The Feliciana Democrat., 1855-11-24
FELICIANA DEMOCRAT
VALUABLE TEACHINGS OF THE
CONFLICT WITH PRESCRIPTION.

hen war upon rellgl0uS opinions WaSI
announced as the slogan of a proscriptiye|
party, the democracy Of the United States
as if animated by an instant instinct which
thrilled through its ranks proclaimed its
opposition to prescription from one end
of the country to the other. If there was
eagerness in declaring this war, there was
also eagerness in denouncing it. 1t is not|
surprising that the scheme itself should eX-
cite a temporary success 1t was an ad.
mixture of simulated patriotism and noisy
pretensions to picty, and thousands were
attracted to it because Of these two fea-
lures. The mass Of those who went into
it at first were doubtless sincere, but the
promptitude with which the democratic
party took the field against them aroused
their astonishment and sober rcfcction.-
At the moment the issue Of the know moth.
ings was presented and accepted, owing to
the success with which progressive meas
ures had been carried forward by the de-
mocracy, it was the injurious and famil-
lar cry Of certain opposition leaders that
the difference between the old parties
had been nearly extinguished. Some such
ordeal as this issue presented to the popu.
lar mind was needed, therefore, to revive
among the American masses the distinct
i've and essential necessity Of democratic
principles to our welfare as free people,
We may look back from this standpoint
over the two years past and gone, and
TRANQUILITY weigh the incalculable advanta.
ges which this ordeal has conferred; and
while we may wonder that such proscrip
tion should ever have been advocated in
such country as ours, we may congratu-
late ourselves that its fall has been more
rapid, if possible, than its rise. In all
times, whenever religious sentiments have
come into collision in the political arena,
the result has been more or less depress-
ling upon human improvement and morals.
Our own country much as it had suffered
from occasional fanaticsm, frequently as IT
had been divided by sudden cXcitements
growing out of humanitarian movements,
had yet to encounter the crisis of a formal
crusade organized in every state, led by en-.
ergetic intellects, and innamed by plausi.
BILE and unscrupulous arguments. against u
single religious sect. For years before
this ianatical epidemic burst upon us, the
contingency Of such an event was antici.
pated with dismal loreboding BY many Of
our first statesmen. The storm broke out
and after brief period, during which it
seemed to riot in the destruction of much
that was sacred and valuable, il has spent
its force, and the atmosphere is all the pu-
rer and clearer from the conflict Of the po.
litical elements. Men who joined in this
crusade can now quietly contemplate the
error which they committed and if tncy
desire consolation in the midst Of their re.
pentance, they can see that, threatening as
was the first visit Of intolerance, it has re.
ally contributed to admonisl and strength.
en- the champions Of free institutions.
federation in a country like this is u
misnomer. There is no such thing as tole.
ration in the sense understood by the pro.
scriptionists. Government has no right to
grant liberation to any particular set Of
religious opinions; for if it has such right
, it has also the right to take them away
What man." says writer Of great dis
| tinction, or body Of men, has the right to
tell me you do not think Alright ON religious
l subjects, but we will tolerate your error ?
The answer is a most obvious one. Who
gave you authority to dictate, or what cx.
elusive claim have you to lnialllbllity? II
my sentiments do not lead me into condnct
+. inconsistent with the welfare Of my fellow
creatures, the question as to their accuracy
Or fallacy is between God and my own con.
science, and, though fair subject for argu-
ment, is none for compulsion."
The great boast OF the United States
/, has been that it is the only nation upon
the face of the earth in which the princi.
pie here stated has been fairly and con
stantly enforced. Now, had this party,
j, which the democracy is rapidly crushing
out in every state Of the Union, not been
so crushed out. we should unquestionably
have lost much Of our position before the
enlightened nations of the earth; and even
as it is, we have gone back immensely in
the estimation Of many who have held up
our institutions as an example to the OPP
pressed and as an admonition TO the oppres-
sor. But, as we have said, some such
practical and severe contest was essential
|, to prove to mankind that the doctrine OF
perfect equality, religious and political, on
these shores, was not merely writteain our