled by puoi,c expresses
!. and, besides, Wilde lue mail bags must rest, the
}. mail coaches would pursue thelf journey witt
y t1e passengers. iii" mail bears from one eI
n trrmr Of the Union 10 the other letters oil relG
h ives ard friends preserving communion {
4 cart between thoss far separated aud iocrra
- sing the most pure aud refined pleasu"s Of ou
n existence also the letters Of commercial men
|, convey the state of The markets. prevent run
n Gus speculttons, and promote general, as wo
? rs individual interest. They bear innumerapn
u religious letters, newspapers, magazines an
IT tracts, which reach almost every house through
ID out this wide Republic. Is the conveyance q
% these violation OF the Sabbath The advaic
=. OF the human race in intelligence, in vItu
IA and religion itself, depends IN part upon III
IN snted with which knowledge Of the pan
of disseminated Wrhout an interchange b'
I'd tween one country aud another, and betyee
M | spptIuuS flt he same cuuutTv