The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1854-05-16

leges either civil or natural every has nat
according to his conscience especially in matters That 60
One Of the most extraordinary chapters in the history
Of Is filed with examples OF strange alterations,
each enjoying its hour OF success and then GIVING way
to other passing freak as unreasonaoie ana as
shortlved its predecessors Sects nave eAntei-,
exist yet, believewhich deny the authority OF all
governments not administered By themselves Others
have appeared like the Anabaptists OF Germany, some
three centuries since who maintained that = among
Christians who have the precepts OF the Gospel 70 direct
and the spt of God guide them the Office OF magis
rate unnecessary and encroacnIncnt on spiritual
liberty that community Of goods should be established,
and that man NAV marry many wives he chooses"
And tenets not only ayowed and proclaimed,
lint practically enforced armies and sieges battles
TIL fanatcism gave way, and governments resumed their
usual operations. Even our own country, at this very
moment exhibits humilating spectacle associa-
ton of degrading the of Christians by appro
prating j. to themselves and openly protesting and
practising doctrines irreconcabe with orderly
don of society," and which hold out the reward of lust
to strengthen the conviction and conversion of its fol-
! lowers. Examples Of this mental obiquy-monomania
very Often for 1t cannot be doubted that many who
embrace such tenets honest in their allegiance to
them-might be multiplied indefinitely the task
necessary or profitable one. But it is neither, and
these illustrations Of the general principles enough
for my purpose. Now, in all such the civil mags
trate may rghtfuly interfere, and provide punshmens
not for acts Of religious worship but for crimes before
which the peace of society would disappear. But as
have said, between the extreme boundaries there Is
debatable land where doubts arise and where just
allowance should be made for the imperfection of the
human judgment But this difficulty in the practical
application OF the general powers Of government which
itself can have no effect upon present inquiry for
that relates only to proceedings beyond all question out
of the true domain Of human governments
The Archbishop in the further prosecution of his OBJ
| ject remarks, that
As.in z: .;Sumg.on Of G.nsE. Gas: f.aSy No
boom conceded by Protestant berality TO all the inhsbi
Of s s TIL: .ss Pd'iss ss'ss
S Sssss 70. L Il s a.
rom one to the other This regard
%
onsr Gass must ADOPT 10 r.;
well might England say that nss ah ss
other nations Shall know.
vastly stssSse .1 and
al % ,ss T have % mins 10 :,
and laws Of European States by the
the United expose themselves to dieule they
such question into their diplomatic intercourse
must Confess sir, am utterly at loss to conceive
taken my views as he has here done The source Of his
is inexplicabe to All know is that the error
is obvious one.
country was boon by Protestant Hberaty to
all the inhabitants of the land" said nothing like
ths-I assumed nothing like 1t. earnestly repudiate
the whole position and every syllable Of it, Neither the
word Protestant Catholic to be found in the whole
Of my remarks nor any other word d,sc.i mnas
of religion BOOM acquired by sect and granted
to others considered it natural inaenabe right,
listing Independent of governments and not within the
legitimate sphere of their action That was, and be-
leve it is the doctrine of the American people, and
challenge the Archbishop to find in my observations
single remark justfyng this charge. have just repe
rused them and therefore speak with as much GER
tainty as correctness.
tho sa a pSsy s sS
What is here termed arrangement is in fact the
recognition of the great claim Of religious freedom and
the writer correct in that suited the policy Of
the country II did, and it suited the feelings and the
w suit them IN all time It was not not
temporary arrangement. 1t is degraded by such
epithct 1t the enduring establishment of
great principle destined to produce the most salutary
results throughout the world do lot assert that the
whole country at gave in their adhesion perfect
antecedents and by the profound investigation of the
general principles Of freedom both civil and religious,
step in advance till the glorious contamination,
which leaves nothing to ask for in regard this
great branch of human rights.
sSsn d rs 81 a vel. ms
land say that because suited her adopt
trade, thst all other nations must do the same.
able prelae thus deals with this great principle OF re
gous freedom reducing it to the level OF those questions
Of mere expedency which may well be decided one way
to-day Tomorrow the circumstances that
control them change from time to time Go not mean
suits aud should be adopted by all other nations.
mean to say, that 1t suits all nations and all time
human breast and whoever violates it, be- the guilty
PARTY, prince, people, priest, viii in vain seek to
the Just consequences of presumpuous intolerance
The Archbishop then proceeds to say, that
hi: tho
esgnty are hut the aggregate Of general principles app
t. II: s
:. -. public and expression Of the
Is certainly not to be- conrovered that the princi-
pie here asserted-tha independent States have right
adopt their constitution and aws-s fully recognized
in this country and indeed suppose, At least theoreti
caly everywhere else unless indeed where the divine
hnt .fofn
But must again bring to the notice of the Archbishop
that this investigation does not touch forms OF govern
ment, nor their powers political communities. 1t has
much higher aim, and that to ascertain their moral
right control the consciences Of their people, by pre-
scribing their mode Of faith and the manner in which
Of general principles applicable TO the peculiar situation
protection and welfare Of citizens" though must con-
fess my ideas much confused" to what this
yet from my gmmering of it, have only to say that
such considerations lighter than the small dust of the
balance in a moral inquiry important this. Segre-
gate or aggregate what principles you may the great
principle remains nvioabe rising superior TO all other
consjeratons-that man has right to worship God
restrained by human laws. There 10 situation pro-
lection welfare, which rghfuy interfere with
this duty rather there is situation in which it is
the best protection promoting the greatest welfare Of
mankind
As to the aggregate conscience of State neither
distinctly its meaning nor its application to
the question IN controversy Tho metaphysical express
sion, public conscience" may to illustrate to
enforce considerations affecting the conduct of nations,
but it can have proper place in rigid inquiry into
moral duties for In fact il have existence is
carrying Gguratve language to the very verge of my
csm to employ it thus loosely element in search
after truth And this aggregate conscience of State"
made up not of the conscences of those who obey its
government and ought to direct it, but of its own
constitution and laws which form the expression of
the aggregate of the general principles applicable
to the peculiar situation, protection and welfare of
its citizens" sc. That is, in other words, the
administration Of every government expresses the ag
gegnte conscience Of the State it rules. Well this is
easy II not satisfactory way TO dispose of this grave
question OF public morality II to thisthat the
aggregate conscience of France permanently expressed
by its constitution and laws that is ut present. by the
rule OF Louis Napoleon of Turkey by the
the Prophet of Russia, by the Gar and the end
Of the chapter Of governments, good and bad said
did not comprehend the application of this doctrine,
IL even true and DO not But so able controver-
siast Archbishop Hughes did not advance it without
design and the only bearing discover, which
II 20 have Is 20 ofse, this aggregate conscience
against the condolences Of indiyduasthis moral faculty
Of Massachusetts, which has FORM and of Louisiana
which has snotherthus giving the right Of final udg
and control in all TO this abstract national
faculty and practically justify the most revolving tyran
n.y. because the law is the expression of the public
science and the public conscience ia the foundation of
the law.