The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1854-10-07

age there could be found any respectable number Of c
willing to adopt their political creed the harsh ana
unchristan theory oa barbarou period which peopled
America by its merciess pursuit and expunged for
from the ethics OF the world by the institution OF her
liberty But such is the fact however humating it may
be- and called to preserve country what we
had regarded established and enduring principle Of
government drawn from the highest and purest phio
ophy of the civil and moral relations Of man.
A philosophy which has dignifed humanity, ennobled
government and purified religion and which, leaving the
conscenoes of untrammeed and free without fear of
civil disabilities civil penalties vigorously enforces the
enlightened principle of the mutual independence Of civil
and ecclesiastical power and urges the great precepha
whilst mans accountability God in his moral relation
subject sacred from civil interference he owes in his
double relation of citizen and Christian faithful obedience
| TO the ruling authority OF his country
That liberty of conscience inherent natural right
nvolable in view ordinary sense Justice and every
political and moral consideration it cannot be necessary
at this day argue. Referring 10 mans ultimate destiny
il forms the character of his relation with the Supreme
Ruler and Judge and any attempt to coerce his opinion
and under the Of civil authority restrain the per-
feet freedom of that moral agent upon whose enlightened
action depends Immortality is dissertation of the
gon which holds among its tenets that free V given
to that he might choose according to its freedom and
conseiencethat inherent moral appreciation might di
rect his election This election in all that appertans to it
belongs the kingdom Of God-not man-and should be
sacred alike from Inc control
and the baser persecution of political faction.
/ that many juris,s of Europe have drawn a
distinction between ordaining Stale religion and limit
ing all participation in civil authority TO its couiormists
and the direct Of freedom of conscience by
ercve and penal enactmens; and whilst claiming the
former be legitimate exercise of sovereignty they
gard the latter repugnant justice and reason, and in
violation of natural and inherent right of humanity
However correct this distinction may have BEEN in view
of the organization of the governments under the proec-
tion of whose institutions they wroeand it is not neces
sary for my purpose to examine it fuhert is manesty
erroneous when applied to republic in which an equal
participation in power declared element of its charac
ter and political right of its citizens In such govern
men and indeed in any coerson, may be exercised as
fully and bitterly by the deprivation Of civil franchises
by the infection of any other penalty and freedom of con-
science is necessarily restrained long civil disability
incident to any religious conviction. Fully approaching
this and intending to establish government under whose
glorious and enduring power mighty people might live
and prosper secured in the nvioabe sancty of the in
aenabe right enlightened liberty the founders Of thu
republic provided in the constitution by which its powers
and character stand forever defined the pertec
immunity of its citizens from civil disability account
. religious opinions.
This great principle originating in the colony Of Mary
land and there nurured and developed became the proud
est element of American freedom Recognising the so
emnity of mans relation with another life it elevated hi
dignity and ennobled his duty in this 1t threw about tina
: relation sacred protection from fanatcal invasion
whether in the shape of penal enactmens pot
ca acknowledgements and mercoss persecution whicl
had goated in raerna dscord for ages shrank whitening
: before it,
There ia not in the constitution anywhere NOR
emphatic declaration than in article VI relating to thi
subject After stating that various public functonare
shall be bound by oath affirmation to support thi
constitution" it concludes "Jm religious test shall epe
be required qualification 10 any office public trust I'm
der The United States"
The citizens of free country approaching in full
noble gratitude those who have bequeathed to them tn
blessed inheritance of such government ms ourssecure
through such privations and erected and fortified will
so much feel the impulse of living according
to its spirit and for the preservation OF its purity as tn
highest obligation for the experience Of its benedicon
: They should bow before it with respectful love-the
should look to it mighty power, in the permanenc
and vgor of whose existence involved their peace
happiness and the peace and happiness ~ those who shout
u come after them They shoud epress rs unrghteous an
dangerous every attempt 10 cultivate and extend publ
opinion and spirit not in harmony with lis exalted theo
ries and deprecaiing every manifestation orreveren dsre
gard for its sancty, protect i with RrmAess aaa caution
from the hrst approaching step Of daring and reckles
innovation.
But we have in this new party combination Of citizen
united upon principle only repugnant justice
reason and against the most sacred right of man recog
nsed in the philosophy OF nm enlightened civilization, bu
against tie shirt and letter of the federal constitution
They do not seek 10 cnre the dstempers of the State
purify the administration Of s cyii tpncon5, o. corec
abuses and remedy evils but denouncng the inherent char
acter of it, organization, they assa fundamental prnc
pie OF the government They nothing In the might
past they feel power in the rigid tests of expert
once they appreciate force in the large and grow
ing prosperity of the country satisfy reliance upon hi
constitution The perfect safety Of the natonits unpara
leled progressits majestic growthts supendous glory
t...,,. 81
them no sufficient of the powers and wisdom
the present organic law The liberty which it mbode
needs some new expedent for preservationsoe addition
al prn.econ from the danger Of Catholic aggression. II
not safe il Is nor secure device is mperious
" demanded to preserve the independence Of Church
State ana protect the civil from the adulteaton Of the
ligious power
An experience through period which has now reached
within only few years the measure OF century has es
tabished the wisdom aud matured the authority of tn
constitution and demonstrated its efficiency as stands
TO preserve Ii Chs government the vgor and power OF m
great prncple at Wnqse mlg.pe peFil this new orde
: processes such alarm,
What has lately ransprcd To excite the serious and M,
pleasant aprehensons and agate the fears Of these gen
. tlemen who seem now much disturbed they have
&c informed the public We ignorant what expert
enco they have discovered which sifes large prece
dent record.
But in any event the measure they propose seems sin
puarly inefficient for the accomplishment of the purpos
Z contemplated
There being but very small class Of our people wh
r. do moi pcoug 70 ono or the other Of the great demon