The southern press. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1850-1852, 1852-03-06


While the public mind is SO deeply agitated
by the question of foreign Intervention, it might
be we'll to look little towards home, and pay
some attention to that system OF Intervention
which, under the influence Of fanatica excite
ments, famed into fam by trading politicians
is making rapid inroads on the liberty Of con-
science, as well opinion and action. Under
pretence Of scriptural authority, and moral re-
sponsibility for the conduct Of Others, our mod
ern reformers are perpetually besieging legsla-
tive bodies, with applications interfering with
the business, the occupations and amusements
of the citizen, and obligng him under grievous
penalties to conform to the opinions and prac-
tees of the petitioners. This species Of inter-
vention in the affairs of others, this meddiing
fanaticism, is ut war with those equal rights
guaranteed to every citizen, by all our constltu'
tons, as well as volative of those restrictions
they impose on legislation; and should these
fanatcal and political combnatons--as there is
great reason to fear-become sufficiently pow
erful to give tone to our Legislation, would not
plNc TX III COHoHNuSHh"i 6""'""SSS'' ~"OJ
will one by one, or all at once, be Frustrated by
the "IIigher Law" Of Senator SEWARD, and the
conscientious scrupes of Tom, Dick and Harry.
A blast from down east-from Portland, or
Passamaq oaddy-wil sweep over the land, and
there is reason 10 apprehend, that it may one
day become sin to cat flesh, not only in lent
but all the year round.
This is a species of Intervention in the affairs
of others, which is not within the province of
any government, founded on the great principle
of equal rights nor, indeed, any government
whatever. The great end and object of all civil
governments is the security Of person and prop
erty--to protect the weak from the strong the
honest man from the rogue. The proper func-
ton of legislation is to ensure these results as
far as practicable. 1t has no business to inter-
fere with the private opinions, habits or pursuits
fanny man, so long as he does not contravene
the laws established for these purposes, or in
terfere with the right of Others There he must
stop, and there he becomes proper subject for
legislative restrictions, or punishment.
The Mormons--for example-have perfect
right to believe in Joe Smith or Brigham Young,
and that the whole earth was given to them as
an Inheritance; but if in the practical exemplifi-
cation of their doctrines they violate the laws of
all the rest of the communities with which they
are associated, the latter have clear and per-
feet right, either to compel their obedience or
expel them from the association into which they
voluntarily entered, with the understanding that
they would conform to- these civil laws and in
stitutons. But as it is impossible to serve
God and mammon, SO it is equally impossible
to obey the revelations of Joe Smith or Brigham
Young, and the laws of the United States, at the
same time. A plurality of wives, for example,
directly interferes with all our social and domes
tic relations, and to reconcile it with our system
of laws, would require not only radical charge,
but bold subversion. Nothing in that great
series of conservative measures, called the COM
promise, appears to me more remarkable than
the admission ola territory, inhabited by people
whose religion imposes on them the obligation
of perpetually violating the laws by which every
other member of the confederation is governed
The consequences are already beginning to
develope themselves. They will become still
more serious as these fanatics increase in num-
bers, and their representatives acquire influence
in the government by becoming members ofthe
two Houses of Congress. Occasions may arise
in which they will hold the balance of power in
the decision of Presidential election. There
will then, without doubt, be great contest be-
tween the higher law of Joe Smith, and the
higher law of Senator Seward, unless they
should form a coalition, which appears very
probable, rs there is striking family likeness
in the creeds of the two great prophets But to
come back to the point.
The growing practice of the pulpit interfering
with the functions oflegislation, and Legislators
with those of the pulpit, is fraught with most
mischievous consequences It is the province
of the former to exercise its salutary influence
on the religion, the morals, and habits of man
kind, and lead them into the right way by pre-
cept as well as example. Ii is the province of
ties of the citizen, to enforce their observance,
and punish their violation. In doing this it has
no right, whatever, to violate constitutional
guarantees to the freedom of action and opin-
ion, or interfere with those natural rights which
have not been surrendered up to the general wei
fare Of all alike The liberties of that country
are in great danger where fanatical exctements
govern, or even influence legislation.
| The Cincinnati Commercial has spread abroad
| reports that Gov. Kossuth quarreled with the
committee in that City, before lee wing, and treated
them in the most insolent manner, because they
had failed to secure as much "material aid " as hi
had been led to expect The committee, through
their chairman, brand the entire statement as false
and after referring to their last interview with thu
Magyar, say, "that every individual member gath
| cred from that last interview, more implicit faith