New Orleans daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1851-1866, 1852-07-24
SATURDAY MORNING, JULY "a, 1852
Religious Freedom, federation and Fanati-
riaun

-"
naticism. 1t might be quietly assumed that at
the present day, religion was free in republics,
enjoyed n liberal liberation in the most arbitrary
Of civilized monarchies, and was not, in Europe
or America, impaired by the grossest fanati-
cism. We, however, have now before us facts
which prove that any such assumption would
be singularly incorrect
The recent nomination Of NewHampshire
gentleman, as candidate for the Presidency OF
the Union, has again brought before the pubic
the fact, that certain civil disabilities are I'M
posed upon those of the citizens of that State
whose consciences may have led them to certain
religious convictions and conclusions, We be-
lieye Jews and Roman Catholics are the objects
Of this singularly unrepublican, bgoted and
proscriptive order of State government
1t may be said that, nevertheless, religion is
free in NewHampshire. We totally deny the
proposition. A republican State removes from
certain religionists the honorable and glitter
ing prizes of office, and places them at such
point as to be accessible to them only at the
sacrifice of conscience Thus it brides con-
science, and if it yield not, it bars up, to the
honestly convinced, paths open d freely to every
other citizen and herein the former is less free,
has q narrower range Of liberty, than the lat
ter, whilst both are fellow citizens and fellow
republicans
One Of the necessary incidents of freedom is
the right lawfully to acquire what every other
citizen may acquire, and n man is not wholly
free who is merely protected from not being
robbed of all except what the State has specially
and inyidiously excepted. Even our negro
slaves cannot be robbed of what the law per-
mits them to have.
If the State of NewHampshire had a religion
there might be some color of argument for its
imposition of disabilities; but as it has none, it
is plainly case of arbitrary tyranny. There
is liberation, not freedom, of religion, in this
member of the Union.
In England, limited monarchy, with re-
cognized State Establishment a huge politi-
cal monster fattening on tithes, if there cannot
be absolute freedom, there ought, at least, to be
the most liberal liberation Of religions. In all
latitudes and in all times, We dsapprove of the
religious intolerance which ordered the exclu-
sion Of Alderman Solomon from his seat in the
House of Commons; and we admire the heroic
and lofty enthusiasm, with which, in the
ancient faith of the Ark and the Covenant, he
stood fast with his consci ence and his creed.
But even this might be passed over as making
all comment idle, in face Of the fact that the
Queen of England is the Head of the Established
Church. But certainly, there might be more
liberal liberation, in enlightened England, than
that which thunders anathema, heaps penalties,
aud a al s,fr
lgionists who may assume mere names or exhibit
in public procession the symbols of religious wor
ship and priestly office. The word Cardinal
may raise schimeras dire" in the minds OF nervous
old people, but we should think it ought
not to summon up Gorgas, or brighten all Eng
land from its propriety, We do not think there
is any thing more fearful in it than in the word
Rishop," or "Priest," or "Rabbi," or &c FL
der" But the Queen ofEngland, a very respect :
able young lady and the mother of large
family, has caught fearful import from the
word, and in an elaborate proclamation exor
cised it, and forbidden all Catholic professions
in her realm. She could not tolerate even the
veriest forms of religious worship.
The consequence has been the melancholy and
disgraceful riot, of which We publish full par
ticulars elsewhere A Sunday School procession
has given rise to pllage, dissertation and mas
sacre. Popular prejudices and religious antipa-
thies, driven to an extreme point by the Queens
proclamation of alarm-her mortal dread Of
surplices, chalices, black gowns. the hammered
cross, and Sunday School PROFESSIONS has burst
into frenzy and baptised religious hate in hui
man blood. That was a rare revel, that feast
Of passion rare ibation to religious truth,
that flow of blood; rare yindication of the
peace and dignity Of the British Crown" that
vengeful life-struggle OF human creatures; a
rare cause Of mutual butchery, that division Of
conviction and form of worship in Christian
faith! This is liberation in England
Elsewhere we publish statement that sect
numbering many thousands, and corresponding
to our Quakers, are on the point of emigratne
to this country from Germany, in consequence
of intolerance. This is liberation in Germany
In our country, singular scenes of religious TO.
naticism are presented by sectarian community
numbering many thousand souls. We refer to the
system of polygamy practiced among the Nor.
mons. The n Y. Herald of the 18th inst. pub
fishes letter from W. W. Phelps, Of Utah, sale
to be a leading Latter Day Saint, and an eide
in the Mormon Church, acknowledging tina
polygamy is practised among them, and defend
ing it, He justifes the practice, and glories j
it, in strain of obscenity which We cannot 40
init into our columns He cites Solomon, the Pa
triarchs, and numerous Scriptural texts. W
dare not give an idea Of his gross ribaldry. AZ
companying this letter is the correspondence bt
twssn Gov. Brigham Young, (Mormon.) and
=. Bracchus, (U. s. Judge) We Judge from il
that the latter was in a bad place, and instea
ofdeparting quietly, was foolish enough to eS
hort the women to reformation; the former
plsinly graduate of the tish-market, an
hlackguards the simple Judge roundly for tryin
% preach down the plurality wife-system. Ell
~ Phelps il good enough to predict that tn
lad2m Nill Aock to Salt Lake, where they Ger
taanly aust be in demand
Hefs curious question arises, can or shoul
our Government interfere to suppress this sys
IN Of ayowed polygamy' We hold that
cold and should; and that its interference
voala - neither aviolation Of religious freedor
nor : demonstration Of religious intolerance
We lay down these plain, self-maintaining Pre-
poaftions.