Richmond palladium. [volume] (Richmond, Wayne County, Ind.) 1831-1837, 1833-05-04

this as il may, my presses 1sdesstasi-
ling ofan opposite tactos law +, thntit
has reference TO criminal cases oaly.
The legislature cannot pass = law (coa-
stltationally) changing the punishment
after the crime has been committed
II cannot say that theft shalt be CAPT
tai when 1t the time Of the theft the
penalty was confinement in the peni-
Tertiary; but l presume it may say
that 20 person shall be imprisoned for
debt, and the prisoner viii be set At
moe rty, notwithstanding it was lawful
to imPrisson for default Of pay mcnt at
the time the debt was contracted.
Next ] will notice the following SEN
tence: 1.-THE Hlcksites are now q dis
tinct people from our society, having
entirely left US, as We understand it or
gained themselves into a separate
sect, holding doctrines altogether diff
ferent from ours, and from those ofthe
ancient society Of Friends" The
Hicksites as he calls u, are, a. ! have
intimated before, the society az
FRIENDS. Hicksite IS a gratuity,
bestowed on Us BY him and his friends
for purposes best known to themselves.
How far our doctrine differs from
thein, whether in part or I" altogether"
!! have no Disposition 70 dispute with
him; neither am disposed to inquire
how far their doctrines differ from
those Of the ancient society ofFriends;
all that seems necessary il, simply to
say that the society Of Friends (called
Hicks'tes BY their opPosen) hold the
same fundamental christian doctr,ne
that was first promulgated BY The m.
Gent members Of the society, maintain
the same excellent testimonies Of truth,
and observe the same good order aod
discipline that have distinguished il
from its rise.
ne are aware that our opposen
have drawn up a black list Of charges
against Us, b0tn Of what We do believe,
las the, say) and Of what We do not;
but those charges ART not applicable
to Us. They, however, having put
them forth, rs We understand 1t, to
shelter their own CO duct, it became
quite necessary that they should en-
deavor to substantiate them, Otherwise
the reaction Of pubic sentiment would
be fatal to their veiacity. iience
the martyr zeal with which they
have attempted to Easten them on us.
Thus 1t would be easy to show that
all his assertions are gratuitous, but /
shall lorbear at present with a few
more observations, lest l trcskSSsI 100
much on thy time, and the columns Of
thy paper. The writer seems to dis
dain the idea Of creeping into the leg
islature after having been caught at Il.
and says: mo, we would rather an.
peal to the courts Of the country estab-
lished for the purpose Of settling
claims, tried in fair and impartial
manner" Does he mean to say that
they had not fair and impartial rep
rescntation in the legisiatures It
seems to me that they cannot reasona
bly, expect any better success in the
courts ofthe country under their pres
>Ot organization.
Until our judicial courts give place
%, or assume the powers Of ecclesiasti-
al ones, and our judges become lden-
ified with orthodox divines, and Ger
ain doenas become the measure Of
mems civil rights, the true Christian
las but little to aPPreheDd from sects-
ian intolerance and usurpation. I
IN therefore strongly opposed to in
orPorating religious societies Of any
under any pretext what
yer, for in exact proportion to the in
reasc ofthis brood Of state churches
) the unhappy state Of society above
l;uded to, to be feared, and in the
anne ratio are the religious rights and
berties Of the people abridged.
am with respect thy friend,
WARNER M. LEEDS.
Richmond, 9Th mo. 4th, 1888.
Though probably the writer mean.
impairing the validity Of private con-