Rutland herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1823-1847, 1840-01-28

tcS ~ fhr remembrance OF nat cnusiiurncN
10 illo aspirations thai daily ascend from ms
place 4 naiiou's Representatives. lcglsia'ing
iof a grcsi People. looking up 20 TIC God Of
Nations ior blessings on that People. and on
the legislation which - most deeply 20 affect
siicir Interests What a sight ior angels IS
this
AL ;hrn there j.. connected with and crow
ming the whole the NOBLE idea, brought out
with such beauty and fierce Va the eloquent
speech ofihe gcnilcman from NergIna mean
fAf enfAorssd. public recognition by Tie Two
Houses Of Congress oflhe Being and the fio'-
idcuce OF God--ab aticsiaiion 81 ne deeP con
ytciion that in HIM the nation lives. and moves
and has its being To many, in0ced u may
all be bot mere forn-aa IDLE, uninednlhg
ceremony Bot q nevertheless stands oui be
fore the world a. the pledge OF na'ion $ alle-
giance 10 the God Of Ileyen Revoke this
pledro-romoye this landmark-soi the con
icmpaied example. aud YOU begin work
whose ead YOU cannot see. IN, let Us beware
of,hr influence Of such an example, and re-
member that. WITHOUT the strong conservative
influence Of conscious dependence and res
possibility pervsding ihis land, the forms of
our Governments, with their highest sanctions
and their strongest bulw0rks, viii become but
as the SPIDERS web before the wild blasts Of
revolutionary fury which viii sweep over our
country when 10 authority Of Omnlpotence
shall be unhoedod and disrcgardod
Bu, there Is another hight IN which this sub
iec, Is 10 be viewed. The question before us
Is not whether wo shall now, for the frs, time,
Introduce religious worship into tins i!alI but
whether, having had ishefcior half atentury,
We shall ,urH u out. Now, sir, whatever we
may think--wih however pure motives we
may perform the act, 1t will be impossible TO
a. III. a.. Il. u
any other character than that OF Indifference
at least il not actual hostility. to the religion
( Of our fathers The Congress Of the United
States cannot endure even the forms of rellg-
I ion Ii has tficd them for half a century, and
: finds them a vain, idle, and prottless ceremo-
nv" Such will he the taunt of infdcity
4 Who here is willing Ia give an occasion for
I it
Sir. we ar a city set upon hill, that cannot
be hid II is not our business TO teach rclig-
ion, except by example but it is our business
10 understand its connection with all good gov
eminent. and TO he watchful that we do moth
! ing. either as individuals or public body,
/ 10 diminish its sacredness, weaken its sane
/ tons, or impair its purifying influence on the
public mind.
Prayer is the only visible tie save the oath
YOU are authorized 10 administer, which binds
this dody to the throne OF the All-Powerul
: and All-Wise Shall we sunder IL Can we
do it; and be guil,less Can we do II without
shocking the moral feeling of the country !
Are We aware how widespread and deep is the
feeling of dependence How naturally the
heart OF fra. feeble, guilty man leans on the
support of Almighty Power-looks to the gui-
dance Of Perfect Wisdom, and hopes in the
mercy of Infinite Love II we think that this
feeling Is confined to those who make a formal
profession of religion, we are mistaken. Pray
er is the natural breathing OF conscious DEEPEN
dcncc. A conviction of its propriety and obi
CATION is nearly universal insomuch that there
is scarcely nation OF tribe of men upon earth
where are not TO be found affairs inscribed,
either 10 the " unknown Cod who is ''ignor-
antly worshipped," or to Him ''that made the
world, and gyeth TO all life, and breath and
all things"
Never, perhaps. was there nationn which
this feeling was more universal, or where ii
was under the guidance OF a higher intelll-
gence, than in this nation, at the commence
ment Of It's existence. Our fathers called, IN
the day of trouble on Him who promises 10
"answer !" and who did answer them, by sea
sonable and signal deliyerances From
feeble band we have become great nation.
On foundations laid by wisdom sought from
above, has been reared noble supersiructure
and we are, at this moment, rejoicing in the
iulness OF blessings unequalle1 in the history
of men. And shall we, nou, forget the Being
who has thus wrought for us deliveranccs-
impaired wisdom 20 our councils given ma
tuity and strength, TO our Institutions, and
made us a great and prosperous nation Can
we separate ourselves from His providence
Can we stand a moment in our own strength,
or walk step in the light of our own unaided
wisdoml
Tell me not, sir, that all this has no connex-
ION with the proposition we are now consider
ing. Sir, il has much 10 do with, il. From
no place will neglect or refusal to "acknowl-
edge" God tell with greater effect on the
country than from this Hall, What we do is
no, done IN corner. The power of our ex-
ample is lremendr 5. Not more surely would
a disease ofthe heart be felt through the human
system. than would the act which the motion
before US conremplates send a chilling moral
influence TO the very eXtremlties OF our Union.
But, sir, clear as are the benefits OF the usage
we are considering and obvious as would be
the evils OF It's disconunuance, there Is an Oh
lection still unconsidcred which seems 10 be
regarded by some as quite insumountable. II
VIII, say gentlemen, produce union Of Church
and State. Let Us consider this obIec uun.
What is a union of Church and State II
is 4 union Of ecclesiastical and civil power.
In Great Britain, the church IS represented IN
the House Of Lords, and the Government
compcls the support Of the church, The col
lection Of tithcs for the suppsQpi the ministry
and the imposition OF civil disabilities upon
those who are not within the pale OF church
communion. arc among the o5lous pecuhariuc'
OF this union.
Il is onlv TO define the union o
Church aud State 10 perceive al once that It is
among the last Of the evils to be apprehende,