The Rhode-Island Republican. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1809-1841, 1835-07-22
THE TERMS
From the Mercury.


ing my own sect, will take the liberty
of looking for the important truths ofthe
Christian religion wherever they may be
found because | believe them to be as
useful for our happiness in this world, as
IN the world TO come +; because am con.
fident that they are the necessary founda.
tion of all good government being essen
tally democratic in their tendency, and
thesefore, offer the only guarantee for the
preservation ofthis Union.
Christ was the Prince of Peace. The
Quakers abjure all wars, and strife.-
Christianity proscribes swearing and
the Quakers do not think that the truth is
TO be found in an oath. The precepts of
Christ lead to equal justice, and equal
justice would be nece ssarily productive
of great political, and much civil equal.
ty. The Quakers are simple III their
apparel, frugal In their living, and have in
consequence, very few poor among them.
Thus is there more equality among the
Quakers, than in the other sccts notwith.
standing the great want Of equal Justice
In the general laws to which they are
obliged to submit those laws which lead
TO violence and war, as well as those
which produce excessive inequality be.
tween man and man class and Glass;
Thus far do we find the Quallers true
Christians in practice, although they have
been denied the title altogether. Thus
far do we find that their practice, leads to
a much greater amount ofmorality than is
to be found in any other denomination of
christians, and TO vastly less criminal acts.
Yet do Quakers labor under the disadvan-
tage of unequal, and unjust laws, and bad
examples. The former have an effect
on them beyond their control and the
latter are more or less pcrniciouS, among
their weaker brethren.
Now can Legislators, or jurists believe,
after this bright example in the practice
of few undisputcd christian truths. that
oaths are necessary to clicitc the truth
from witness. The very judges who
refuse to administer an oath, and conse-
quently to admit the testimony of res
pcctable witness, because that witness
does not believe what they do, would deny
the name of Christian to Il Quaker, or a
Univcrsalist, or perhaps to a Unitarian.
Is this equal Justice Is this conducive to
christian morality ? Could the Ministers
of the Gospel, # they uere so disposed,
contend with the whole civil authorities,
who are thus by false Legislation, aud in-
judicious adjudication, ,sapping the founda-
ton of morality, and sowing the seeds of
vice in the very temples consecratcd TO
justice There appears to be something
wrong i'll thi; process, which lfwlse men
do not look too soon, will be looked to
probably, by those who have deep in
terest in political justice; | mean an en-
quiring people.
Legislators, and Lawyers, seem not to
be aware of the revolution which is now
at work in the minds of men, i'll America,
as well as in Europe. That revolution is
in favor of political justice, which the
people have lately discovered to be eX-
cessively defective and all TO their dis
advantage. The time is coming i'll which
the people will care less about names of
leaders, or denomination of parties,or the
quantity of labor performed by the aid Of
machinery, or by the aid of protective
laws but much more about the Just com.
pcnsaton of labor, and the equitable dis.
tribution ofits fruits.
That the Courts of Justice should en-
deavour by every possible means to i'll
crease their power, and bring every thing
to their tribunal, is to be expected. The
greatest lawyer of England has said, that
it is the duty of Judges to extend their
jurisdiction. The last injunction at our
law schools, arc also TO that effect. Thus
do we sec a strong disposition to practice
on this precept, whenever an occasion
offers. See how ready they arc to enter
into the sectarian discussions ofthe sever.
ing religious communities Yet where is
the law TO be applied in such cases Is it
the ecclesiastical canon law Is the Jew.
ish code open to them Is the Bible part
of the common law Of America, as it was
falsely said to be part of the English
law !
lfall this be true, every particle of pro-
perty now held by every Church in Amo.
rica, is held al the mercy of the Courts
and the varying opinions of judges may
cause il to shift from ma jornles TO minori-
ties, and blck again, as often as that may
appear in Court; for the Judges may de-
eide what is the true laith,and what is not,
and So finally establish such a form Of
religion as they may see fit.
The right lately assumed by Judges, OF
giving such tiIrn to every cause which
they may hear,and decide ca, Is sufficient.
ly alarming for thus they now can do
BY excluding from Court all such wItues-
ses as They shall say are Incompetent
IL Is not enough tO say, that honorable