The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1852-06-13
THE UNION WASHINGTON SUNDAY MORNING, JUNE 49, 1852

be behind the age the standard for public liberty
What other sect shall throw at them the first stone
What one yndcae the present exclusion and not admit
that II other than Protestant seets had majority here
these last should moi also be stripped OF power and that
our ancestors complaints OF penalties and disTanchlse
Enenis were i'll founded II is doing what we have al
ways censured in others The is that this excu-
sion comedies in principle that religion is TO be rega
lated by majority rather than the conviction and
conscience OF each individuals that only certain secis
moral and intelligent enough TO exercise political
power which falaelous and false under systems OF
Tree schools aud universal education that and
Providence cannot uphold correct principles without
feeble and aud our prescriptions; and that Deity or his
adorable Son need persecution OF secs 10 sustain
and render triumphant pure religion So ii il be insisted
that denomination must be better and more trust
worthy than the restwhich may as well be done even
among Proestantswhy not trust 10 that alone and
prescribe all the rest though Protestant Which shall
be that special iavorlte So, which profession shall
under like system rule ?
What sect do Sidney, or LOCK, or Jefferson, or Mad
think lit 10 be trusted with legislative power! How
il hs too, in our neighboring republics Do they thus
oslTacse part On the contrary, they had the expert
ence OF the revelation 10 aid ihenby the Catholic Car
rolls and MISUNDERSTANDING moral and brave the most
Northumberland many others OF that creed have fought
side by side with since a, Chippewa and BridgewaleT
and under the walls OF Mexico and shown that their
creed is not deserving prescription In short, without
going further into the question now, seems TO my mind
not only unjust TO other secs, but not reputable 10 US as
people, or 10 the age which we live, 70 retain this test
longer
Without fatguing the convention with more on This
occasion, would only add that considerations like these
have led TO the abolition of such Tests in many other Of
our sister States, and IN the constitution OF the United
States, and, my views require US to initiate their wise
example
Mr. PIERCE, of Concord, said that he could concur
heartily in all that The gentleman from Portsmouth had
uttered except his last remark. Il was quite obvious
that so far from having taxed the patience OF The
mee, his speeches upon both the great subjects EN-
braced in the resolutions under consideration had been
listened 10 with unqualified gratcaton Not because be
threw the weight his high character and the power Of
where there was hesancyw where the ludgnen, OF mem
bers not definitely forned-whee there was shade
OF doubt as TO the result but because 1t was desirable
that the grounds which proceed in matters OF such
grave import should be stated, as they had been, with
singular force OF reasoning and beauty q Illustration.
1T was also service well rendered, not less IN vindlca
ton OF the past than the present The motives OF the
fathers OF the present constitution and OF the people in
1902 had been placed in their true light 80 much was
due TO them II was also due to this convention and the
people whom they represents and due To the reputation oil
the State abroad, that be well understood that both OF
the provisonsthe religious test and the property quail
fca!on-had been dead letter, at least as long as the
chairman Mr. Sawyer had participated TO extent IN
the councils OF the State They had been practically in
operative from Mr. P's earliest recollection The chair
man would remember that many years ago. al time
OF high party excitement, it suggested that mem
Der OF the House OF Representatives occupied his seat
without The requisite property qualifications. But two
objections at once occurred any action upon the sub
lec the first that investigation and action, instead
OF rejecting one member, might probably vacae twenty
seats the second was that member could probably be
iounu w moNe IN Wauei 90 utteiiy iePushaht "
pablo sentiment
The religious test in the constitution had undenaby
been stigma upon the State, at home and abroad. ii
bad been repeatedly named him. and least in
foreign land unworthy OF the intelligent and liberal
spirit of counrymen. Although he bad times felt
keenly the eproacb, be had uniformly referred, he
had doubt other gentlemen had done to other parts OF
the constitution illustrating The and free spirit
Of fathers and 10 these as, least for many years.
blank. The great question of religious toleration
practically settled and settled in 10 be
yersed while we retain present form OF government
more than thirty years ago. The provisions claim
lng the attention OF the committee could hardly be said
10 involve an open question. They had been the sub
ject OF discussion IN every lyceum, every academy de-
batting club, every Town; and there perhaps sub
jee upon whichpublic opinion and PUBLIC tsshaRYassg
ever had-having long since passed away, be reoced
that the proper occasion had length arrived to dispense
with the form.