The Northern star, and constitutionalist. [volume] (Warren, R.I.) 1834-1837, 1835-01-24

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act, ought to be- compelled, by niran- o
TAX on hIs person or property, to suppor,
any religious creed or doctrine. This
would be oppressive. and contrary TO our
no'i"ns of religious freedom but If n per-
son becomes voluntarily associated with
religious society, purchases a pew in
Their house OF worship, with knowledge
oi The docirlnc there taught and prolesscd,
It Is no hal dship for hin, to perform what
he engages to do. Should he aker his
belief or change his mind, he cnn sell his
pew and e"vo tho society. But Il he
persist in holding the pew, he should per-
iorm the condition upon which he was Ia
hold 1t, when he became the purchaser.
He ought not to be permitted to be in
strumental IN breaking up the society
lie knew when lie. became associated,
that his pew might he taxed, and ail the
other regulations of The SOCIETY.
But. Mr. Speaker, it appears to me
'that this act makes too great distinction
between our religious aud civil rights -
Civil corporations can hold and ehjoy
property To any amount, and in my opin
ION, religious corporations ought TO he
entitled to the s,me privilege, unless
gnod and substantial reasons can be CIV
cn TO the contrary. Mere ideal reasons
are insufficient, on any sound principle.
to abridge the rights OF any particular
class of citizens. Because the gentleman
from Newport may bell. We, that the ex
tending these PRIV ileges to professors of
ChrlsIianity. viii make hypocrites, IL, to
my mind, no good reason for withholding
them. The object Of Legislation, sir,
should be 10 promote the happiness of The
peoPle-to prevent an evil, or to remedy
MI evil. Where it is used to prevent.
the evil ought to be- apparent, or capabls
Of being shown. 1t should be pressing,
and such as to require the nterposition
of the Legislature When it is used to
remedy an evil, the evil must first be
shown to exist.
Toleratlon, ma Understood md taught
by Roger Williams, means nothing more
tlan person Shall not he compelled to
join any particular religious society, pro-
less any particular creed, or contribute to
the support Of any particular denomina-
tian OF christians. l. has nothing to do
with tho obligations person incurs who
voluntarily connects htnself with par
ticular sect, and freely enters into con-
tract that he will he governed by certain
rules, either relating to his belief or the
disposition of his property. III his VOL
unlary obligations ha should by law DO
compelled to perform. In being bound
IL 90 this he has no hardship to complain
,,f 10 tnaraIv narGnrp,a bi. y,,lnnfnry
agreement. For these and mauy other
reasons, Mr. Speaker, shall record my
name agninst thIs bill.
Mr Tii!inghast said he was opposed
t",this bill brcause there was no good
renson for leg!slaiing upon the subject
There was no occasion for It. IL was not
required. Wby should the people OF Il.
Island be restrained from woIshipping
aud enjoying their Creator as they may
choose, without being limited in any man
ner; Where is the necessity OF this act !!
There 10 no abuse allcdged-no com
plant is made The whole procedure
will leave an imputaii)n Of Legislation
pointed against christian religion. Eve
~ one 50 considers II. Ii ts 50 believed
uy its friends and foes.
Mir Iiihnghasi went into considera'
ton of the report of the committee ac-
company ing the original bill, compared
the language aud the alIedsed insiduous
insinuations with the writings of Hume
and Glbbon, althoush h he imputed no inn
proper motives To the Committee, yet he
aIIeJged they had gone beyond the OBJ
jcct oi their appointment. lie alluded
to the various systems OF religion in Eu-
rope, and defended the religious liberty
existing in Rhode Island from tho asper-
sions he aliedged the report aud this bill
cast upon it. lie con,endcd that this bill
abridged the religious freedom contended
tor by Roger Williams, adverted to an
act passed IN lGi1 and cited an extract
from Il. W. own book" The Bloody
Tenant" lie concluded by snyng the
blll was not called for, was unne cessury,
no evil existed Tor tlre bill TO remedy, no
complaint was made or any action oi the
Assembly called Tor, and It was direct
aud positive interference with religious
cuncernmeih.
Mr. Hazard complained that the char
acter aud object ol the bill was mlsrtpIe-
sentcd-tbat the Imputations thrown upon
the report OF the committee and the oil
were untrue, aud in the course oi tho dis
cu,sion had been again aud again reiu,ed.
ilo said It did not interfere with amy
nuns religious belief or his enjoyment
thereof. When they come to the Assem-
bly, Tor en- act OF incorporation It only said
we will give you no power to compel the
support ur this or that belief. 1t leaves
every thing to be done voluntarily. Pure
religion needed no support foln tho law.
Il supportcd itself by the power uf its own