Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1855-08-11
Gommll nitations.

4, The greatest cne9ly 70 truth is prejudice
IN every age and country, it has entered into
the thoughts, and idpulded the opinions Of the
great mass Of mankb bid but nowhere as in our
own land has its influence been 50 widely
spread, or 50 dcepf ft. Standing as we do
npon the basis Of i Constitution, which or
tore-iathers 50 deeply planted, and 50 firmly
reared; werciocc Dat we have no such OBJ
staclc to encounter, mad that il is our province
to discuss broad truths upon broad grounds.
We have Away held the Constitution of
our country in the patcstrcvcrence, and have
considered that, to it, we are indebted for
all that We are, and or all that we hope to be.
Under its magic inhlcnce this people, passing
through no days Of infancy, sprung like Mi
norva from the head Of Joye, fully armed into
the family OF nation. And now, after a lapse
of near three quarters Of a century consider
ing the vastness of our dominion, the number
and happiness Of our population, the wealth
which is annually pouring into national coe
fcrs, when we cast our eye across the Atlantic
at orr mother toniry we can cxclaim with
thc Roman poet -@~I4@
@ 2. o ma,esst l''1lils55hsa sim pu,ei,rivr..a
In her arms Of p9is, in the statesmen that
she has produced, and in the happy workings
Of hor institutions, our country stands among
htr sister nations ike the Goddess-huntress
glnong her nympAs, gradiensquc omnes SUI
bhcremincs Deas.
This mighty PEOPLE with strong arms and
firm hearts, making, in the spirit Of our consti-
tuition, every man the architect Of his own for
tune, and giving to every citizen equal privi-
lcges, have converted the wids oe the West
into a blooming garden they have leveed
mountains and filed up valleys they have
erected agricultural markets and commercial
marts, they have constructed railroads and
telcgraphs, annihilatng time and space, and
have whitened every sea with the sails of their
commerce. Yet, notwithstanding all this hap
pincss and prosperity secured to rs by our adj
mirable institutions, We sec new Order daily
rising around Us, warning against a fundamen-
tai principle q our constitution, which de-
clares That 10 religious test shall ever be re-
quired as Qualification to any Office or pub
lie trust unde- the United Statcs.n They have
bound Themselves by solemn oaths, never to
vote for any one protesting the Catholic reli-
gion for any Office or public trust under the
United statcsp We truly, as Marylanders,
should feel mortified that any party, declaring
such principles, should gain such an ascen-i
dency in our midst us even to need opposition.
II was ,olony of Roman Catholics who,
ceiling the persecution of The cod World, /"
first upon tie banks Of our state unfurled the
banner Of 4 civil and religious liberty" No
people i'll the history of the world, had ever
before opsned an asylum for all protesting
belief in Jesus Christ, to worship God ac-
cordingto the dictates of their own conscience.
The first Governor Of the colony, upon en-
tering office, took the following oath: 81 will
not, by myself orany other, directly oIndi-
rectly. trouble "a molesz, e. discoiiptenance
sils' ss------- hrs Sesia' s's''a-'
for, or in respect to religion, Win make no diff
ference Of pelsonsin comforting Offices favors
or rewards for, or in respect to religion, but
merely as they shall be found faithful and we'll
deserving, and enducd with moral virtues and
abilities my aim shall be public unity and
IL any person or officer shah modest any person
protesting 10 believe in Jesus Christ on account
Of his religion, ! win protect the person mo-
Tested and punish the offender"
And SO in studying the carly history of this
COLONY we viii always find striking similari-
ty between the administration of their govern
ment and the theory and provisions of our Con-
stiuGon.
Again, it is recorded as historical fact and
be it ever remembered to the honor Of our fore
fathers, that the settlers of these Colonies were
compelled ON account Of religious persecution
to abandon their homes and fircsides, and to
seek y retreat in the inhosptablc wilds Of
America. Each might have said with the Tro-
jan wandercr:
Error Exsul in alum
Cumsocis, natoque Penatibuset msgnis Deis. .
Yet it is no less historical fact that not one
was founded on account Of the persecution of
the Roman Catholic Church; and what must
seem most strange, when we consider the poll
tics of the day, IS, that Maryland, which was
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