Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1841-1853, 1852-07-01
INDIANA STATE SENTINEL.
General Pierce and the Religious Test ir New
Hampshire.


As we promised yesterday, we now give the record
in full on this subject. We copy il from the official
port of the proceedings of the New Hampshire consttu-
tOnal convention, published at the time OF Its session
In the "Daly PATRIOT of November IA, 1850 and SUBJ
sequenty in the New Hampshire PATRIOT of April "a,
1851.
Our readers will observe the strong and conclusive op
position both of General Pierce and Judge Woodbury. to
the test clause in question; and they will that Gen.
eral Pierce denounces it ga stigma the pages oil
the constitution. They will also perceive the pertina-
cous support OF the obnoxious clause by Mr. Chamber
lan the Wing leader IN the convention and their candI
date for governor Bot It's gratifying to know that Mr.
Chamberlain voted down and the obnoxious clause
upon the argument Of General Pierce and Judge Wood
bury, by large aOry, struck out Of the constitution
From the 'Day Patriot o November Il, 1851
COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE.
On motion of Mr.. Parker, Of Nashua, the convention
resolved itself into the Committee of the Whole on the
report oil the Committee on Property Qnahncatons anu
Religious Tests, (Mr. Sawyer, Of Nashua, IN the
chair .
Religious fes-The first resolution, striking ont all
religious tests, taken up.
Judge Woodbury. made the following remarks:
Nh. CHAIRMAN: Being opposed TO the test, tnat
Of principal Offices shall not be ned except Dy
persons of the Protestant religion ask leave 10 oner
few reasons for it. do II quite as much 10 Vholcate
fathers in part for inserting II myself Tor resisting
it, Constitutions is conceded, ought to be duraUe
instruments, being the great fundamental laws passed y
the people, and lasting times ours has, without
shadow of change for half century yet am wiling,
when provision like this becomes hostile TO the tolerant
spirit Of the age and ghtened public opinion,
TO expunge it at once from system oil government
do this too the readily at the present moment IN
order present another illustration to the world how
easily laws and even constitutions, where obectonabie
can be changed and rechanged In this Tree country with
violence and to measures reasonable to
public liberty and the safety well best interest OF
our blessed Union. Nor is it that oppose religion, but
support il. | neither deistc innovatng rashly
On little examination it will be found that this test
erep into the constitution originally under temporary
impulse and without having any influence on the affairs
of the State practically they then stood. This the
yndcation OF our fathers.
Tradition says-and probably had it in early life
from the venerable parent OF the member from EPPng
Mr.. Plumer]-hat parent, the Nestor oil the pollti
clans of that generation and sole survivor of the conven
ton OF 79l-hat the provision inserted In 1854 TO
repel taunts which had been flung by some alter the
French alliance that there was TO be an alliance also
with the French religion, and the establishment OF 1t
here. The provision fell then stlborn-so lew Catho
lies existed in the State But in 1871 the improperly
Of retaining it on principle became so manifest, that
after Intellectual efforts, the convention voted
it, and majority of the people concurred with
them; yet not being quite two thirds the provision re-
NAMED though against the will of decided majority
The principle of the was, then, so odlous,
that, Catholics increased since in the State, from
handful then another convention weud, think
long this, have been called for expungng this alone
had they become numerous had the test been much
more than brutum fumen, used practically to OPP
press them. If any against Catholic persecu
lions of the Puritans abroad mingled with this and rem
dered preludces stronger with against erasing the
test, they ought for persecution by Laud
and the Episcopalians in England, to have excluded
them also. But it right to exclude neither. Now,
under more suspicious circumstances, we have, and
trust WILL improve the opportunity to do justice to all
There is dread of French influence French
religion. The rights Of all Christians at least TO equal
freedom and power in system Of government, have
become practical question: and should of course be
settled broad enlightened, and humane principles
Fifty years. with their discussions, and researches and
experiments have poured flood Of light the true
nature OF liberty of conscience and all its great sale
guards. Let us them do what fathers themselves
would, if now living, under increased light and expert
ence.
How does the question stand under republican prnc
pies Of government! By them constitutions and laws
made more to protect rights than to confer them.
They are made for protecting liberty, equality,
science, property and life, rather than to give most oil
these, to establish any particular Of religious
opinions. This is not that religion is minor concern
and not IN some view the greatest for an immortal
being, but rather that religion between God
and man. and seldom to be interfered with by govern
mens. Such intoeran interference has caused
OF blood to flow, and millions to perish the stake, and
Of great causes which expelled our fathers
to wilderness and the mercy of savage foes. The
publican government afterwards established here should
if republican principles, shield all in their rel
gous tenets while conducting peacefully and protect all
in their pursuits and worship, however different, while
acting good citizens it becomes suicidal, and, like
desPosm Persecutes differences of opinions and
duces the grosSest irregularities.
How does the question stand the principles oil
bill of rights2
1t is forced admit that each sect should enjoy and
it does enjoy here, the privilege to hold property IL
to hold that why to protect it by laws which each
helps to make! 1t comedies TO each sect the right
for injuries character for injuries children and
wife, and to worship God in freedom. Why not then
let them aid in legislating to protect all these? You
hold out the husk, but withdraw the kernel. You allow
firearms but neither gunpowder lead to load them
and make them effective. In the bill of rights You
pledge also to all equality but afterwards by this
test you make all but Proestants unequal You pro-
mise entire freedom Of conscience ALL and treat it in
the 4th article as so high privilege not to be in any
way unalenable and yet you leave others than Protes
tants defenceless to it by DISTINGUISHING them from
filling Offices to secure it by legislation.
Ii is contrary the Declaration of Independence and
OF the very first article in your bill of rights declaring
all men equal. You do thus give TO all men equal
privileges. 1t is also in the teeth Of the same bill of
rights to say shall not be subordinate another
and still dislranchse let hold offices forbid
den TO others Ii is likewise contrary TO all sound
perlence and say, as we do that Catholics
may VOTE bat not be voted lor and that they may be
well competent for duty and the other So it is
inconsistent to say do that they may be Jurors or
Judges, yet not legisators-or agree do in the
constitution of the Union that Catholics NAV be fit and
safe for members of Congress- senator's cabinet officers
yea, Presidents-and yet denounce them unfit and
unsafe at home to represent one hundred and fifty polls in
one OF our small townships 1t is in truth much like the
great grievance which led our reyoluton-taratiOn
rhout representation All other than Protestant sects
virtually deprived Of representation as thew are
made Ineligible to the legislature Their opinions and
wishes unheard there, from themselves. They are
branded. They driven forth with mark Of Cain
for servitude and ignomny.
Why not as well explicitly say-and not do it covert.
lythat none but Protestants fit for repubc7 Why
not say that Cathalc Maryland is unfit Catholic Ire
landl Catholic Hungary Catholic France? Why
halt halfway measures7 Why not say il is a mere
creed in religious faith, and the mind heart morals
which renders suitable for selfgovernment that
establish government for the former alone, and
secure liberty, character property and lifes