Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1847-12-16

"The blessings of civil and religious liberty are en-.
joyed by us in an uneXamped degree"
Mr.. EDIToR.-One would naturally suppose that
the above precious sentiment was uttered by some
beardless bow who altar havi~e ruhhsl his
ganst the walls Of an academy and taught district
school, had been elected to the lofty position of 18th Of
July orator. Or, that it was culled from the frothy
droppings of some stump demaaogue, who solicit
ing the votes of the "dear people," Or, to look it,
tie higher, that it found in the exordium of some
message, emanating from some slayeholdng Governor
or President But none would even suspect that the
above patriotic extract is taken from the Pastoral Let
Ter Of the House of Bishops Of the Protestant Epsco-
pal Church. This House lately met in General Con
venon in the city of New York, and was composed Of
twenty-five Bishops; thirteen from the slave states
and twelve from the free. These Bishops are men Of
great talents, profound learning and, as we trust Of
devoted pety and it is not cxavagant to say that no
body of dlvnes in these modern times, SURPRISES the
House Of Bishops in real dignity. The sentiment is
no new onet is familiar to every onc-it is found in
songs aud ballads odes and lyrics essays and oraons
speeches and messages; but never before, to my
knowledge, has dgnifed body of Divues given il
their deliberate sanction. When the sentiment is ut
tered amid torrent of frothy eloqucuce from fourth
of July stand, or in the halls Of legislation, in po
ltcal message, excitcs surprise whatever it is
in perfect harmony with such harrangues. But when
twenty-five Of the soundest divnes in this country all
Of them Bishops in the church of God lend their sane
ton to the sentiment it assumes more serious aspect
and may, with proprlety excite surprise. When the
political demagogue utters the sentiment every one
Knows that it must be taken in a limited and qualified
sense, and that it comes near to the truth as the
generality Of such harrangues; but in so grave doc
ument Pastoral Letter, we do not expect to find
sentiments which need limiting and qualifying to make
them hamonize with truth. The sentiment, when re-
strcted to the free states, in its civil aspect is, no
doubt, true but not in its religious. There are con-
gregatons of colored persons in the free States be-
longing to the Episcopal Chcrch, which are not allow
ed representation in the conventions of the Diocese.
The canons of the church provide that every ogunz-
ed congregation shall be entitled to a representation
on the floor of the convention; but there are co ored
congregations in tie cities Of New York and Phade-
pha whose delegates have been driven from the doors
of their respective conventions; and yet the Bishops
10 whom these facts are well known declare that our
religious liberties are unexampled" These coored
congregations have repeatedly pettonrd their respect
i've conventions that they might enjoy this "unexam
pied liberty" and yet the petitions of those whose only
crime was the stamp Of God, have been treated with
contempt by both people and Bishops; and they are
obliged to submit to and rules in the fra ming
of which they have had no voice If this is religious
liberty without parallel, what is intolerance? But
in the slave states, the religious aspect of the sen
ment does not begin to be true. Colored commun-
cants Of the Episcopal church more admitted to
their conventions than the heather from Africa nor
am aware that they are admitted TO holy orders or to
any Office important station in the church and yet
these northern Bishops could endorse the sentiment
that "our religious Liberties ure unexamped." These
southern dgnitares must have known that their color
! ed communicates deprived of great many ber-
ties which others enjoy; that they not eligible to
any Office station above servude that they are ig-
norant, degraded and superstitous that the glorious
light of the gospel is not permitted to shine into their
darkened minds and yet all this they regard as con-
sstent with the enjoyment of unparalleled liberty
s Many these southern Bishops are savehoders.-
Bishop Elliot of Georgia, is man of wealth. and owns