Vermont telegraph. [volume] (Brandon [Vt.]) 1828-1843, 1837-04-05


be any suchthing in the United States.
J. From more thangffy years observation
arm convinced that CORDS or names often
have more influence on the mass of men
than things, and that the abuse and mis-
application Of terms NAV Counteract the
best, and promote the aOOrst political meas.
ures.
will take this opportunity to remark
on a peculiarly in the institution Of the
Girard College. If | am not misinform,
ed, according to the will of the founder,
the Christian religion cannot be made a
subject of instruction, and clorgymen are
-precluded from being trustees, and from
having my concern with the education OF
the pupils.
Now, sir, in my view, the Christian re-
Iigion is the most important and one ofthe
first things in which all children, under
a free government, ought to be instructed
. ln this institution it is gilmore importance,
cs the pupils will be orphans, and may be
destitute of parental instruction.
No truth is more evident to nv mind,
than that the Christian religion must be
the. basis Of any government intended TO
secure the rights and privileges of free
people. The opinion that human rea-
son, left without the constant control of
Divine laws and commands, will preserve
a Just administration, secure freedom, and
other rights, restrain men from violations
Of laws and constitutions, and give dura-
ton to a popular government, is as Chi
mericaI GS the most extravagant ideas that
enter the head of maniac The history
of Tic whole world refutes it; our own
ncholy experience rcfutes it,
When speak oflhe Christian religion
as the basis of government, l do not mean
en- ecclesiastical establishment, creed, or
rites, forms and ceremonies, or any com,
pulsion Of conscience. l mean primitive
Christianity, in its simplicity, as taught
by Christ and his apostles; consisting in
a belief in the being, projections, and
moral government Of God in the reveIa-
ton Of. his will to men, as their supreme
rule Of action in mans accountability TO
God for his conduct In this life, and in the
indispensable obligation Of men 10 yield
entire obedience to Gods commands in the
moral law and in the Gospel This be-
lief and this practice may consist with diff
erentforms Of Church government, which
not being essential to Christianity, need
not enter into any system of education.
Where will you find any code Of laws,
among civilized men, in which the COM
mands and prohibitions are not founded on
Christian principles need not specify
the prohibition Of murder, robbery, theft
trespass; but commercial and social reg,
uIations arc all derived from those prnci
pies, or intended to enforce them.
The laws Of contracts and bills OF OK
change, are founded on the principles o
justice, the basis Of all security of rig b;
in society. The laws Of insurance ar,
founded on the Christian principles O
benevolence, and intended to protect mel
from want and distress. The provision
of law for the relief of the poor, are il
pursuance of Christian principles. Ever,
wise code Of laws must embrace the mair
principles of the religion of Christ.
Now the most efficient support Of hu
man laws, is, the fnIl belief that the sub
Ijects Of such laws are accountobicto high
er authority than human tribunals. In
halter and the penitentiary may RESTRAIN
many men from overt criminal acts bu
it is the fear Of God, and q reverence 10
his authority and commands, which aIon
can control and subdue the will, whe
} tempted by ambition and interest to VIC
late the laws. Whatever superficial OF
servers may think, it is beyond que'
ton, that the small band Of real Christian
: In Protestant countries, has more init
ence in securing order and peace in s.
: ciety, than all the civil officers Of govern
ment. Just in proportion as the inftnenc
, of such men is impaired, is the lncreaS
: Of crimes and outrages upon the rights
= individuals and upon the public peace.
: 1t has been a misfortune to the cltlzel
7 Of this couDtry, that from their abhCrr9n'
/ of the ecclesiastical tyranny Of certain o
D ders of the clergy in Europe, they ha'
e contracted strong prcjudices against tt
n clergy in this country, who have Meth
/ rank nor tempora! power, and whose
s fuence is derived soIel y from their Pc
G sonal attainments and worth, and the
n official services.
e The clergy in this country are gene
: ally mon of learning, and Of good Pr'n
l. pies. They have been uniformly AMI pr
l, eminently the friends Of education and
a civil liberty. The learned clergy amo'
e. the first settlers Of New-Engiand b
lie great influence in founding the most gt
lie uine republican governments ever torm'
ar and which, with all the faults and dete
- OF the men in their laws. were the b
In republican governments on earth. Att
es moment the people OF this country are
"a debted chiefly to their institutions for
en- rights and privileges which are enJoye'
n &. Iltw,sxk. IL al olornU