The Rhode-Island Republican. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1809-1841, 1830-03-18

~ both; and consequently, convert neither
human power may extort vain sacrifices; but
Deity alone can command the affections Of
the heart. II must be recolected, that, in the
earliest scttleme.:s of this country, the spirit
oi persecution which drove the pilgrims from
their native home, was brought with them to
their new hdbitations; and that some Chris.
tlans were scourged, and others put to death,
for no other crime than dissenting from the
dogmas OF their rulers
With these facts before us, it must be sub.
ject of deep regret, that a question should be
brought before Congress. which involves the
! dearest privileges of the Constitution, and O.
ven by those who enjoy its choicest blessings
We should all recolect that Catal inc, d pro-
tossed patriot, was a traitor to Rome; Arnold
prolessed whig, was 4 traitor TO America;
and Judas, a professed disciple, was a traitor
to his Divine Master.
With tho exception Of the United States
| the whole human race, consisting it is sup.
posed Of eight hundred millions ofrotional hur-
man beings, is in religious bondage; and in re-
viewing the scenes Of persecution which his.
tory every where presents, unless the com.
mlttee could believe that the cries of the
burning victim, and the flames by which he
is consumed, bear to Heaven a grateful in.
cense, the conclusion is inevitable that the line
cannot be too strongly drawn between church
and State. ifa solemn act ofleg islation shall,
IN one point, define the law Of God, or point
out to the citizen one religious duty, il may
with equal proprlety define erery part Of di.
vine revelation; and enforce egerg religious
obligation, even to the forms and ceremonies
OF worship, the endowment of the church. and
| tho support of the clergy.
Ii was with kiss that Judas betrayed his
Divine Mastor, and we should all be admon.
| Ished, no matter what our faith may be, that
| the rights OF conscience cannot be so success.
| fully assailed as under the pretext of holiness
| The Christian religion made its way into the
world in opposition to all human governments
Punishment, torturos, and death were infic.
ted IN vain TO stop its progress But many
OF its professors, as soon as clothed with polit.
ical power, lost tho meek spirit which their
creed inculcated, and began TO nflict on other
religions, and on dissenting sccts oftheir own
religion, pcrsccutons more aggravated than
| those which their own apostles had endured
Tho ten prosecutions Of Pagan Em2erors
wore exceeded in atfocity by the niasgacres
and murders perpetratod by Christian hands;
and in vain shall we examine the records of
imperial tyranny for an engine Of cruelty O.
quail TO the Holy IguisitiOR Every RELIGIOUS
Sect however meek in its origin, commenced
the work Of persecution as soon as it acquired
political power The framors of the constitu.
ton recognized tho eternal prin.iplo, that
mans relation with his God is above human
legislation, and his rights Of conscience un-
alionaDle. Reasoning was not necessary 10
establish this truth we arc conscious Of II
IN our own bosoms. Ii ia this consciousness
which, in defiance of human laws, has sus
tanned 80 many martyrs in tortures and in
flames. They .(ch that their duty to God was
superior 10 human onoctmcnts, and that man
could exercise no authority over their con.
science; it is an inborn principle which moth
ing can eradicate.
The bigot, in the pride Of his authority, may
lose light of it--but strip hun of his power;
prescribe a faith TO him which his conscience
rejects, threaten him ia turn with tho dun.
geon and the faggot; and the spirit which |
God has implanted in him, rises up in rebel |
lion and dciivs you. Did the primitive Christ.
ians ask that Government should recognize |
and observe their religious institutions All |
they asked was toteration; ali they complained |
OF was persecution. What did tho Protest
ants of Germany, or the Hugenots of France,
ask of their Catholic superiors' 7oioration
What do the prosecuted Catholics of ireland
ask ofthoir oppressors' Tolra{ion.
Do not all men in this country enjoy ev.
cry religious right which martyrs and
saints ever asked? Whence, then, the
voice Of complaint? Who is il, that, in the !
full enjoyment ofovery principle which hu-
man laws can secure, wishes to wrest
portion Of these principles from his neigh
bor? DO the petitioners allege that they
cannot consclentiously participate in the
profits Of the maiEOontracts and post Offices,
because the mail is carried on Sunday? III
this be their motive ,thon it is worldly gain
which stimulates to action, and not virtue
or religion. Do they complain that men,
less conscientious in relation to the Sab |
bath, obtain advantages over them, by re
ceivlng their letters aud attending TO their
contents? Still their motive is worldly !
and selfish. But if their motive be to in |
duce Congress to sanction by law their
religious opinions and obse,rances, then
their efforts are to be resisted, as in their
tendency fatal both to religious and polti-
cal freedom.-Wby have the petitioners
confined their prayer to the mails? Why |
have they not requested that the Govern
ment be required to suspend oil its execu-
tive functions on that day? Why do they |
not require us to enact, that our ships shall |
not sail--that our armies shall not march |
that officers ofjustice shall not seize the
suspected, or guard the convictsd2 They
seem to forget that Government is as nee
cssary on Sunday as on any other day Of
the week. The spirit of evil does notrcst
on that day. II is the Government, ever
active inits functions, which enables us all, |
even the petitioners, TO worship in our
churches in peace. Our Government fur
nshes very few blessings like our mails.
They bear, from the centre of our republic
to its distant extremes, the acts Of our leg
islative bodies, the decisions of the judicia-
ry, and the orders ofibe Executive. Their
speed is often essential to the defence Of
the country, the suppression Of crime. and |