Washington sentinel. [volume] (City of Washington [D.C.]) 1853-1856, 1855-07-31
From The Louisyille Democra,
True Amerie anism Glowing I'm A ma rte q a
Constitutions and Bill OF flights.


The foreigner or native who wishes TO learn
ana appreciate what Americansm is, will consult
its history in the official documents OF the country
4 the Declaration Of Independence, the Const-
tuition of the United States, and those Of the va
rious States. We have concluded TO collect them
together, that they may be read by all, and con-
trasted with the narrow, illiberal, imported codes
OF a new party lately sprung up.
The irst is an extract from onr Declaration Of
! independence. 1t is one of the charges against
George Ill in that memorable and world-renown-
ed instrument King George was the first Know
nothing. Recoect, we have more un-peopled
land now than we had then:
lie has endeavored to prevent the population
OF these States for that purpose, obstructing the
laws of naturalization Of foreigners, refusing to
pass others to encourage their migration thither,
and raising the conditions of new appropriations
Of lands"
| We clip this from the Constitution of the
| United States:
CART l. Congress shall make no law respect
ing an establishment of religion, or prohibiting
the free exercise thereof abrldging the free
dom of speech or of the press, or the right of the
people to assemble and to petition the Govern
ment for redress of grievances.
/ The Convention had given Congress no such
| power, but the States were too Jealous on this
subject to leave it in this negative way They
seemed to have foresight of Know -nothingism,
and made the interdict us the very first amend
lnent They gave it precedence Of all others.
/ From the Constitution of
! KENTUCKY.
"That all men have natural and ndefeasible
| right to worship Almighty God according to the
| dictates of their own consciences; that no man
shall be compelled to attend erect or support any
| place OF worship, or to maintain any ministry
against his consent; that no human authority
ought, in any case whatever, to control or inter-
| fere with the rights of conscience; and that no
preference shall be given by law to any reli-
| gious societies or modes of worship"
| MAINE.
GAN men have natural and inalienable right
| to worship Almighty God according to the die
| tates of their own consciences; and no one shall
| be hurt, molested, or restrained in his person,
| liberty, estate for worshipping God in the
| manner and season most agreeable to the dictates
of his own conscience, nor for his religious pro-
LESSONS or sentiments, provided he does not dis
turb the public peace, nor obstruct others in their
| religious worship; and all persons demeaning
| themselves peaceably as good members of the
State shall be equally under the protection of the
| laws, and no subordination or preference of any
| one sect or denomination to another shall ever
be established by law; shall any religious test
| be required as qualification for any office or
trust under this State; and all religious societies
| in this State, whether incorporate or unincorpo-
1
electing their public teachers, and contracting
with them for their support and maintenance. I"
VERMONT.
'sThat all men have natural and inalienable
| right to worship Almighty God according to the
| dictates of their own consciences and understand
ings, in their opinion shall be regulated by the
/ Word of God; and that man ought to, or of
right car, be compelled to attend any religious
worship, or erect or support any place Of worship
/ r mt fpf ba i,t,f
OF his conscience; nor can any man be Justly de-
prived or abridged of any civil right as a citizen
on account of his religious sentiments or peculiar
mode of religious worship; and that no authority
| can or ought to be vested in or assumed by any
power whatever that shall in any case interfere
with, or in any manner control, the rights of con-
science in the free exercise of religious worship
| Nevertheless, every sect denomination of
Christians ought TO observe the Sabbath, or Lords
Day, and keep up some sort Of religious wor-
ship, which TO them shall seem most agreeable
to the revealed will Of God
MASSACHUSETTS.
''It is the right as well as the duty, of all men
in society publicly, and at stated seasons to wor-
! ship the Supreme Being, the Great Creator and
Preserver of the Universe; and no subject shall
be hurt, molested restrained in his person,
liberty, or estate, for worshipng God in the man
ner and seasons most agreeably to the dictates of
his own conscience, for his religious profession
or sentiments: provided he doth not disturb the
public peace, or obstruct others in their religious
worship"
RHODE ISLAND.
"Whereas Almighty God hath created the
| mind free, and all attempts to influence il by
temporal punishments or burdens, or by civil in
expectations, tend to beget habits of hypocrisy
| and meanness; and whereas a principle object Of
our venerated ancestors, in their migration TO this
country and settlement of this State, was as
they expressed il, TO hold forth lively expert
ment that fiourishng civil State may stand and
be best maintained with full liberty in religious
| Governments: we therefore declare that no man
shall be compelled to frequent or to support any
religious worship, place, or ministry whatever,
except in fuflment Of his own voluntary con-
tract; nor enforced, restrained, unmolested, or
burdcned in his body or goods; nor disqualified
from holding any office; nor otherwise suffer on
account Of his religious belief; and that every
man shall be free TO worship God according to
the dictates of his own conscience, and to pro-
fess, and by argument TO maintain, his oninion
in matters of religion; and that the same shall
in no wise diminish, enlarge, or affect his civil
capacity"
CONNECTICUT.
"T'he exercise and enjoyment Of religious pro-
fession and worship, without discrimination shall
forever be free 10 all persons in this State pro-
vided that the right hereby declared and estab-
lished shall not be construed as TO excuse acts
nCenllousutsS, Ut 10 practice tncOnRlst-
ent with the peace and safety Of the State
'No preference shall be given by law TO any
Christian sect or mode Of worship"
| YORK.
"The free exercise and enjoyment Of religious
profession and worship, without discrimination
or preference, shall forever be allowed in this
State to all manknd and no person shall be
rendered incompetent TO be a witness on account
OF his opinions on matters Of religious belief;
lint he Hlsnrfp &c a
shall not be construed as TO excuse acts Of
RIGHTEOUSNESS or justify practices inconsistent
with the peace or safety Of this State
NEW JERSEY.
"No person shall be deprived Of the inestima-
bic privilege Of worshiping Almighty God in
manner agreeable to the dictates OF his own con-
science, nor under any pretense whatever be
compelled to attend any place Of worship con-
trary to his faith and Judgment; nor shall any
person be obliged TO pay tithes, taxes, or other
rates for building or repairing any church or
churches, place or places of worship, or for the
Il -. e -