Lynchburg daily Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1852-1861, 1854-06-02

There are perfect obligations, nsthey hie caiie"'
arising ont Of this intercourse. the fuiiiimeni 81
whseil may be peremptolily demanded. and. II
neglected. may be Justly enforced BY Nni. pu,
there arr other demands involving matters 81
comfy. Of interest or ct policy. when oitenli-
stances call OFT aud which may be refused WIN
out such serious consequences. some oi t aesf
constitute the foundation of couinirfieal treatn,
while others are confined TO superintendent
to the remedy which these may produce WITHOUT
formal conventional arrangements
Nations demonstrate with one anoiher against
heh tariffs when they are particularly injurious.
We have done ii many tires, especially w rem
ton 10 tobacco the duties upon which operate "a
an interdct against its Introduction INTO some
countries yet the right 10 lay such nposts AZ u
! plcases il one which belongs 10 every = Nefn-
! meut and il exercised by every one. but II j.
oontendcd that VIZ should violate national comfy
| If we demonstrate against laws introducing 10
American citizens the worship of God-not levy
inc duties indeed npon the rights of conscience,
| but absolutely prohibiting their exercise Away
with such astidiou- distinctions
/
Marteus, speaking upon this subject touches
tn very point where he says;
In treaties of commerce between powers oi
different religions care Is taken TO iik the rights
to be- enjoyed reepIocally by the subjects oi the
twn parties with respect 10 their religions bur-
ais, &c.
This distinguished iur-t sees nothing hunil-
ating in such AN arrangemont,and oil course ihefe
can be no. hing humiatng in the proposition
He speaks of the very course we pr pose, rs one
sanctioned by tie usage of nations. That 1t ms
been 50 for almost Two hundred years--how much
longer | have not sought 10 asoertnin-is shown
bv the treaty of 'trccht Of 1867, between Ing
baud and Spain, which provided that the subjects
of neither party should he molested or disturbed
for their consciousness long as they gave 20 pup
lie scandal or offence. 1t Is obvious that the
trainers of this treaty could have been no beey-
ers in the Archbishop's treaty of the inYioia6ihiy
of nseenoe; because, if il could not be violated
il needed no protection. The protection here
provided has relation 20 external action, or II has
relation Ia nothing.
The harsh relies Of dark and barbarous nges
are disappearng;and the influence oil liberal gov
erument is extending and expanding Itself wher-
ever there il injustice To remove or preJudiees to
encounter. The Grand Duke of Tuscany Is saie
for to dry even if lac stands between tile Amer.
can and English soourner and his cod but
would moi ensure his safety for tomorrow WITH
out a heavy premium The code OF public law
has not vet quite reached the case, but 1t Is fap-
idly spreading; and, for one, hope 1t viii soon
be "A recognized principle with The enlightened
Governments of the world, that If duty uhd hn-
manity fail 10 protect the rights of their citizens
Ia free religious worship abroad that protection
may be rendered by force But the history OF
our conventional intercourse with foreign powers
furnishes the best reiutntion of the argument oil
Archbishop Hughes, n wei rs the best reonke
of the charge that the assertion of this great prin
ciple is no better than NATIONAL "driyoldhg, hha
that il will expose Ms 60 rdteule II We drag III
such question into our diplomatic intercourse
with foreign powers As early rs I1S1 two
years only after the acknowledgement ofour indie
pendene., cntife freedom Of worship was conse-
Grated III treaty with Prussia IN these nemora-
Bile words
"The most perfect freedom Of conscience and OF
worship j. granted To the citizens or subjects of
either party within the jurisdiction ol the other
without being Liable To moestation in that respect
for any cause other than an insult To the religion
of others. Moreover, when the subjects or cit
zens of the one party shall die within the jurls-
diction of the oth-r, their bodies shall he buried
in the usual bmying gromds,or other decent and
suitable places, and shhil he protected from Nio-
lntion OF dsturbancc," Nc.
There, sir, is dwelling 10 some purpose. And
who we've the .drye,lers" that exposed young
nation 10 rldieule, by "draggng such II question
into our diplomatic intercourse with foreign gov
ernnep tSlaNu nnd I hos. jefferson. They sign
ed this treaty. They stood prominently forward
n"driyellmg their country into iudcpendonce,an aud
no less prominently forward in "driyehngn her
into the assertion and maintenance Of this great
and glorious principle Of entire religious freedom.
We do not want II letter changed in this noble tr-
butte 10 the rights of conscience Time cannot
improve il, and hope it will be the model kept
IN view till the great end is consumnatcd. -
lar is the rcproaeh cast upon such efforts, from
being Justified 10y iacts,th there are in our dip.
lomaiic archives some fourteen or fifteen treaties.
II moi more,eNlsting or expired. with foreign pow
ers, and several al these powers Catholic, iecog
nslng this principle OF int ryention, aud proyld-
ing for the enjoyment ul liberty of conscience and
otreligous worship some with aud some without
limitation, but all bearing testimony 10 its value
! by making It the subject OF conventional arrange
| ment-Archhishop Hughes TO the contrary not
! withsianding.
The Senator argues that the President has the
| right Ia mike representations to those foreign
| powers that are still ntoerant and forbid the ex-
! erelse of amy form of religion bat the dominant
! one; that Ia those, well in other countries.
! American citizens must be protected in the en-.
! loyment of liberty of cunseence; that this iriH be
done; and that il is only matter of time and TINT
If The people and Congress will give their support
! to the Executive III the declaration of such doc
ulnes, II Is IN our power 10 make that time very
| short Firm romonstrunce, in kind spirit, on
this subject of religious freedom, cannot be m
unconstitutional opinion within the last hall
| century has wrought immense changes in the
! moral condition Of society. That mighty agent
! is still active and grows more potent by its nc
ton. Governments can no longer do deeds OF
darkness darkly. Nor can they seelude them
selves from the observation of mankind. "1he
world is watching, judging and approving or con
demalng, rs the course OF pubic measures is Just
or unjust. No people can withdraw themselves
from this great scrutiny No system of despot-
ism can close its boundaries to the access of this
mighty engine: and, sooner or later, it will finish,
and well finish, the work i is now doing" And
IN proof OF this Senator Cass mentions the fact