The Rhode-Island Republican. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1809-1841, 1833-10-09
ia the er,s,iog Uai,ed STATES Constiiu.


in motion both here and throughout the
country. Amidst the general burst of
enthusiasm, admiration, and every feel
ing that great acts of benevolence Gun
awaken in the human heart, were also
heard the whisperngs Of discomfort and
dissatisfaction, ripening into open and
bitter denunciaiion against that passage
of his Will which excludes Clergymen
from the management of the proposed
College. A fearful rafting was created
among the dry bones Of the modern Je-
suits, Who aspire to mould free nation
and its free institution into a general
confederacy of Spanish Inqusitors.
The principles Of civil and religions
liberty, on which the Will are based, are
perhaps its greatest beauty, it's most
brilliant Ornament, and render it as far
as local object can compare with
national, a practical commentary upon,
as well rs rival of, the Declaration of
Independence itself.
The Philadelphia Churci and State
aristocracy-or modern Pharisees-or
modern Jesuiis-saw tha; to come out
at once and set the Will asIde--destroy
its principlse--alteri its purposes in that
most essential point, would endanger the
bequest, and open the eyes ofa free peo,
pie 10 the daring character of the act.
They did wiser for their day and gener-
alton. They began the work of demoli-
ton upon the Will, by sapping and
mining several Of its practical features,
before they venturcd to destroy the soul
and spirit altogether. They believed
III the people, in their transient indigna-
ton at the notorious breach of its provi-
sion in regard to the outside oflhe Col
lege, would spend all their fury before
the conspirators had reached the inter-
nal management ofthe college itself.
In seeking the accomplishment OF
these uad purp ,ses, this band of Jesuiis
have already raised thy cry Of "inhdel,"
"infdel," not only against the friends
Of civil aud religious liberty, but against
the Will itself-the memory Of The la
,nentedss Girard. We have seen it re-
peated, and reiterated for months past,
and we will see it in all its bitterness al.
the next election.
This bad faction. to serve their own
purposes, have already in neighboring
state introduced religious crceJs into
the operation of courts of law and equity.
They hive dared to trample upon the
laws--ubon the Constitution--upon the
Declaration of Independence itself, ard
have ins,gatad high Court of Appeals
to change its very nature--to transform
itself into worse than Spanish inquisi-
tion--to drag forth to the gaze of bad
world the relation aud sentiments of .the |
souI towards It's great Maker--andT to1
take away the lawful property of the
majority and give it to the minority,
under the wretched plea than "this man
Is d Quaker" and ''that man is Hicks
te."
But this was not enough The decis-
ion Of bench of Judges in New Jersey,
did not satisfy the ardent wishes of the
Church and State leaders, who from
tbs city watched with deep emotion ev-
cry step that the infatuated Court of
appeals took in that melancholy act of
lselfdestruction. Their banner is now
hoisted in this city-lhIs chosen seat Of
the modern inquisitors, who daringly a
VOW IA purpose to organize their party as
"true gospel believers - The next step
will be to. organise also board ofexam-
iners to search the heaIt Of every freeman
for infidelty-to drag forth his private
sentiments on religion-to hire spies up
on his mUtions--,o catch bis transient
expressions, and to try to convict HIM of
infdelity, irreligion, &c &C., if ho
should happen to reject their attempts
and :ontemn their power. There is no
means which ambition, under the garb
of affected sanctity and affected purity
of belief, will not adopt for the accom-
pliskmcnt Of its purposes.
The importance therefore of the ap-
preaching contest is greater, deeper,
migh,ier for good or evil, than any SIM
lar event that ever took place ia
this country. 1t is "a contest involv-
, ing the purity, the peymanence, the pre-.
valence Of the same principles for which
our ancestors left their native shares
: and first settled in these then inhospita
BILE lands; the same principles for which
they afterwards fought through the wars
. of the Revolution; the principles Of civi
e and religious lider,y; the sacred rightl
: Of FREQ opinion, as guaranteed by thu
Constitution, beyond the power of any
body of men to invade or despoil. The
! glaring spoliation Of the Girrard Trus
i in the erection of a splendid Palace In
. stead of plain edi6ce, as laid down il
/ the Will, is one of the first steps the
{ entering wedge TO moro 1agrant nsur
pntions,. NOR, desperate perversions
No mans property. no mans private
opinions no mans liberty is cafe 'if thes'
Church and State aristocrats should sue