The Athens post. [volume] (Athens, Tenn.) 1848-1917, 1854-06-09
THE LAVE SpEECH or mr.. CASs.

The LATE SPEECH OF MR.. CASS.
This venerable Senator has placed himself
in new light before the civilized world
His speech in the Senate upon religious toll
Grafton in foreign governments, displays re-
search and learning upon subject that has
not occupied much space in the minds of
modern politicians-and, like all great men
upon great questions, he has shown himself
far above all party or local interests.
During the last session of Congress the
subject Of religious freedom abroad was dis
cussed in the Senate, committee was ap-
pointed, and report made; but it was not
finally disposed of. Mr.. Cass made speech
then, which showed the interest he felt upon
this truly important question. He argued
that man has the inalienabe right of wor-
shipping God agreeably to the dictates of his
own conscience, while yielding obedience to
local legislation within the legitimate sphere
of its operation. He also exposed the intol-
Grant bearing of various professedly chris
tian governments, towards the living of a
different creed, and even towards the bodies
of those who die in aforeign land. Wehave
treaties of peace and comfy with nearly all
civilized nations, but in the majority Of them
the rites of burial are absolutely denied to n
foreigner not in the faith. Most nations are
priest ridden, and to maintain their ascenden-
cy the religionists have made baptism, mass,
and burial by the church, cardinal features in
the economy of salvation; and to die without
the presence of priest to shrive the soul
is looked upon as the worst of all calamitiesl
By inculcating these superstitions, and by
ENGRAVING them upon their church discipline,
the priest has n deathess grasp upon the
hearts and consciences of his deluded follow
ers. To keep this fearful power it has long
since been found necessary to enforce the
dogmas of the church by the DEGREES of the
sovereign, and ambitious asprants have ever
been willing to assume the exterior of reli-
gion, when necessary to secure the aid of its
devotees. A long succession of artful and
designing priests have availed themselves of
this thirst and love of power, and by sure and
constant steps they have Incorporated their
religion in the very bones and snews of all
civilized governments, except three or four.
1t has become so that whoever attacks the
church is no less traitor, than he who rebels
against the State. A perfect reciprocity of
interests makes the churchman and politician
equally Jealous in vindicating each others
prerogatives; and it was this feeling that
prompteda ferocous bigot to offer "No church
without Bishop, and no State without
King" as toast at dinner given by the de-
scendants of the pilgrims.
Sometime after Mr.. Cass addressed the
Senate last session, on religious federation,
Archbishop Hughes, of New York, published
a review, in which doctrines were advanced
utterly at war with the most vital principles
of human liberty and freedom of conscience.
The whole tenor of his argument is an apol-
ogy for the intolerance of Catholic govern
ments, and an effort to show that the legal
intolerance in matters of religion, is no worse
than the intolerance manifested in American
society. Mr.. Cass exposes the difference be-
tween an established religion, and the free
and unrestraned worship of Almighty God
according to the dictates of ones own con-
science. The Archbishop apologies for le-
gal intolerance in these words
at is a recognized principle in this country,
that every sovereign and independent nation
has the right to adopt its own constitution
and laws. The constitution and laws of a
country are but the aggregate of general prin-
ciples, applicable to the peculiar situation,
protection and welfare of the citizens or
subjects of which it is composed They
may be regarded as the public and permanent
expression of the aggregate conscience of
that State"
To this the Senator replies in language
that does honor to his own great name as
statesman, and to his heart as an American
citizen. Read what he says
at is certainly not to be controverted that
the principle here asserted-that independent
States have right to adopt their own con-
stitutior and laws-is fully recognized in
this country, and, indeed, suppose, at least
theoretically, everywhere else, unless indeed
where the divine right TO reign leaves no 9TH
er right but that of obedience. But must
again bring to the notice of the Archbishop
that this investigation does not touch forms
of government, nor their powers as political
communities 1t has much higher aim, and
that is to ascertain their moral right to con-
troll the consciences of their people, by pre-.
scribing their mode of faith and the manner
in which they shall worship God. With re.
spect to the aggregate of general principles,
applicable to the peculiar situation, protection
and welfare Of citizens" though must con-
TESS my ideas are much confused" as to what
this means, yet from my glimmerng of it, |
have only to say that such considerations are
lighter than the small dust of the balance in
moral inquiry as important us this Segre-
gate or aggregate what principle you may,
the great principle remains invioate, rising
superior to all other considerations-that
man has a right to worship God, unrestraned
by human laws. There is no situation, pro-
lection nor welfare, which can rghtfully in
terfere with this duty, or rather there is no
situation in which it is not the best protec-
ton, promoting the greatest welfare of man.
kind
AS to the aggregate conscience" of State,
neither comprehend distinctly its meaning
nor its application to the question in contro.
versy. The metaphysical expression, "pub-