Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1841-1853, 1852-07-01

and not admit that il other than Protestant sects had
majority here these last should not also be stripped Of
power2 and that ancestors complaints Of penalties
ard acknowledgements i'll ioundeds Ii IS dong
what we have always censured in others The error Is
that this exclusion Comedies in principles that regoni
to be regulated by majority rather tnan tne sincere
conviction and conscience of each individual; that
only certain sects are moral and intelligent enough to
exercise political power, which is iaacous and ialse un
der our systems OF free schools and UNIVERSAL eduoaon
and Providence uphold correct prin
cples without feeble aid and our prescriptions anu
that Deity or his adorable Son need persecution oil some
sects to sustain and render triumphant pure reigon
So if it be insisted that one Ds
and more trustworthy than the reswhlch may as we'll
be done even among Protestants-why not trust 10 na
one alone and prescribe all the rest though Protestant
Which shall be that special lavoritef so wnlcn one
| fession shall under a like system rules
! What sect do Sidney or Locke, Jefferson, or
Madison think fit to be trusted with Legislative Powerf
How is this too in our neighboring republics DO they
thus ostracise part? On the contrary they nsu Tue
experience of the revolution aid them-by the Catho
lie Carols and Laayettes-beIng moral anu brave as
the most Puritanical-and many others oil that creed
Lave fought side by side with since at Chippewa and
Bridgewater, and under the walls OF Mexico, and
shown that their creed is deserving prescription In
short, without going further into the question now, II
seems to my mind only unjust to other sects, but
not reputable to us as people, or 10 the age Ia "mch
we i've to retain this test longer
Without fatguing the convention with more on this
OCCASION would only add that considerations like these
led the abolition Of such tests in many other OF
our sister States and in the constitution of the United
States, and In my view require us to initiate tner wise
example.
Nj PIERCE. of Concord said that he could concur
heartily in all that the gentleman from Portsmouth had
uttered EXCEPT his last remark. IL quite obvious
that far from having taxed the patience oil the COM
mittee his speeches upon both the great subjects en-
braced in the resolutions under consideration had been
listened with unqualified qualification Not because
he threw the weight of his character and the power oil
hIs arguments into the scale the side OF right IN case
where there hestancy-where the Jude ment oil
members was not definitely formed-where there was
shade Of doubt the result but because 1t was de-
rable that the grounds on which we proceed matters
OF such grave import should be stated as they nad heen
with singular force Of reasoning and beauty OF lusta
ton. 1t was also service well rendered. not less IN
yindicaton of the past than present The motives oil
the fathers Of the present constitution and oil the people
in 1892 had been placed in their true light 30 much
was due TO them Il was also due to this convention
and the people whom they represent and due TO the re-
putaton of the State abroad that it be well understood
that both Of the provsions-he religious test ana the
property quali6cation-had been dead letter. least
long the chairman MIR. Sawyerl had par
ticipaed to any extent in the councils OF the State
They had been practically imperative from Mr.. P.'s
earliest recollection The chairman would remember
that many years ago, time Of high party excite
ment it suggested that member OF the House oil
Representatives occupied his without the requisite
property qualifications. But two objections at once &C.
cured any action upon the the first was that
investigation and action instead Of rejecting one number,
might probably vacate twenty seats the second was,
that no member could probably be found to move IN
matter SO utterly repugnant to public sentiment
The religious test in the constitution had undenIably
been stigma upon the State at home and abroad. 1t
had been repeatedly named him. and once at least in
foreign land unworthy Of the intelligent and liberal
spirit of our countrymen. Although he had at times
felt keeny the reproach he had uniformly referred as
he had doubt other gentlemen bad DONE TO other
parts CT the constitution illustrating the true and
0f faith audfO these
years, blank The great question OF religious olera
ton practically settled, and settled in a manner
he reversed while retain present form OF
government, than thirty years ago. The provl-
sons claiming the attention Of the committee could
hardly be said involve open question. They had
been the subject OF discussion in every yceum, every
academy, debating club, every town; and there
subject upon which public opinion and public
feeling was so uniform and decisive. The substance
if substance they ever had-havng long since passed
he reoced that the proper occasion had at length
arrived to dispense with the form.
From the New Hampshire April "a 1851
THURSDAY, April II, 1851
Prayer by Rev. Mr. Nelson, Of Plymouth.
The Secretary read the proceedings of yesterday.
Mr.. Shaw, OF Sanbornton, introduced preamble and
resolution proposing amendment providing that the
be divided twenty -four Districts each district
elect and four five representatives
On motion of Mr. Jenness, oil Stratord the preamble
and resolution were laid on the table.
Mr.. Parker, of Nashua, submitted the following reso
luton:
Resolred That it is inexpedent for the convention
propose any further amendments to the constitution.
Which, motion of Mr.. Parker, was laid on the
table.
Mr.. Chamberlain Of Keene, from the committee
returns Of votes, presented the following report:
The committee, to whom referred the returns of
votes the amendments proposed by this convention TO
the constitution, report.
That returns have been received from all the towns in
the State excepting Brentwood and Danville in Rock
ingham; Brookheld, and Sandwich in Carol; Loudon,
in Merrimack; Hollis, and Ward in Manchester, in
Hillsborcugh; Rindge, ia Cheshire; and Cambridge, in
Coos.
The committee herewith present tables containing the
votes of the upon the several questions presented
to hem the aggregate of the votes each country and
of all the in the State upon said questions.
LEVI CHAMBERLAIN, for the committee.
The following is the aggregate vote upon the several
questions given it the report: