Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1841-05-28

u. 5, on account OF Tile denth of GeD. HARRISON.
GAS the thing is something new, it merits cxaml-
nation; and as after waiting week two, nothing
that have seen has appeared the subject, except
ing in commentator b. those Editors who 90 for the
party right wrong, will beg the privilege of occu'
plying your columns with be! notice OF the SUBJECT
"Eirst The appointing of set times OF fasting and
prayer by magistrates, TO be observed by reSous So
cietes is an assumption of power which does not be-
long to their province: il mnglng OF the affairs be-
longing to The Kingdom of Christ with those belong
ing To the Governments of this world The assunp
ton of such power by Presidents and Governors has
no doubt arisen, part at least from an ignorance or
want of consideration of the difference existing in the
economy Of the religion of God, since the coming of
the Lord Jesus Christ, who has established KINGDOM
Of this ie0rd and spiritual worship, and that
nomy which previously existed, whilst the worship of
God was connected with The National Government OF
Israel. The fact is Christians have one to guide them
in their worship, 10 whose directions alone they would
do well to adhere, leaving magistrates TO govern in
the affairs of civil polity only. can see no mate
rial difference between magistrates attempting to
dictate 10 when TO pray, or hew TO pray, that
is, giving US by authority prayer book and rltu-
al. But in the simple act of appointing day of
fasting and prayer Mr. Tyler has preccdents before
him. The Governors of several of the States have
been in the uniform practice Of making such appoint
ments and there have been one or more instances OF
such appointments being made by former Presidents.
ne elder Adams, think, appointed one and am
mol certain but similar appointment was made by Mr.
III view OIL the late war Win lDoHe
ut tue instance OF JOINT resolution OF Congress At
any rate several of the Federal Governors appointed
special days OF fasting, expressive of their opposition to
the last war But all such appointments have had pro-
spectve view; that the design to seek OF God 10
avert threatened judgments, remove such as were
hanging over country Ant this is the proper pro-
vince of prayer whether Matt nal or Scriptura
Of it, that is, to entreat Of God the eoval ofevs under
which suffering, with which we are threat
ened. 1t would be e. prcsumpucus is dle 10 al
1 e.. L..
past in the Government Of God President 1'ylers
| Proclamation has, however, wholly retrospective
view he assigns, the ground for appointing his FAST
the death of General Harrison. Mr. Tyler will have
the honor If such il be, Of introducing entirely
order in the annals Of lasting, different from whatever
before Obtained, whether among Jews, Papists, New
England Pu.ilans There would have been some plau.
slby in the appointment of this fast, that is accord
ing TO the Of asts, had Mr. Tyler assigned the
ground for il specified National sin, for which he
considered the death Of Gen. Harrison rebnke from
God. For instance. if it had been appointed &C.
count of the wicked measures employed to elect the
General and bring this party into power there would
have been good reason for IT, Indeed many weeks OF
fasting would fall short Of doing adequate penance for
the in guilty, both moral and political, invoked in the
cabin carousas and hnrd cder rcyrs resor,cd to- BY
those claiming to be the better sort ~ people, to accom-
plish the elevation of him whom God has laid
low Not Tor the sin which merited the rebuke Of
for the doatrous, frantic worship paid to
the man--nor for the mock mourning in grapes ut the
fall of Democracy does Mr. Tyler call to fast; but
because Gen Harrison is dead The religious soce-
ties are to meet in their several places of worship 10
fast and pray over man dcdd and buried And as
sembed to attend the appointed service, what to De
the subject of our pettion3 Is It that the late Presi-
dent may be again raised TO life and restored to Office:
suspect not doubt whether such lnterposltion OF
Divine sovereignty, if praying and fasting could
obtain it, would be altogether acceptable TO MIR. Tyler
himself And certainly Tie object is not to pray the
late President, out Of Purgatory the Priests Of the Ca
lhoc order claim that alone their prerogatvc.
"Before Mr. Tyler appoints another fast for the dead,
il might be well FIR him TO consider the example OF
King David. During the sickness Of his child he fast
ed and lay upon the earth: but when the child was
dead he arose, washed and anointed HIMSELF and ate
bread. Being enquired of concerning the of his
conduct he replied, No,e he is dcad, pherorc shonld
fast' Can Hiring him back again IshaA goto him,
G9t lie shall not return to mo.
alt, however, may be supposed, that President Tyler
has too much 10 suppose that the dead can be
raised By fasting and that the object IN appointing the
fast is keep mp excitement in favor Of the party;
that is BY paving Gen. Harrison national respect
which was not paid to Washington Jefferson, any
OF the truly great Of our country, or natlona!
fast was appointed account Of the death OF
either of them,) 10 give him popularity IN death
like that given him in life; that as the party rose
TO power through decking the living General with an
ina ginary popularity they would retain that power
by giving to the dead President honors which belong
not 10 him. And such suspect is the fact But If so,
what awful wickedness What prcsumptuous insult
offered to the Majesty of Heaven, in pretending to fast
before him. when the object is to carry the schemes OF
party. Well might the people trenlbe on account OF
it, If President Tyler thus mock the sanctity OF
religions worship and Jezabel like, appoint fast out
Of political strata GEM what security can we any longer
have of continuance Of religious rights unto us.
The same policy has led the head Of the party thus TO
ntrude upon the sacred precincts Of religion may lead
the party, being in power TO overturn the whsle iao.
rc Of religious liberty, whenever an occasion shall
offer 10 promute their plans.
81 would thus warn citizens TO awake to the dan
GER that awaits them train laid in this fast, which,
il suffered 10 be fred by party madness, will, IN The cx-
ploson, bury both our civil and religious Liberties IN
ruins.
"The apprehension, that by bringing the old New
England Church and State party into power, our rel-
pieus Liberties would be endangered, was rdicued BY
many, but bids fair to be realized And, IN
Decd in n way not anticipated. For, We little thought
Of the first move being made BY Vlrg'nIan But SO NJ
and how long before that Constitutional Liberty, which
we have long enjoyed, will be trampled in runs, ~
known only 10 Him in whose hands are the destInes OF
all people. "a DEMOCfAI.
"Aprl -, H."
ADDITIONAL.
Since receiving the above Communication, we nave
seen some attacks made upon in some OF the wing
papers for entering respectful protest against the
uRcconmeaGaticn. Among these IS the y. Lou.
rer q. W. Webb's papcr)-now conducted, IN part,
sneak it more in sorrow, than in ungcr-but we are
sorry to see the falling off in lie manners Of Mr. Da-
nics, since he has become as 'oclated with that pa
per. Is it, that the cameeor has taken The hue
of the object on which it rep ses Or, IS IT. that
according to the old saying, Evil communca-
lion corrup,s uood manners - Whatever be the
cause il is certain that few Wing Editors IN the
Union have been more coarse liberal towards US,
personally, than the present conductors OF the "
Courier and Enquirer. And never dad formerly meet
with more manly and generous bearing, than the
quondam Editor of the y. Y Gazette. THIS, however,
BY The way The structures Of the Courier upon the
suggestions which We thought it duty 10 submit on
the Acting Presidents accommodation, were par
ticnary harsh and offensive. But we feel no dispo.
son to retaliatc. II age makes US "a driscl'er,
what does Mr. D. think of himsef' But If such be the
character of the few remarks which We submitted on
the Fast what will he say to the following letter from
MIR. Jefferson
THE "REr.IGIoUs POWER" OF THE PRESIDENT.
When Jefferson was President, clergyman wrote
to hun during of general alarm from an anti
cpa,ed war with Great Britain, recommending HIM to
pl apart day of fasting and prayer. As the reply OF