Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1853-01-08
CONGhESS.
MONDAY, JANUARY 3, 1858.
IN SENATE.

II IN SENhIE
II INTERROGATION IN FAVOR OF RELIGIOUS PRIVILEGE!
/ MIR. CASS Mr. President, have been requested I,
present the petition which send to the Clerks table
from the Maryland Baptist Union Association, asking thu
nterposton Of the United States to Americans
abroad the rights of religious worship according to the
conciences and to move It's reference TO the appropriate
committee do this with pleasure not only from regard
TO the motives and position of those who make this app
cation but also because heartily with them in
the importance of the object and in the proprety of call
ing the attention of the Government to an object dear
to Us and to the world its consequences and here
after. This body of pious and intelligent christians
an1iousy desire the freedom Of religious worship for
their countrymen wherever the accidents of life may
them Audit not strange that this sentiment should be
strongly felt and strongly expressed in this land of Gospel
liberty but tits strange that in this age of the world and
in this day Of intellectual advancement, any obstacle
should be nerposed by any Government in christendom
prevent the believers in the faith of Jesus from follow
ing the dictates of their conscience and while rendering
unto Caesar the things that Cesars prohibit them from
rendering unto God the things that Gods agreeaby
TO their convictions Of the inuncons Of his divine
word coincide fully with the signers of this petition
that the best of all freedom the freedom of conscience
and that there is tyranny revolving as that which
/ tyrannzes the mind
Here Mr. SMITH objected to the remarks of Mr.. CAss,
being in order upon the presentation of petition
But the Senate permitted Mr.. CAss to go on.
We have right (said Mr. CAss) to be heard in such
appeal this for we have tried the great experiment.
experiment longer, for it has become experience
Of the entire separation of Church and State and have
shown that unrestricted freedom of worship not only
best for the political interests of country but best for
the interests of religion itself Unfortunately the
of the dark ages have not yet wholly yielded to the
progress of truth and in many countries the civil
hority mrJusy undertakes to exclude any form of re
gion but its own and conformity is not the want of
conformity the will of God but the offence of prefer
ring the Divine will to that Of the ruler Human pre-
sumption has gone further than in the erection Of
standard of faith with which all must agree be subject
to the penalties of the Government here and to the denun
Citations of the church hereafter So far as regards tho
profession OF particular doctrine necessary cualis
cation for office however may lament its
ana injustice we have no national cause Of mpaint as
that is question of internal policy And othnp better
illustrates the slow progress Of truth in those old coun
tries where it has many interests preudices to en-
counter than the fact that in England with all her
reai claims TO freedom and intelligence, Jew this day
cannot occupy seat in Parliament Without taking an oath
by which he abures his faith and the religion of his
forefathers
But we have right to expect from the comfy of all
nauons that American citizens be permitted to
enjoy liberty of worship wherever they may CO. There
IS not the slightest reasonable objection to such demand
ought not indeed to be for this unworthy y
tenn OF intolerance has not the least foundation in reason
or religion II is mere relic Of barbarism converting
the religion Of the Gospel an engine of State and sub
shutting human falblity, rather human presumption
Tor those personal convictions of religious belief which
every one should exercise for himself and for the exercise
OF which every one is responsible
In what manner it may be proper for our Government
to present this grave question to other Governments do
not undertake at present to say shall move its refer
ence to the Committee Foreign Relations feeling salts
ned that they will give their attention and in
the hope that they will make report which will be au
thorative as the expression Of views and still more
those Of our constituents in any communications the Ex
ecutye may open with foreign Powers Certainly there
can be objections firm and friendly representations
and cannot doubt that these declarations of the wishes
OF the American people will have weight every where and
am atshed they will ere long produce salutary effect
in some countries and eventually in all This is kind of
lnterposition which well BELTS this Repubc and as day
oy day we ind ourselves engaged in far different ques
TONS we have feel gratfed that the OPPORTUNITY
is offered US of aiding in work which commends itself
to our consideration by the highest motives that can in
huence human action
And am free to confess sir, that for myself rejoice
at the occasion thus given to US while pleading for the
full liberation OF religion to bear testimony TO its
priceless value Independent of its connection with hui
man destiny hereafter, believe the fate of republican
governments is indssouby bound up with the fate of
the Christian religion and that people who repel its
holy faith will find themselves the slaves of their own evil
passions and of arbitrary power And am free also to
acknowledge that do altogether without anxiety
Of the signs which Swallowed forth around us
weak and sublimated imagination with some and I'M
regulated passions with Others producing founders
and followers of strange doctrines whose tendencies it is
easier to foresee than is to for their origin and
progress But they will find their barrier and their RENE
dy, not in legislation, but in sound religious opinion
whether they inculcate appeal Cod by means of
stocks and stones and rdppag the latest and the most RI
dicuious experiment upon human creulity or whether
their own lbidinous passions by destroying that safe
guard of religion and social order the institution Of mar
rage and by leading lives Of unrestricted intercourse
thus making proselytes to miserable imposture un- |
worthy of our nature, by the temptations Of unbrdled
lust This same trial made in Germany some three
centuries ago. in period Of strange alterations and fail
ed And il will fail here. Where the Word of God is
free to all such vile doctrine can permanently estab-
fish itself
now move the reference of this petition to the Com
mitee on Foreign Relations
Mr.. UNDERWOOD compimented Mr. C,ss tender;no
him ms thanks for the progress he had made.
Mr. HALE regarded the subject as an important one
ana while ne approved Of the object Of the memorial did
not very well see how this country could make such an
appeal The memorial asked the nterposition of this
government In order that religious freedom might be
tolerated IN country wheret expressly forbidden by
law. Was it not species Of that hcher-law doctrine
which had been so much condemned in certain quarters
In this country it appeared that no higher law was tole
rated than the Baltimore platform and the fugitive slave
act and yet this memorial 50 highly extoled by the
senator from Michigan sought 70 force upon countries
law higher than their lie would be clad that all
nations should be taught that there was God whose
laws were supreme and that had consciences but
he thought under all the circumstances Of the case this
country should be the last to send missionaries TO
that doctrine.
Mr.. CASS. If understood what the Senator from
New Hampshire meant might reply to him.
Mr.. HALE. The difficulty on the part Of the Senator
in comprehendng my meaning arises from the fact
that mean precisely what say-a thing so unusual in
this Senate that the Senator cannot understand it,
Laughter
Federal Relations.
MEMORIALS AND PETITIONS.
The following memorials and petitions we're presented
and appropriately referred
i by Mr.. SMITH From B. F. Gold, Of New Haven Con-
heeucut asking the patronage Of the Government to-