The western Democrat. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1852-1870, 1855-09-18
Opinions for the r,eopIc.-No. 6.

common UUrGrn.
Opinions for the EseOpIC.-NO. e.
HON. LEVI WOODBURY. ON RELIGIOUS TESTS.
'RELIGIoUs TEsr-The first rcsoIu ion, strik.
| ing out all religious tests, was taken up.
''Judge Wo"dhurg made the following remarks
"MR. CHAIRMAN: Being opposed The test,
that some OF princIpa offices shall 5p filled
except by persons OF the Protestant relIgion | ask
leave TO offer few reasons for It, The rights of
all Christians, al least 10 equal freedom and power,
IN our system Of government, have become
practical question, and should OF course be settled
on broad, enlig htened and humane princpeS-
Fifty years, with tEer discussions anC researchers
and experiments, have poured IA flood Of hgh
over the tue nature 81 liberty Of conscience and
all its great safeguards.
GLOW doe $ The question sand under republican
principles OF government? By them CONSTITUTIONS
and laws are ma d. more to protect rights ihan to
confer them. Tiny are made Tor protecting
liberty, tqnrtIy, consrIeEc", properly and tl!c,
rather than To give most of these, To establish
any particular Sci Of religious opinions. This is
not that religion is minor concern, and IN
sumo view the greatest for an immortal Being, but
rather thar religion Is Concern b"tWern God and
nran, and seldom to be infer!ercd VIII by govern.
ments. Such rnr"Ierant interference has caused
oceans Of blood 10 flow, and millions to perish at
the stake, and was one OF the great Causes which
expelled fathers 10 1t wilderness, aud he mcr-
cy of savage foes. The republican government
afterwards established here, should, if true TO re-
publican principles, shield all in their religious
ienets while conducting peacefully, and protect all
IN their pursuits and worship, however different
while acting good citizens. it becomes suicidal
and, Ike despori>m, persecufes differences of
oPln!On>, and Introduces the groSseSt irrcguiari.
tues.
at is contrary to the Declaration OF TOdepcn
dcnc", and Of the very first article in your bill OF
rights, declaring al men equal. You do not thus
give to all men equal privileges 1t is also in the
teeth OF he same bill Of rights 10 snv, one sect
shall not be subordinate to another and still dis.
franchise one, or let one hold (ces forbidden to
others, Ii Is likewise contrary 10 all sound *
PrrIrnce and Re a>on 10 say, do that Catho.
lies may vote, but not be voed for and that they
may he well comp "tent for one duty and not the
others.
1t Is, in truth, much like the great grievance
" high led to our Revolution taxation without re-
PRESENTATION. All other than Protestant sects are
virtually deprived of representation, as they are
made ineligible to the Legislature. Their oDn |
IONS aud wishes are unheard here, from them
selves. They are tranded. They are driven
forth as with HE mark OF Cain, ior Servi,ude and |
gnomv.
"Why not as well explicitly say-and not do it
-'hdl none out e$tdtS are lit tor
public Why not say that Catholic MARYLAND is
fit ?-CaIholic Hungary ?-Ca1hoHc Ireland A.
Catholic France? Why not say it is mere creed
n religious faith, and not The mind, heart morals
" hIch render men suitable 'cr self government
" that We establish g'tvrrnment for the former
ti"ne, and not TO secure liberty, charac cr, pro.
Irrry aud Ie!
alt urged that the power to make such tests in
constitutions exists ii is more argument for the
1 i.
'ause we have the naked power, that we have also
he moral and political right 10 unite Church and
State, create inqusItIou, or, having stripped
'iher s"cis OF the privilege to hold Office to %
uIh'r, and rob them al equal rights to earth air
Ire ana water, and the same hopes and means 70,
'hpPlheSS, both IN time and eternity. Oar pro. |
essI"n alone III business, might, like ground,
DC admitted 10 sit IN the L"gislarure such as mer-
;hanis or lawyers. While HE present test con-
Inn's, 1t is with an Ill grace we can Call orher
countries b;goied, who, like England, have enan.
,pated The Catholics, and made contributions for
heir education. All the former itars as 10 their
'umbers or political principles have now became
,roundlPss. In most Catholic countries Jesuiri>m
$ banI>h"d, and The l. QUESTION abn>hed, and the
'"Pe himself has 5ecom" quite a rrlormer and re-.
'hhlIcan, and Catholics generally no; believed,
morals or the religious sentiment, to be behind
he age, or the ira" STANDARD tor public liberty /
" TAI other SECT shall hIOW at chem the GIsI
zone w hat one Viudicale The present cxciusi, n
nj not admit that If other than Protestam sects
lad majority here, these last should ROT also lie
'rPpt d of power? and that our ancestors com
'l"lns of penalties aud acknowledgements were III
"unded i Is dong what we have always cen.
ured IN Others. he error is that this exclusion
"nc"drs 10 principle that religion is to be rrgu
l'et by m"!nrIy rather than h.. sincere con.
IciIon and consci"nce of each individual; that
MY certain ST cts are aora and intelligent enough
x"rc'se political power, which is laIlacous and
as" under forms of free schools and uniyer.
al education; or that reason and Providence ca n.
ot upheld correct principles wi,h5u, our feeble
ii and our prescriptions aud That I;cify or his
d"r"ble Son need fers'curion OF some scc,s TO
vS:ain ana reno triumphant pure religion. s.. ,