The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1854-01-15

| Who so well as Washington expressed the sentiment
and feeling OF the people OF this country Onr children
know his farewell words the subject of the necessity
OF religion and morality TO the prosperity OF the Stale
" OF all the dispositions and habits which lead to politi
cal prosperity. religion and morally are indispensable
man, ought 10 respect and cherish them" Let US
indulge with caution the suppostion that morality
be maintained without religion" treason and expert.
both forbid TO expect that national morality can
prevail in exclusion OF religious principles" Golden
words TO which Others spoken in return TO an address
from religious body, may be htly added while lusl
government protects all IN their religious rights, true re-
lgion affords government its sures support" Such
was thu spirit in which our constitution was framed
and our government admnisered-a sprii which would
the time cherish religion the surest support OF
Just government, and keep II politically dissocated
from the Stale, that il might retain us purity and power
son Thanksgiving day. says Bishop White, " APP
pointed by the President Tor the suppression OF the west
ern nsurrecton. preached IN his presence The sno
ect was. The Connexon between Religion and Civil
Happiness II was msIepresented by one OF the news
papers. This induced the publishing OF The sermon,
with dedication to the President pointedy pleading his
proclamation in favor of the connexion affirmed II did
not appear that he disallowed the OF his name At
though. in my esmaion the entire separation between
Christianity and the civil government would be relin-
punishment OF religion in the abstract, yet that ihis was
he sentiment OF the President have no right positively
TO infer.
The elder President Adams, in his inaugural address,
declares hs veneraion for the religion OF people who
profess and call themselves Christians, and fixed reso
luton consider decent respect for Christianity among
the best recommendations for the public sevce Such
and State, who watched and participated in the formation
OF the government; from which we argue with tho ut
most confidence, that was the purpose OF the people OF
this country in The formation Of government that
should recognise and honor the religion of the Bible
And inasmuch as we have shown, by conspicuous evil
dences that the government did thus own and pay homage
to Christianity, conclude with absolute certainty
that done in accordance with settled purpose and
design.
H. And now we would show that il was no part of
the object OF the constitution in The articles which re-
There shall be no religious test Tor holding office
there sh all be no laws respecting establishment OF
Igion, prohibiting the free exercise thereof" So
much, and no more, the constitution says on the subject
OF religion.
The real object, says Judge Tucker in his notes
vance, Mahomedansm or Judaism, or intdelty by pros
ualing Christianity; but to exclude all rivalry of Chris
tan sscls and 70 prevent any national ecclesiastical es-
tablshmen which should give 10 an hierarchy The ex-
elusive patronage of the national government"
That this its object and that its object was not to
should admit the truth. rebound 10 the honor or pro-
mote the interests, of Christianity some would have
believe. is evident by the commentary OF their own
conduct their own proceedings AZ high legal au-
thorly any in the land-tha OF Judge Story-suppos
| this assertion.
"Indeed" he says sthe right OF society goverRmen,
to interfere in matters OF religion will hardly be contest
ed by any persons who believe that piey, religion and
morality intimately connected with the being OF
the State and indispensable to the administration OF pub
lie Justice II is, indeed difficult TO conceive how any
civilized society can well exist without them AT all
events is Impossible for those who believe the truth
of Christianity as Divine revelation TO doubt that it is
the especial duty OF government TO foster and encourage
| il in all citissns and subjects"
! All the history OF the times, aud all the comments Of
the best expounders OF the constitution concur 10 proving
that was no part OF the design OF those articles which
relate 10 religion forbid the national acknowl-
edgmen, of Christianity under the federal government. as
prevailed under the confederation.
In my next and last number propose to show that all
the proceedings of the general government in reference
TO religion perfectly consistent with the const,u-
tipn and with the principles OF republican government
j G.. M. B.
/ WASHINGTON, d. c., December. 1858.