Lynchburg daily Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1852-1861, 1855-05-22
Mr. Preston's Speech Crostiqa.3J

most imposing manner, MIR. Preston took mp the
subject of Roman Catholicism. He was conscious
that in animadvertng upon the history and policy
If the Church of Rome, he treading delicate
ground-but while he should do so with all posi-
BILE circumspectinn. and with becoming regard for
the feelings of those who honestly adhered to TINT
communion he should d. so with frmness and
fearlessness. Mr. p. laid down the proposition
that the American revolution wa the direct re-
suit of the Reformation and that the establish
ment of free government in this country was the
consequences of Professionalism. Freedom 10
worship the Creator, according to The promptngs
of their own conscienccs, instead of the dic'atiou
of Popes or Priests. the high aud holy mo.
tive which impelled many Of the original calo.
nists of the country to brave the dangers of the
deep aud tho hardships Of the wilderness they
were actuated by the feeling that man, being IN
dividualy resp ,nsihle to the Almighty, was en-
titled to exercise, Individually, hi. Judgment aul
conscience in directing his conduct. Such n
conviction in religion naturally led 10 n similar
conclusion in matters of Government. Protest
antsm and Repablioansm had the same radical
principle the principle of tho free exercise OF IN
dyi lual Judgment The philosophy of caeh WIS
nat every man should think for himself Roman
ism ani Monarchy in like manncr
related to each other, and based upon H.
same theory-thc denial of the right Of in1i
yilua Judgment aud notion. Under those 49,
tens the people are not allowed 10 think aud act
for them selves. In the Roman Church, Pops
and Prelates direct the faith Of Their devotees,
prescribe wha; is to be believed aud what rejected,
ana keep the conscirnces of their followers. So
in absolute governments, the autocrat declare,
the will Of his subjects, and commands their con
duct. As free government is the natural consc.
quence of Irotc stnntsm md free Thought So de-.
potism is the result Of papaey and the denial Of
free thought. Independence of opinion and nc
ton according to PaPa theory il hercsy, 10 be
punished Mt the stake-whilo, under Despotislu,
it i. treason to he answered for on the block. To
acknowledge the infallbty of the ropp,and tlmt
he is the Nicegerent Of the Almighty. is 10 make
his will supreme in every thing spiritual and tenn.
poral. To question his word would be blnsphcmy,
and to dispute his will would be rebellion against
tho Most High The freedom of individual uc
tioa necessary to the maintenance of free govern
ment was utterly Incompatible with the preten.
SONS and theory Of the Papal office. The war
between Romanism and free thought Mr. = said,
had been going ON in Europe for centuries 1t |
had mired hundreds Of fields with blood, and
lighted the faggots that had consumed thousands
of tho best and brarest hearts that ever throhbcd
in human bosoms. That contest WIS early trans.
ferred to this country. The speaker read from
Bancroft to prove that in the settlement of this |
country, making its entrance through Canada, and
passing round by the Lakes and down the valley |
of the Mississippi, Catholicism had sought to o.
tain possession of the very heart of the country
for the purpose of renewing here its never ending
strife for asoendancy. Thus far it had been CON
test of opinion only. How soon might not that
mode Of warfare be changed Through the vast re-
gions Of the interior and West, the emf s,ares of
Rome were every where planting her standards
and reurng her hlishments-sustained, rs he
had authority to prove, to avery large extent, by
foreign cald 1t time for the people tho
Legitimate, native, protestant people of the caun.
try, to pause anl ponder. 1t WAS time that the
principle should he defntively aud irreyocahlv
settled that this is and shall be q Protestant
country He was for exciting no unneccs sarv
prejudice against the adherents of any religions
faith. He for adopting 40 measures of pro
scrpton or persecution, but following out the prin
cipes of the Reformation, and obeying the splr.
tapd objects of our enactments to preserve Rclj.
gious Liberty and the Rights of Conscience, he
was for establishing, by the farce of opinion and
by the combined eo.ion of the people, a limit to
the progress ofany religious system, which, if
predominant, would destroy alike the freedom of
religion and the privilege of self government
Mr.. Preston's argument upon this subject was
ten crate in spirit and courteous in language.
but was deeply impressive aud made Il profound
seaseton on the thinking men of his audience
The pnrpart oft was that Frotestantismis one of
thu IN rial institutions of the country.that it. pre-
seryaion iudispensahly necessary To the contin-
ued existence Of free principles, and that it should
be defended by every means-not forbidden by the
constitution and laws of the country.
He f,rbore to speak of the candidates of the
opposing party. Their political records were he.
fore the people of Virginia; they needed no COM
mtntary from him. OF the nominees of the
American party,h had the good fortune to be no
stranger. He knew Thomas Stanho7e Flournov
we'll He had beenhis school mate, the compan-
ion of his maturer years, and his colleague IN
the councils of the country. lie was a man with
out fear and without reproach. lie possessed a
clear and vigorous intellect, calm Judgment, an
inAexible conscience, and heart that was the
home of every generous sympathy. If called to
fill the office of the Chief migistraoy of Virgin e
in. he would faithfully watch over her ntere SITS
and preserve the honor of the State, as he had
done his own. free from the breath or shnwdow
of stain. He would not rashly draw the swor,
TO flesh it at home. but if necessity compelled th
State to draw it, he would WELD it vaiian,ly in he
oil ,ha for