The Rhode-Island Republican. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1809-1841, 1835-11-25

Tomorrow is Thanksgiving-the jubilee of tn,
Yankees. The day set apart by authority for re-
turning our annual thanks to the Creator Of al
things, and for devourlng roast turkeys, plum pud
dngs, and pumpkin pies We of that dcnonl-
nalon of the human species, christians if you
please, who do not think it of much consequence
whether we fill our stomach with better things, or
attempt to offer more acceptable worship to God on
the morrow, than do on the day preceding, or,
the day succeeding it. We have been taught, no
matter how, or from what source that it is more
blessings on one day than on another. We have
an innate rcpugnunce to any such set mode of re-
turning thanks for favors received mercics cx-
tended We are entirely averse to all religious
forms and ceremonies, instituted by authority, or
dictated to by the powers that be. In word VIC
are genuine Rhode-lslanders. We are proud of
being so, and if there is one thing more than anoth-
er in the character of civil institutions for vi hch
we feel sincerely thankful it is for this that lot
generally think upon this subject as do. Our
fathers have had in former days frequent and
we're struggles for the maintenance of perfect free
dom of opinion in matters of religious worship, and
we their children, have not been wholly without our
share, but we are thankful, yea, abundantiy thank
tuI that we have been able to maintain the princi-
pies of religious worship transmitted 10 us in as
great degree of purity they now exist among
us-grcater perhaps than in any other civil commu
nifty on the face of the earth. For such blessings
we shall be thankful tomorrow, the day after, and
from day to day till we deprived of them.
Let us be understood upon this subject. We are
not opposed to thanksgiving in itself, bnt to the ap
pointment of any set day for that purpose. We
think n subject with which civil authority has moth
ing do for tine simple reason that it is repugnant to
our privilege citizens Of Rhode-Island and for
the additional reasons that it never has and never
can from the nature of things, answer any good
or useful purpose. 1t is as much beyond the power
of civil magistrate TO make men thankful to God
for the blessings they enjoy, as it is to make them
all think alike In regard to matters of religion and
his one would think has been tried full often euough
in the history of the world satisfy the most zeal
rus of the utter impossbiIity of the attempt
What make man thankful or in other words
sec the day when he shall above oil others feel So
How utterly absurd how consummately ridiculous
Compared to which an attempt to stay the planets
their career direct the of the winds would
DC quite as plausible aud quite practicable. We
ire opposed to the institution then not only for its
mpracticability, its inutilty, but for still weightier
casou, we say it is than useless. Ii is of an
vii tendency, and calculated like all other similar
Institutions to give mankind. the great mass of them
vc mean, who are either not capable, or viii not
AXE the trouble to think for themselves upon the
ubjcct, very justiiabc reason, in the opinion of
he world for being of thankful spirit on this day
, the exclusion of all others. Even supposing 1t
,cre in the power of civil authority to do so much,
he evil would greatly overbalance the good arising
ut of the institution. Bot when as must be ob'i-
us to the most unthinkng Of our species, 1t is i'm
ossibe hy human meansio attain evcn the 'rifling