Anti-slavery bugle. [volume] (New-Lisbon, Ohio) 1845-1861, 1853-01-15
VOL. 8
Religious Freedom.

Cass has been selected as the champion Of its
members. On the third inst. he presented in
the Senate, memorial in behalf Of that body,
praying for Intervention, to secure the enjoy
ment by Americans in Europe, Of religious
liberty. The General is eloquent in defence Of
freedom Of conscience, and his indignation
burns against esprit rappers and those VINO
porvert the scriptures and destroy civil order
and the marriage relation" Who these last
arc, docs not exactly appear from his speech,
so every one can make the application for him
self, and it occurs to us that Mormon poligamy,
is not more subversivc of the marriage relation,
than tho cherished institution Of these Baptist
memoriasts. As TO freedom Of conscience.
We have yet to learn that any European gov
ornment treads il down more wantonly and
wckedly, than this same American Govern.
mcnt, which proposes now to interfere with
the domestic institutions Of Europe. General
Cass and his momoralists, are probably of tho
opinion that conscience has nothing to do with
human actions. That its provinccis exclusively
with sectarian dogmas, and religious FORMS
Hence that brazcn facodness, which prevents
their blushing at the thought of interference in
behalf of religious liberty in Europe, while
executing the fugitive slave law at home
They show their egrcgous ignorance and wick
edness both, whom they present themselves
zcalously to advocate freedom for thought
and forms of religion, and then punish with
pains and penalties, the highest practical en-
bodiment of true religion, If the European
governments to whom Mr.. Cass proposes to
appeal, shall comply with their requirements,
it will be for other considerations, than those
of moral influence. On that score their inter-
ference will be treated only with mockery and
contempt. Mr.. Hale replied very appropriately.
Mr.. Cass said:
awe have a right to be heard in such an ap- -
peal as this, for we have tried the great expert
mcnt--an experiment no longcr-ior it has be-
come experience, of the entire separation Of
Church ard State, and have shown that unre-
strictcd freedom of worship is not only best for
the political interests of a country, but best for
the interest of religion itself. Unfortunately,
the errors of the dark ages have not yet wholly
yielded to the progress of truth, and in many
countries the civil authority impiously under
takes to exclude any form Of religion but their
own; and non. conformity is not alone want
of conformity to the will of God, but the Of
fence of prelcrring the Divine viii to that Of
the ruler. Human presumption has never
gone further than in the erection of a standard :.
of faith, with which all must agree or be sub
jected to the penalties OF tho government here +,
and to the accommodation of the church
hereafter. So far as regards the profession of
particular doctrine as a necessary qualif alton
for ofhce-howevcr We may lament its presump-
ton and injustice-we have no rational cause
OF complaint, as that is question of national
policy; and nothing better illustrates the slow
progress Of truth in these old countries where
1t has many interests and prcjudces to encoun-
ter, than tho fact that even in England, with all
her real claims to freedom and intelligence, a
Jew to this day cannot occupy scat in PSrlis-
meEt without taking an oath by which he alb
jures his own faith and the religion of his fore
fathers; but we have right to expect from all
friendly nations that American citizens be per
mitted to enjoy liberty of worship wherever
they may go. There is not the slightest reason
able objection 10 such q demand, it ought not
indeed to be necessary, for this unworthy sys-
TEN OF intolerance has not the least foundation
in reason oI religion, it is mere relic of bar
barism, converting the religion Of the Gospel
into AN engine of State, and substituting human
faliibility for those personal convictions of re.
lisious belief which every one should exercise q
for himself, and for the exercise of which every
one is responsible
Independent of its connection with the hu-
man destiny hereafter believe the fall of our
republican government is indssolubly bound
up with the fate Of the Christian religion, and
that people that reject its holy faith will fnd
themselves the slaves of their own evil passions,
and of arbitrary power; and am free to ack-
nowledge that do not see altogether without
anxiety some Of the signs which are shadowed
forth around us-a weak imagination with
somc and irrcguloted passions with others
producing founders and followers of strange,
doctrines, whose tendencies it is easier to per-
ceive, than it is to account for their origin and
progress. But they will find their career and
their remedy not in legislation, but in a sound
religious opinion-whether they inculcate an
appeal to God by means of stocks and stones
and rappings, the latest and most ridiculous
experiment upon human credulity; or whether
they seek to pervert the Scriptures to the pur-
poses of their own libidinous passions, by des-
troying that safeguard of religion and social
order, the institution of marriage. and by Lead y
ing lives of unrestricted intercourse, they are
making proselytes to a miserable imposture,
unworthy of our nature. by the foundations of
unbridlcd lust. This same trial was made in
Germany some three centuries ago, in period.
of strange denominations, and failed and it will
fail here. Where the word of God is free to
all, no such vile doctrine can permanently ss,