Hawk-eye. [volume] (Burlington, Iowa) 1843-1845, 1844-10-24

urs; but in the ira asa ctions vi our constl-
utsd authorities let all the outward forms
i respect be shown TO christianity and its
minister's.
We have no disposition to interfere with
he private sentiments Of Mr. Hall, but we
would beg to suggest TO him that his pub
ic exposition Of them is more suited to ths
atmosphere OF the doggery and the tap
oom. than TO the halls of Legislation =
Nor can We in this connection avoid hint
ing to our Wing friends in Henry County,
that if they had done their trhole duty,
their county would not have had the I'M
enviable distinction of furnishing the NOV |
or Of this amendment, nor would the whole |
Territory have shared the disgrace of the
debate originating therefrom.
The fourth article of the Bill of Rights, |
as reported by the committee on that branch
of the Constitution is as follows
ART. A. No religious test shall be re
quirt as qualification for any Office or pub
lie trust, and no person she II be deprived of
any Of his rights, privileges, capacities or
disqualified for the performance of any OF
his duties public or private in consequence OF
his opinions on the subject o: religion.
This being reported by strict construc-
tionists, we must seize upon its most obvi-
Gus meaning. lfby it, we are TO understand
that full immunity is to be given to men,
who openly deny the existence of a Supreme
Being and scout at any oyerruling first
cause, we must be permitted to enter our
obj ections at once. If the oath of an avow.
ed atheist, is to have the same force of evi.
dence with that of the men who acknowl-
edge an allegiance to the Divinity who cre-
ated them, the inducements to a believing
spirit, are as nothing when in contrast with
the temptations to bold skepticism. We
do not wish TO push this test to the extent
of some other State Constitutions, where a
belief in a state Of future reward and retri.
button, is an essential to the cornpe tency o.
a witness, but we do insist upon it as sound
| in ethics and in politics, that the rights and
property Of Il citizen, should not be at the
mercy of an oath, which is but solemn
mockery. Leaving the modern transcenden-
talism of opinion to find its proper point in
human estimation, there are but two con.
| trolling principles in the hearts of mankind;
the hope Of reward and the fear Of punish.
ment. With the devout believer this sense
Of accountability is not restricted by the
narrow limits Of the life here, but stretches
far into that to come. With the Infdel no
responsibility ceases with the code framed
BY hands mortal as his own. Behind him
is chaos, and chaos is the shadowy realm be.
yond. The insensible dust which enshrin.
ed the rebellicus spirit, relapses again to
its element, and the spirit itself passes into
an eternal oblivion.
The controlling form Of public opinion
the strong influences Of society may restrain
from outward exhibitions Of vice, and a
native kindness OF Temperament prompt to
deeds OF charity and good will hu these are
|ou,ward and visible acts, carrying their
own inducement, and bearing their own
fruit. The crime Of perjury is OF another
type; the eyes that scan the daily walk
keep no ward over the secret chambers OF
the heart. Secure from the penalty OF a
violated Statute, by the unshared councils
Of his own bosom. and fearing no expiation
in the dreamless sleep which swallows up
his being, the slightest infuc nee of interest
Ia mere feathers weight Of malice, might
lieopardse at any moment the liberty and
life ola fellow being.
Can there be an Inconsistency more pal.
pable, than to imprecate the sanction of the
Most High to the telling 'of the truth the
whole truth and nothing but the truth, !"
when the person thus lifting up his hand,
SCOTS at the existence Of such Being, and
sneers at the sublime doctrines Of the Mai !.
esty OF Heaven us an allegory suited TO
amuse children Of the play house and the
nursery.
But would you entirely discranchise men
who have these opinions? They are not
abridged Of their rights; person and proper
| ty are protected. Let them be to a certain
| extent eligible to Office. But the law of self
protection demands that no member of
municipality should hold all that he has OF
earthly value both Of person and goods by
the uncertain tenure Of the testimony of a
hardened Atheist.
A MIsTAKE.-The Editor Of the "Hawk.
Eye" published in Burlington, Iowa, writ.
ing under date of 30th August, an account
of the Wing Convention for his paper has,
no doubt unintentionally, made mistake
tie says 1.-The procession was led off by
800 ladies-Mrs John Bell and a lady aged
50. in front, on foot, &c. The honor of
this patriotic act OF devotion to the Wing
cause is due to Mrs EPHRAIM H. Foster and
not to Mrs John Bell. Mrs Bell was present
at the Convention, but did not lead the pro-
ccssion on foot.-Ndshrille Banner.
The mistake was indeed unintentional.
II by committing it we have created the
Impression that there was any lack of pat.
riotism on the part Of Mrs FOSTER, the lady
Of the talented Senator from Tennessee, we
trust the above correction from the Ban.
ner will set that matter all right. None
can appreciate the influence the ladies of
Tennessee have cxertcd in behalf of the
hest interests of their country during tho