Monongalia mirror. [volume] (Morgantown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1855, 1853-09-24
An Effort 10 Secure Religious Liberty
to American Citizens throughout
The World.

DINH w SplIS 'SSo u"s "'S ~
Mississippi Baptist State Convention
followed it with another strong pe'l-
tion, which was presented by Mr.
Wilcox. We have good reasons to
believe that should the present Con-
grcss bo strongly petitioncd that the
presen, administration would take
early measures to SECURE The exercise
Of religious liberty for all our minis
ters and citizens under the various
governments with which we now
treat. This is asking Of them no more
than it is our dutyto ask-No more
than it is our right TO secure, and no
more than we freely grant to the Min
listers and Consuls, and to tho citizens
of foreign countries who reside here
With what reason can the Court at
ST. Petersburg, or the Pho Nino, or
the Sublime Porte, ask a Minister
from our government when they are
unwilling that he should exercise the
liberty of conscience in the worship
of God-lhat lie and his family should
be allowed to worship the God ofhis
fathers! 1t is demanding that our
Ministers. and our Consuls, and our
Charge dc. Affairs, and merchants
whom our commerce with those na-
tions call to their shores, should re-
llophniice c,uhiic,te their religion, since they deny
them the privilege ofpublic worship
AT the last session of the Southern
Baptist Convention a Special Com
mi,,ee was appointed TO tako this mat,
ter into consideration, which resulted
in the following ..
REPORT: .....
"Tho Committee to whom was re-
lerred the subject of the expedlency
of memorializing Congress in refer
ence to securing to American citizens
the unmolested exercise Of religious
worship, recommend the presentation
of the following memorial:
"To the Honorable, the President,
and the Senate Of the United States,
in Congress assembled :--t aas
"The memorial Of the Southern
Baptist Convention respectfully show
eth: That your mcmorialists are
members of arcligious body, which
embraces large and respectable por-
ton of the citizens Of the United
States. -s. .1"a.-a '.
The object Of their petition isone
which, in the estimation of your me.
moriais,s, and in that of hundreds of
thousands Of Christians in this land,
embraces interests ofvast Importance.
As tho community ofcivilized nations
find it necessary for the protection OF
the persons. property and rights OF
their respective inhabitants, when Wis
i,ing foreign countries, to enter into
treaties with each other, and to estab-
lish resident officers abroad, in order
to watch over and secure these rights,
i, seems to your memorialists as rea-
sonablc, aud justifablc, to provide in
our treaties for the security Of free
federation in religious worship. as for
the security and the enjoyment OF
any other rights. All intercourse
amongcivilzcd nations must be based
on fair exchange Of privileges, and
reciprocity Of advantages and i'm
munities-and therefore as the citi.
izcns and subjects of all nations with
whom we form treaties, enjoy the
free and unmolestcd exercise of their
religious opinions and worship on
our shores, wo think this great and
powerful Republic owes it to her cit
izeus who reside in, or visit foreign
countries, 10 include in their treaties,
not only stipula,ions for their COM
mercial and their social rights, but
also n guarantee for freedom from
molrstation in their religious worship,
IL right deemed more sacred and i'm
portant by Christian nations than any
other privilege. Your memorialists
in behalf oftho body which they rep
resent, and ut,ering the sentiments Of
millions Of their fellow citizens, in
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