The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1851-07-18
contributed more than others. We do not say did
more for all fought and fought nobly, through the


war; but We say contributed more, o. OF the prin-
cipes involved in their ecclesiastical governments
Every sect, one exception, added something; and
thus the constitution came out compounded of the
excellences Of all, that all were interested, and
saw something OF themselves in it, The Episco-
palians loved royalty and, whatever they may pre-
tend, had nothing to do with our present constitu-
ton. That what the Baptists contributed was
mainly the democratic element, is obvious from
all their movements, and ut every turning point Of
their history 1t is as natural for them to be demo
cratic as it is for them to be at alit is the dispo
sition in which the mind is cast il is tn, very genius
OF their religious system, which is continually
brought before them at every vote Of their meet
ipgs, and which stimulates their alterations.
The Bsptists, somehow, have a mortal antipathy
to religious establishments, and no class Of our
citizens have done mere than they have to rid the
country Of those intolerable nuisanc ss-they do
tested the very name. AT the time of the English
Reformation, while some were rejoicing ut the
great things attained, the Baptists demurred and
said it did not 60 far enough. They had felt the
yoke gall, and determined to leave means I'M
used for dashng to pieces the letters and breaking
The great struggle on the field Of Virginia, which
ended in perfect emanci patton, is 6ne specimen
of the moral heroism of these sons of the Reforma-
tion, and it shows how unremitting were their
exertons to obtain liberty of conscience. In the
midst of their struggles they secured the interest
of the famous Patrick Henry. The political revolu-
ton rolling with impetuous force, regardless
Of al the vegss OF royalty n the state or the
looked on as the inseparable appendages Of the
monarchy, while the Bapts.s were known to be re-
pu blicans from principle, and had great interest
amongst the common people. The time was gone
by when they would cheerfully have paid their
tithes, if they could, even then, have obtained
liberty of c0nscience and, now, nothing less tn IN
total overthrow Of all ecclesiastical distinctions
would satisfy their determined vehemence, and,
having started the decaying edifce, every Baptist
put to his shoulder to push it to irrerievable run
and they succeeded. The revolutionary party found
the sacrifice must be made, and they made it,
When bill was brought forward in 1874, " estab-
fishing provisions for the teachers Of The Christian
religion" the Virginia Baptists were the only sect
who took open stand against the measure; and in
l79o, when the Legislature repealed all laws vest
ing property in the hands Of any religious sect, the
Episcopalians were Mt deprived Of their glebes
&c, and all persua 'ions were put upon perfect
equality, This had long been a prime object At
Baptsts represented to Jefferson the need Of secur
ing an equal influence, and religious freedom to all
persuasioEs. Jefferson saw the practical working
of the plan, and was very much pleased with
democracy from the Baptists. The Presbyte-
rians themselves might have been suspected
Of leaning the other way; and when they
declined the honor OF an alliance with the
State it might have been supposed they saw causes
in existence which would prevent the match, and
therefore they forbade the bands But no such sus-
pcion can attach itself to the Baptists and to them
we are, in great measure, indebted for our pre-
sent religious liberty 1t is proof Of their indomi-
table energy and hatred of establishments that they
were so much persecuted by Episcopalisns, and yet
remained firm TO the revolutionary interest through
the war. But 1t was a war against crowns and
mitres, and they were determined to fight it out.
The establishment first used the sword and the
Baptists were determined she should perish by it.
In the questions Of the age, the Baptsts, for the
most part, act In mass, not from any previous
concert; they are democratic from habit, the idea
being forced upon them by the genius of their reli
gous institutions. We know it is said they were
once democratic almost universally, but that now
they are very much abated. But query-Has not
The word democracy changed little from its orig
nal signifca lion and has it not changed in about
The same degree the Baptists have abated Their
their well known obstnacy as to the
meaning Of the word baptiZe, are now co nmon-
place ideas and have, in fact, passed into proverb
It is usually accounted for by considering that this
IS the main point of the system-that it s their rock;
and they are obliged to make rock of it; that if
hey were to give up this, the whole system |
would tumble TO pieces by its own gravitation
alone. so far We understand it. But b Is this ex-
,lusiveness no influence the politics of the coun-
Try, in large body, covering wi h its institutions
he whole United States, and present At every point,
ian 1t be possible that such body should produce |
10 opinions and impressions, furnish any gene
al principles, amongst the masses with whom it |
comes IN contact To ascertain this, We have only |
% 60 into the neighbornood Of some long establish
ID Baptist church, in the country, and shall find
hat the rules Of action, aud even the modes Of |
thinking, are many Of them drawn, unconsciously
IT course, from the religious system they are con
'ersant with, and applied to other subjects This
endency Of things was perceived by franklin and
jefferson, who, though without being professors of
ebgion themselves, tried to infuse the religious
'rincpe into the national enterprise the elecri:
,ower which alone could make men stand erect
Ind the Hon. Daniel Webster tells US the neri-
an revolution could not have liv, n single day,
tut from its supposed connection with the Christian
elgion. Now, suppose this exclusveness to be what
nen take II to be, and that the whole government
we're placed in their hands, what should we expectl
hat the same exclusiveness-the same Jealousy Of
oreign Interchangeable same iron spikes, so to
peak, would stand around the State which stand
ound the church; we should expect low tariff mea-
uIes, to enlarge the communion-a disposition to
atioral aggrandizement-a propensity to turn
he arms Of the country against every nation
Ehere spiritual or earthly despotisms exist,
'hether We have anything to do with the IN
r not; and in which of the great poll
ical parties Of the day, do we see these very
IL is true, these principles, to "a great
xtent, are ncutralzed by the counter clemens Of
ther parties; but this only shows the fine practt
al working Of our system of government, winch is
he wonder of the London Times, that materials so
iscordant should work In 1t with as much Gaze as
|, like the wheels Of clock, they had been fitted
efore hard, to perfect the machinery and make 1t
trke true time. Thus il is churches work. The
'resby terrain gives the representative system,
Ibich, lest it should run into ogarchy, is held in
hey ance by the constant tendencies of the demo.
ratio element. Our government is made for these
title local disturbances we complain of are the ee-
lents OF harmony in the greater working of the
eneial system. 20 long as things 20 as they
ave done, our prosperity must go oa to be uuex-
IMPLIED; nor is it easy to calculate the prospects of
country to which continent supplies territ Dry,
nd the other population.
But, IL may be asked, how does this church
and as to the subjects Of temperance, education,
avery, and others, that agitate the pubic mindi
IA the question Of temperance she has done too
iuch, and thereby secured too little. She has
ushed the matter, so to speak, through thick
nd thin, of physical, and even moral therapeu ics
no produced reaction in the very masses she in
ended to benefit, recomme nding death to the sick
ian, a. has frequently been done, in preference to
he wines and stimulaDts prescribed by his physi
ians to subdue his fever and bring about his
oh' alescence. IL arose from popular ignoran 20;
nd, where the physician has not been positive
reat numbers have died We may reckon about
ne-third Of those who die OF chronic diseases, in
ONE parts OF the country, az victims to these
weeping and fanatical me asures STILL the ooisct
good, and In the case Of healthy men, the bao-
st principles are about the best that could be at