The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1854-09-30
RELIGIOUS ToLERATION BEFORE THE AMERICAN
REVOLUTION

tude which seeks through secret organization 10 Sun
up all the elements of social political and religious STRIFE
we adyered few days ago to few noted instances OF
religious liberation before the American revolution w
desired TO induce the friends of civil and religious liberty
to take this retrospect because believed they would then
see that the American Union is the legitimate offspring oil
that pure spirit which recognised and respected the rights
of conscience at the very of the colonial
Governments We hoped and trusted that the recurrence
TO such bright examples of liberation in religion would
impress all good men with the importance of bringing the
full moral force of enlightened public sentiment to bear
against the dangerous exerons of fanatics and ctonsts
to excite the prdices and passions OF our nature
into crusade against the sacred principle of religious toll
Grafton.
With these objects in view required to the early ms
tory of Maryand written by the great American hso
rian Bancroft and relying upon his high authority we
presented to our readers truths of history which cannot
but prove severe rebuke TO the ianacal agators VINO
are now rotng on religious predces and passions Upon
this high authority stated that in 1886 every other
country in the world had prosecuting laws but Maryland
and at that early day the oath of governor OF Maryland
was 81 will not by myself any other directly or nd-
recty moest any protesting TO believe in Jesus Christ
for or in respect of religion"
It will be seen that our correspondent below thinks we
are historically incorrect in this statement and that il was
not until 64s that the of Maryland took the oath
we have quoted He says moreover that down to ie4S
the oath taken by the had special auson to
religious liberation If our correspondent is correct does
not affect the positions but il is due to ourselves to add
that Bancroft states explicitly that the oath taken from
1886 was in the language quoted by us If the fact be as
stated by our correspondent it in respect weakens
Whethp
taken in 1886 or 64s is mmateral; the great point Is,
that at that early day the spirit of religious federation was
RECOGNISED and practise. both by Roman Catholics and
Protesants.
Our correspondent proceeds to suggest one OF TWO o
small errors of history in article For instance "SS
in our article that in l649 when the overthrow OF the mon
archy in the mother country about to place IN 'he
hands of Cromwell the mbittered enemy OF the KoniSh
Church. unlimited power the Catholics of Maryland en-
acted the religious liberation statute Our correspondent
doubts whether this statute enacted by the Catholics
but here again we stand upon the authority OF Bancroft
whose very language employed In like manner, IN
regard to the other error indicated by correspondent
we have followed faithfully and strictly the history as
written by the great American historian without
consuming space therefore the subject we give
place to the of correspondent above alluded to
For Union,
"RELIGIOUS ToLERATION BEFORE THE AMERICAN
REVOLUTION"
WAsHSGToN, Sept &C. 1854
Mr. NcHoLsoS Sir, cannot suppose you would design
edy send out in Union papabe historical facts
therefore doubt you win cheeuly publish the follow
ing corrections of few mistakes which discover in the
leading editorial of the Union of this morning. headed as
above.
You say that article that early 1886 the oath OF
governor of Maryland will not, by myself any
other directly indirectly modest any protesting to
believe in Jesus Christ for in respect of religion" This
is mistake The form of the oath taken by the Roman
Catholic of Maryland down to lG4s recorded
'Liber c. and W. H. 6; recordb book in the Office Of
the of appeals at Annapolis and is copied by Boz
man XXXI at the end Of volume of his History
Maryland, in these words:
al b, do swear that while am member of this PROV
ince will bear faith unto the Right Honorable Cecil
iu lord of this province and his heirs Saving my ale
and him and them and his and their due rights and rsdc
tions and all and every of Them will aid Defend and main
to the uttermo of powers the peace and welfare
delay deny right but equal justice will administer in al
things best skill according to the laws OF this prov
ince. So help me God"
This is the whole; and other oath taken by thu
governors of Maryland before lG4s when Lord Baltimore
hope of concatng the favor of the Presbyterian Para
and army of independents, removed his Roman Caho
lie governor of Maryand-Tbomas Greenland appointed
VIM Stone, Jealous Protestant, in his place. He also
the time, removed the secretary and the members
the council, who Roman Catholics and filed the
places excepting one) with Protestants With the commits
sons of these officers he forms of oaib
for them take That for Governor Stone is long
may be found at length in LXII, the end of volume
| g. Bozmans History of Maryland, page CAT.
The words quoted in your article from this oath
prescribed Gov Stone that for the members Of the
council both containing the language in reference
religion You do quote them however, precisely they
stand the FORM and there important omission Per
nit transcrbe the language correctly stands in
the work referred above, page 64s 1t is folows
"And do further swear that will not, by myself any
person. directly indirectly trouble, moest discounte
whatsoever in the said protesting
believe in Jesus Christ and IN particular Roman Catholic
respect of his her religion in his her
! exercise thereof"
have UNDERSIGNED the words omitted by you The omis-
sion of words very with writers referring
this They led into the by certain historians
who guilty of the thing appearing be ignorant
of Importance in historical telling the boe
truth
There another small error two which beg leave to
correct reference the Maryland law of concerning
religion say, The Gatholic8 of Maryland placed il
ON their book. This is by certain Boz
man (ist Nd vol q p. 1861 gives very strong reasons
for his unwaveng conclusion that majority of the
sembly that passed that law Protesants and few
words omitted by you being uppiedn connexion with the
words No person within this province protesting be-
eve in Jesus Christ" &C.. with knowledge of their au-
son quite changes the character of that law rendering it,
in my estimation object of adherence rather than
mendation The omitted words these except as in this
present before declared and forth" The ausion
Offences and the penalties therefor designated
in the four preceding sections The first section is the
bloody one 1t denounces the death penalty against per-
sons guilty of baspbemy and all who might be so unortu
differ with the lawmakers in certain points OF