Daily American organ. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1856, 1854-12-27
NUMBER 81.


s.
AN ACT for establishing religious freedom passed
in the Assembly Of Virginia ia thc beginning ef
the year 1885, t9 eR9
Well aware that Almighty God hath created the
mind free that al attempts 10 influence 1t by tenn
porL punishments or burdens, or by civil incapa-
citations, tend only to beget habits Of hypocriy
and meanness and are departure from the plan
Of the Holy Author Of our religion who, being Lord
both Of body and Of mind, yet chose not 70 prop
agate by cocrcons either, ~ was in his almighty
power 70 DO; that the impious presumption ofleg-
lsatures and rulers, civil well a. ccclesiastical
who, being themselves but fallible and uninspired
men, have assumed dominion over the faith Of
others setting up their opinions and modes 0f
thinking as the only true and infaible and as such
endcavoring to impose them upon Others hath es-
tablishcd and maintained false religions over the
greatest part Of the world, and through all tune
that to compel man to furnish contributions Of
money for the propagation Of opinions which he
disbclieyes, is sinful and tyrannicl that even the
forcing him to support this that teacher Of his
own religious persuasion IL dcpriving him Of the
comfortable liberty Of giving his contributions
to the particular pastor whose morals hc would
make his pattern, and whose powers he feels most
persuasive torghte0usness and il Withdrawing from
the ministry those temporal rewards, whchgpro-
ceedng from an appreciation of their personal con
Duct are nm additional Indictment to earnest and
unremitting abors for tho Instruction Of mankind;
that our civil rights have dependence on our re-
hgious opinions more than our opinions in physics
or geometry; that, therefore, the prescribing Of
any citizen ~ unworthy the public confidence by
laying upon him an incapacity Of being called to
the offices Of trust and emolumcnt, unless he pro-
icss or renounce this or that religious opinion, is
depriving him injuriously OF those privileges and
advantages to which, In common with his fellow
citizens, be has natural right that ittends also
to corrupt the principles Of the very religion 1t IL
meant to encourage by bribing, with monopoly
Of worldly honors those who win externally pro-
fess and conform to it that though, indeed those
are criminal who do not Withstand such tcmpta-
tions, yet neither are those innocent who lay the
bait in their way /; that to suffer the civil ma
gstrate to intrude his powers into the field Of op
ion aud to restrain the profession propagation OF
principles, on the supposition Of their III tendency,
is dangerous fallacy, which at once destroys nll
religious liberty, because, he being of course Judge
| OF that tendency, will make his opinions the rule
of Judgment and approve or condemn the scnti-
ments Of Others only as they shall square with, or
differ FROM his own; that 1t Is time enough for the
rightful purposes Of civil government for It's OFF,
GERS to interfere when principles break out into
overt acts against peace and good order; and,
finally, that truth is great and win prevail If left to
herself that she is the proper and sufficient antag
onist of error, and has nothing TO fear from the
conflict unless by human nterposition disanned Of
her natural weapons, free argument and debate,
errors ceasing to be dangerous when il is permitted
freely to combat them. <aHst
Be IL, therefore, enacted by The General As-
senlbly, That no man shall be compelled to frc-
quent or support any religious worship, place, or
ministry whatsoever, nor shall he be enforced, re-
strained, molcsted or burdencd In his body or goods
shall he otherwises account ofhis religious
opinions OF belief but that all men shall be free to
profess and by argument To maintain their opiii-
ions in matters Of religion, and that the same shall
in no wise diminish enlarge, or affect their civil
capacities.
And though we well know this Assembly, elected
by the people for the ordinary purposes Of legis-
laton only, have no power to restrain the acts of
succeeding assemblies, constituted with powers
j equal 10 our own and that, therefore, TO declare
this act irrevocabe would be of no effect In law
yet, FREQ TO declare, and do DECLARE that the
rights hereby asserted of the natural rights of
mankind, and that If any act shall be hereafter
passed TO repeal the present, to narrow its ope-
rations such an act viii be an Infringement of
natural right.
recently delivered by Professor Tiffany, before the
Union Fire Company of Carlisle, on the subject Of
America and American institutional" le.s..st.
"The Christian principles which our fathers
brought with them, took deep root In our virgin
soil, and becsme Incorporated with our national
character and policy II was this Christian prin-
cplc--ths simple trust in and reliance on Divine
Providence--that sustained the men Of the Rev
olntion during their struggle for Independence.
I" This went with them to the batde-feld--kipdled
| the lightning in their eyes--bazed in the flashing
4 Of their sworls--rung in their shouts OF victory
| Aud we owe our homes and frcsides, our freedom
our high destiny 10 the Chyiaiaa faih Of our
fathers- 10 the might and purity Of those bravo
patriot hearts that bled for freedom for honor, and
/ l.. J...J
eve should guard against the Incorporation
| of foreigners m a portion Of our body polite.
| They come sad be, In ceaseless tide upon our
shores from lands where the divine right Is under
stood as belonging TO kings and not 70 the people,
and grati6ed with the admirable workings Of our
affairs, and their own participation In them, they
offon fal to understand the solemn teachings Of
our past history, and the necessity Of our present
condition. They pass few years Of residence,
and then too often participate in the Affairs ola
government based upon Christian principle, with
out perceiving the force OF Christian obiga-
ton The open and palpablc bids that were made
in the last Presidential canvass for foreign votes
tell significantly the truth Of this. No foreigner "a
coapefe,,t to discharge the duties Of an American
unless he ceases TO become identified with the land
that gave him birth,
The second rcssbn why we may fear for the
perpetuity Of g our freedom u, that there arc
| among US those who would shut out the teach
irigs OF God from our youth, and who Acknowledge
ne authority Of foreign pasnisfe. These
are very numerous and have already stretched
out their hands TO dsplace the Bible from our
public schools. The submission" says he, " 10
an organization that recognises foreign pontin
nt its head, and refuses the Bible 70 the ysutli,
mako our land an empire moi repabiic. Where
would be the spirit Of '7e IL we would yield TO such
claimsi II we were silent, old Plymouth's Rock
would speak, and the battle grounds OF the Revo-
luton would give back the blood shed for Free
dom"
aThcrc is still ground for triumph In the thought
that as our ship Of State leads on In progress the
stars Of bcr flag te Of the star OF eternity the only
star Nv which the bark Of man navigate the sc.
Of life and gain the coast Of bliss securely e
CnusHIso OUT Know NorHIsoisv According
TO the Washington correspondent Of the PhilsdcL
phia Ledger, (Mr Grund,) an "organixcd effort ~
to be made by leading Senators and members In
Congress, to crush out Know Nothingism, and TO
excommunicate once for all tines all who have
dared 10 identity themselves with the order: