The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1854-09-26

Ysrsrs, c. M L. wrsrx.r a. l.. CHIp.,
Receipts Of either will be good.
RELIGIOUS TOLERATION BEFORE THE AMERICAN
REVOLUTION.
More than hundred years before the declaration in
dependence the American colonies asserted and Brit
ish monarchs granted the great doctrines of religious
In 1862, the sovereign of England declared the
principle and foundation Of the charter Massachusetts,
be the freedom of liberty of conscencep But from the
moment that the idea Of making English settlement in
Maryland occurred TO the just and high-soued Calvert
Lord Baltimore which early in 1900 the idea of re
gous liberation became precious American adventu
rers and settlers the air which they breahed the
lives they had dedicated to the New World. In 1885,
every other country in the world had prosecuting laws but
Maryland and at that early day the oath of governor of
Maryland was cA not BY myself any other directly
or indirectly modest any processing 10 beleve in Jesus
Christ for respect Of religion" At when
the overthrow of the monarchy in the mother country
about to place in the hands of Cromwell the embit
tered enemy Of the Romsh Church. unlimited power the
Catholics of Maryland April 81 l649) placed the follow
ing law upon their stautebook And whereds the enforcing
Of the conscience matters Of religion hath frequently fallen
out to be Of dangerous consequence in those CommonWeas
where has been praed and for the quiet and pedcea
begopernsnt of this propinc and the better 10 preseroe
tal lore and amiy among the nhabas person aoihin
this procince protesting to beeue in Jesus Christ shall be
any rays troubled olested dscountenanccd for his
her religion in free exercise Mere" The friends of
pelacy who DISTINGUISHED in Massachusetts, and the
Puritans who "vexed in Virginia. welcomed to
equal political and civil liberty in Catholic Maryland The
in which Lord Baltimore prosecuted and de-
nouncedthrown out of his rights by usurpers-and in
turn prescribed by the very persuasion he had tolerated
and protectedand yet his noble and adherence
to the doctrine Of religious freedom and political equality
whether in public private lifeare embamed in the
history and in the remembrance of the world.
High upon the roll of fame will shine the Lord
Baltimore made glorious in the person of Sir George CAL
vert and sustained in that of his son. Cecil Calvert
time when the nation with the foes of the
holy right of freedom of conscience Lord Baltimore set
example that this day bears perennial blessings upon
all Ever green be his immortal memory The ingrates
who assa the reputation of the ustrous dead-their
rude ribaldry his honored grave-ther ignorant
denial of services that printed in the pages impartial
hisorywil deprive him of his claims upon the graft
tude of all generations of civilized and Christian people
The progress of religious federation in New England
was marked by gigantic and almost incredible pers
The heart sickens the recital And in proportion
feel proud and glad the exhibition of the Catholic
Caverts liberal and generous policy in Maryland
oppressed and grieved by the details Of Catholic persec
tons in England during the reign of Mary But the reli-
gious liberation which lourshed under Catholic proprie-
TOR in the New World grew up defanty in the face Of
Catholic illberaity in the Old World 1t was precious
in both but perious to maintain and defend
in the latter than the former Nor were the purtans
much safer under the Protestant rule of Elizabeth Proscrp
tive DEGREES passed against them commanding confor
bao.
But still their increase in numbers could not be arrested
Under James they suffered fearfuy and finally in order
to worship God without the fear of man. and be able
the divine right of conscience in 1907 num-
Der Of remers fled to Holland where they arrived after
terrible priyaons They remained in Holland about eleven
years In 1920 they left for the New World and soon a
their arrival established themselves Plymouth Their
suerings for long years. from the climate from starvation
from the ravages Of the Indians and from their distant
foes read in their sad but eloquent story make
the heart bleed Throughout all they and main
tanned that principle of religious liberation preserve
which they fled from their fatherand Population adj
yanced slowly for long years few followed their despair
ing fortunes; but through all "they worshipped God
under their vine and under their own fig tree
with modest to make them afraid 1t would
compensate for the trouble if eloquent writer
would go back to those days of the past and the
pers and the prosecutions endured by early Christ
iansthe loss Of fortune and of lifeto sustain prnc-
pie madly assailed by those who boast at the
time of being the offspring Of such ancestors and
trampe their hottest prerogave under foot if liberation
the teaching of sin ITSELF
In 1884, however, there reached the shores of Nastaket
of those whose character impresses itself upon
coming generations, and whose virtues outweigh all the
honors of merely military cheftans He the champion
Of religious oleraton and almost its martyr He contend
ed for it against all local fanatcsms, offended his own
friends by his heroic forttude and finally expelled
the Massachusetts, colony for his adherence to this
tai doctrine We allude to Roger Williams Let those
who sco at the right of conscience and who dare to
lay their hands upon that sacred element of freedomlet
them contemplate the character and the example of this
role spirit; and they do feel overwhelmed with the
consciousness of their nsignifrance and ingatuds
shall be deceived Behold the picture Of this brave and
noble leader drawn by the glowing pencil of Bancroft
1851 he but than thirty years but
his had already matured doctrine which
Immortality of fame its application has given religious
peace to the American world. He puritan and fug
from English persecution; but his wrongs had not
couded his understanding the capacious
of his mind he had rcvoved the of intolerance
and he and he Alone had arrived the great principle
covery under the simple proposition of the sancty con-