American Republican and Baltimore daily clipper. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1844-1846, 1845-05-24

RELIGIOUS FEDERATION. A correspondence
between Mr.. Joseph Simpson, of Baltimore, Got
the Hebrew persuaslon,) and john Tyler, Presl-
dent of the United States, has been submitted
to our perusal with liberty to publish the whole
or so much oft as we might deem proper. Tho
occasion of MIR. simpsons writing to president
Tyler was, notice which appeared in the Re-
publican and Argus Of the 2Sth June, 1915,
to the following e!lect--''A convention Of the
officers Of the army and navy, and others m
terested in the promotion Of Christianity III the
several branches of the public service, IS to be
held in New York on the 2Gth Jaly. General
Scott is eXpecc ed to preside.
This notice Mr.. Simpson objected to, as he
apprehended the design of holding the conven-
! ton to be, TO make appointments in the army
and navy and to other offices dependent upon
the profession Of christianity. Under this I'M
preston MIR. Simpson sent long and we'll
written letter to the President, objecting to the
introduction of religious distinctions into any
department of the public Notwithstanding to
the constitutional guarantee of perfect tolera-
ton of religious opinlon-aad insisting that
talents, integrity and fitness, should alone be
considered in making appointments to Office
as otherwise we should be in danger of con-
meeting church and state. To this letter Pre-
sdent Tyler made the following reply, which
we publish in extenso, us setting forth the true
principles upon which our government is found
ed, so far as relates to the subject of religious
| profession.
"WAsHINGToN, July 10, 1913.
/ Dear Sir,-The notice which you mention in
your letter of the Sd inst, has been only called
to my attention by your reference to it. pre-
sumo that it is nothing more than contcm-
/ plated assemblage of certain officers of the Army
and Navy in their character Of citizens and Chris
tidnS, having for its object the incubation upon
others, Of their religious enets, for, as they be-
/ lieve the benefit and advantage of mankind.
/ a similar CALL on the part Of any other religi-
Gus sect, would be alike tolerated under our
institutions The Government has nothing to
do with tho publication; nor has it issued from
any one of the Departments. Whether Genl
/ Scott is to preside over the meeting, ! am not
/ in any way, other than through your letter, in
| formed. If he attends, it will not, and cannot
| be, in his character of General in Chief Of the
Army. He will necessarily for the time being
lay aside his sword and epau(etts, and appear,
it is true, as distlngHi' hcd citizen, but IN no
other light than a. 4 C.lzcn. Was he He
brew, and of the same tribe with YOURSELF his
right to preside in your Synagogue, if permit
ted or required by your laws, would in no man
ner affect him in his military character; nor
Iot
the Government for so doing. The t. States
have adventured upon great and noble eXpe-
riment which is believed to have been haZarded
in the absence of all previous precedent-that
of total separation of Church and State. No
religious establishment by Lnr exists among us
The conscience is left free from all restraint,
and each is permitted to worship his Maker al
ter his own Judgment. The offices OF the Go
vernment are open alike to all. No tithes are
levied to support an established Hierarchy nor
is the talbe Judgment OF man set up the
only sure and intallible creed of faith. The
Alahommedan, if he were 10 come among us,
, would have the privilege guaranteed to him by
, the Constitution, to worship according to the
: Koran; and the East Indian might erect Il
shrine to BIahma, If it so pleased him. Such
is the spirit OF liberation incucated by our po-
litcal Institutions. The fruits visible in
the universal contentment which every where
prevails. Christians are broken up into vari-
Gus sects, but we have no persecution, no stake
rack--no compulson or force, no furious or BIZ
gotted zeal; but each and all move on in their
selected sphere, and worship the Great Creator
according to their own forms and ceremonies.
/ The Hebrew, prosecuted and down-trodden in
other regions, takes up his abode among Us
with none to make him afraid. He may boast,
as well as he can, of his descent from the Pa
trurchs of old--of his wise men III council, and
strong men in battle. lie may evermore turn
his eye to JuGea resting with confidence on the
promise that is made him of his restoration to
that Holy land, and he may worship the God
of his fathers after the manner that that wor-
ship was conducted by Aaron and hs success
sors in the Priesthood, and the Egis of the Go
vernment is over him to defend and protect
him. Such is the great experiment which we
have tried, and such are the happy fruits which
have resulted from it: our system of free 60
vernment would be imperfect without it.
The body may be oppressed and manacled
and vet survive; but if the mind OF man be tet-
tered, its energies and faculties perish, and what
remains is of the earth, earthly. Mind should
be free the light or as the air.
While | remain connected with the Govern
8 ment be assured, sir, that so far as the Execu-
tive action is concerned, the guarantees OF the
Constitution in this great particular will know
no dmnution.
For your kind expression of good will to-
wards Inc personally, | beg you to accept my
thanks, along with my best wishes for your
health and happiness.
f JOHN TYLER"
) SUPPOSED MURDER. MIR. Ebenezer Fowler,
carpenter, of Memphis, Tenn, was missing, on