The mountain sentinel. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1844-1853, 1853-04-21

II
give 1t back to him; but would ba b.'l caISa
do if it could Upon the destruct;on ,.lo aHI, So t
perty Of the citizen, his policy Of ins,,.e HeliV
good for government has it in nc -au'e
atone for the weakness and remisspes.F FSSef Ssi e
VINO execute the laws and WELD its me- " Aos
OF protection. The assured looks to ,ha.1 U1sl;s
and says with truth | was taxed = INSURE
premium, restore me that which Won e,ls- PAU n!
TO protect. ''La haec foederq psein n. T,ls.1aas.
CATION OF government has been full, us us oel.
by the Legislature by enactments unor - 'ea1si
ute Book, made since the destruction 20 sg 9AL
line Convent. By an act of 1899 n CEsl'
property OF the value of fifty dollars | aly
shall be destroyed by a riotous oy - ma''
assemoiage, the city or town within wbct s~t
property was situated, shall be liabla >. Sl2
my the owner thereof. Now, Mr.. snsoLH"I-,, -'I, :,
lhlS was the duty and obligation of the gova-.
titeHI Ioa. II IooS' II was equally an obgation !.
1904 We can pass her no retroactive - 80 a
opposite Jacto laws are against tbe
OF the constitution but the etarnai 80 4e'ef
and obligation know no present Lro,- u :. is-'
know no future; they stand before ne b., - -
ana oy day, at home and abroad mas, -. -
anu reaching on into the eternal fnture ",
10 the cltlzen-woe to the commonwealth 81
HanPIes upon them. These petitions como -
because the law Of 1889 does not throw ;ts a..
around them; because an eTpoSt faeto law i S,
constitutional; because they have, bv virtna !,
TINS statute, no claim against the town of Cborl.
town. They appeal to the commonwealth Tt.-,
Is pregnant meaning in the word "eonmor
wealth, the style of nomenclature we so aoJ.
adopted for our beloved State. 1t speaks ogS.
early history-it tells the well known storv !,
early sufterings, deprivation and poyerty-a
speaks OF common interest, a common oricr
"a common destiny--it speaks of common sa.r
hces and mutual sympathy-it is an index anl
epitome Of the record of the Mayfower tbs
Covenant of Plymouth"-it speaks of tho on.
barkatlon Of a Common cause, for freedomofrs 70
hglous faith, for freedom Of political opiipoB
and the contribution of a common purse Ia tbs
general wants of the community. These nett
tlons appeal to the commonwealth. and tbpv
make that appeal emphatic by the grounds ID
on which 1t is based. Allow me, Mr.. Speaker
TO suggest a few additional reasons WHY We
should listen to the prayer Of these petitioner
and while make no appeal to the preudeey
d any denomination OF religious opinion, trug
shall avoid any conflict with the preconcei7ei
opinion, l viii not say prejudices, of any men.
Der upon the floor of the House / would sin
ply and plainly state few reasons why Mass.
,husetts should be jnst, if the claims of JuIaz
equIre argument and reason. This was an in,
titution for the reliefof want, sickness and SUI.
ering, and the education of females, whose %.
ents preferred the system adopted by that or.
er, involving no incompatibility with the per
ormanee of every social obligation.
Massachusetts, acknowledges no partieular
ect of religious opinion. The freedom Of early
raining, opinion and worship, public and pr.
ate, Is secured by the Constitution, and protec,
ed by the laws. The destruction Of the Con
ent was, to a greater or less extent, induced by
n excited though nnfounded prejudice against
religious sect. The early history of Oug
lthers Is stained by their prosecutions Of those
Iho differed from them in points Of faith There
an inconsistency in their history which their
lost earnest apologists cannot explain or de-
end and this act Of persecution, if unatoned,
Tlll stamp the history of our State with intoer.
nee Of the most cruel and unjust character.
his act Of destruction, performed in the mos.
opulous distric: of the Commonwealth, and in
he presence of police and community fully
bic to prevent 1t, is reproach TO our laws and
lose who administer the laws. We offer home
nd protection TO the oppressed of all lands, and
every shade of religious belief the good
nth of the State, and the integrity of our inst
itiOns, is at hazard when we refuse to make
us offer of protection available to those who
lPpen to differ from a majority of our people.
oppose standing armies as prejudicial TO the
ght OF freemen; we profess to believe that the
'st protection of the State is found in the laws
I'd those OF our choice who administer them.
e are bound then, to give to the citizen as
'od guaranty of protection as if battalion Of
med men protected each dwelling Ours IS
ld to be IA government Of laws and not Of
en"--it is said that we have right TO require
those who execute laws the exact and constant
OF them. 1t is conceded and fully
owed that the Magistrates of CharlestOTn
their duty, and made no serious at
mpt to prevent the destruction of the Convent.
dependent of all these considerations, drawn
ON the spirit of our Constitution and laws, 1t
'uld be a praiseworthy and magnanimous act
the part of the Legislature to make this repa-
ton. remarked in the outset that the honor
the Commonwealth was involved in this issue
believe great principle is here involved, the
velOpement of which viii adhere new lustre 10
e history of our State The days of persecu-
n have passed. Intolerance has finally dis
vered that the blood of the victim cries to
lven from the ground. The burning fagot at
lithield did Eight up flame in England
lch never will be extinguished; and the unre
'ssed wrong of the night of the 1lth Of Au-
st, 1884, has given mighty impulse TO tbs
of the Roman church. / would
appeal to the prejudices of either Romanist'
Protestants, but l will confidently assert thai
, reasons by which many justify their opPosl-
n TO this indemnifcation are the very reasons
y they should urge the earliest possible repa-
ion. Let no religious sect gain the prestige
at the expense of the universe!
Grafton of religious opinion. Refuse this IN
NIFTY, and yoa give a factious power TO the
ferers you give them vantage ground
j enlist in their behalf the sympathy for SUI
ing. have said that the honor Of our be-
ed State was involved in this issue. lspeak
rashly. Massachusetts, has rich history
is rich in the records of the past--she Is
b in the elements of greatness. She eanno'
,rd to sacrifice one jewel from her crown.
Johnston MKee alias Black Hawk
The Perry Freeman, printed at Bloomfield ana
ed Thursday last, gives the following in re
a m the disnosition of MIKE.