Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1841-1853, 1845-04-24
Re.irio,.s ToIcraiion.

The present is moment in which it is peculiarly
TO be desired Lat men should acquire correct notions
not only of the absolute right to enjoy freedom of
science but also OF the full length and breadth of that
right when correctly understood.
Many may admit the soundness Of the excellent
maxims of William Penn; that mistakes about reli-
gion are known only to God and that sforce might
make hypocrltes. Bat would make converts - they
may even admit, in words, the position assumed in
the first regulations Of that great man for the govern
ment of Pennsylvania and since incorporated into the
constitution of this and of of sister States
that every man has inherent right to worship God
according 10 the dictates of his own conscence and
yet when they to the practical business of pri-
vate life, oflegisation and of government, they may
act in gross inconsistency with the principles whose
truth they have acknowledged.
They may be very jealous against persecution for
opinions sake, when directed against themselves or
against those who hold or have held like doctrines
with themselves, in atty country in any tge, and
yet be very ready to become practical mitators of the
very prosecutors whose evil deeds they much con-
denim. They may, in trade in private intercourse,
shun and stigmatze of exemplary lives, because
they hold belief which it is impossible for them
change at will, and because they not such hypo-
critics as to pretend to think otherwise than they
really do think thus holding out direct inducements
to duplicity and deceit.
While they support the general principle of free
dem of opinion contained IN our constitution they
may nevertheless favor course of legislation which
practically denies that principle by giving, in one
form other, advantages and facilities to one or more
secs which are withheld from other sects
thus in substance, imposing an actual penalty upon
the assumed offence of holding particular form of
faith.
And In the choice of public officers and the admin
lstratlon OF public affairs, they may raise hue and
cry against enc or more classes of believers which
viii operate punishment really as would fine
and Imprisonment. In short, they are willing that
every body should freely enjoy their opinions,
prorided that these opinions are sound and provided
also that they themselves shall be the sole judges of
the true standard Of orthodoxy.
All such courses are unjust truly theft
robbery; for a man has as much right to the enjoy
ment of the opinions which he FORMS through the men,
tai industry of reecton TO the properly which he
produces through the manual industry of mechanical
| labor.
The prescription of which we have been speaking,
is not only unjust but also highly mpotc, in those
who practise 1t. They render themselves by it IN
comfortable and misanthropic: they are in conse-
quence of it, compelled to meet constantly as foes
with whom they might otherwise meet friends
they lay foundation for the exercise against them
selves in turn, of that prescription which they
exercise against Others and they sap the principles
upon which the freedom and prosperity of the whole
| nation depend
History and experience demonstrate the fact, that
in the matter of intolerance, In reference to other
wrongs, If holds true, both Of individuals and Of sects;
the 'iHedSuTe We DC 1led-
sured to you again" He must be blind indeed, who
can imagine that it is possible to form and execute
scheme of prescription in politics, Bearing upon the
sect most obnoxious for the moment, without the re-
suit following, that soon that sect is effectuay
prescribed both the zeal of bigoHy and the selfish
thirst of Office viii combine, with added enthusiasm
and energy for the prescription Of other sects which
shall stand In their way, after the original object Of
their hate has becor1e less formidable.
| BY prescribing politically ON account of their
religious faith, Democracy would infict most dam
gerous wound upon ITSELF in circumScribing the field
ID which it may seek for faithful, competent and
true to uphold and carry out its principles and by
Introducing other tests than honesty, ability and de-
mocratc principles, it would the true tests to
be overlooked and would give It's support to strange
political deities.
/ History teaches the truth, that men may in
lgious doctrine and yet be sound IN political doctrine,
and rice UerSd 1t shows that there have been
countries, in some of which professionalism, in some
catholicism, and in some even pagansm the faith
of the majority and yet political freedom existed and
the religious rights Of the minority were respected;
and it shows also that in those countries where poll
teal tyranny, aristocracy and despotism have pre-
vailed, in some one, and IN some another OF
those forms of religion were preponderant
Hence we should learn the lesson. that however
jealous we may be in the support and propagation of
our peculiar religious faith should yield to others
the right to do likewise, and avoid mixing into poll
tics all questions of doctrine which do not directly
involve practical justice and morality between man
and man.