Democrat and sentinel. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1853-1866, 1855-05-30

the only colony in which the prosecuted per-
secutors could have had resting place out
of their own narrow confines; aye, Rhode Is
land, the child of persecution, prosecuted.
The little colony. whose inhabitants were
drawn together by the sound of the whip
and the threats OF the rope, menaced other
Christians with Punishment, and devised in
sfruments of persecution and if it did not
Danish. it was because by its threats. il preelu-
ded admission to those who. by entering the
colony, would have become obnoxious to the
penalties of her uncharitable statutes.
1t seems then as If the spirit of intolerance
was a part of the creed that Influenced soma
of the colonies; and. without going into de-
tails, we may say, that just in proportion as
religion was made prominent in some Of the
colonies, did the hostility to those of other
sects manifest itself In the laws and customs
Of the people And whatever exception
Pennsylvania may have formed to the evidence
of general hatred of denomination, il is evil
dent that the founder and proprietary of that
colony yielded up to fear and expediency,
what others sacrificed with hearty good will,
and his dread of :. Mass house" was superior
to his love of tolerance.
While the colonies in general were mani
Testing this settled hostility against those who
refused to conform to the religious creed of
the majority. and especially against the Ro-
man Catholics. Lord Baltimore's colony took
possession of the grant on the Chesapeake.
aud commenced the work of government
Free from the trammels of foreign Influences,
unfettered by any laws of conformity, and, as
yet without the vexations of inconvenient GUS
toms, he had no bad precedents to embarass
him, he had no favorites TO reward, and no
a. III. - IL
who followed his brother understood the object
of their mission, and had received lessons of
political wrongs and religious prosecutions TO
make them love with tolerance, and they pos
sessed too much of the spirit of Christianity
to deny to others what they coveted for them
selves.
The world had seen in other colonies the
effect of dominant sectarics yielding themselves
to the suggestion of their creeds, and it was
evident that nothing had been gained by ma
king any sect the repository of power. 1t
was. therefore. evidently the intention of
Lord Baltimore to give new feature to colo
nization, By allowing his own creed to suggest
the treatment to others and to make Catholic
ity. untrampelled by State dependence. the
exponent of religious rights and the minister
of political equality Hence the Protestant
Historian. is enabled TO say with policy
the wisdom of which was the more remarkable.
as il was far in advance of tn spirit of the
age (that is because it was not derived from
the spirit of the age but from the spirit of the
gospel.) Lord Baltimore laid the foundation
of his province on the broad basis, of free
dom in religion and security to property
Christianity as a part of the old common law
of England, was established by the proprie-
tary, without allowing any pre-eminence to
any particular form of its exhibition
How truly christian. as we all understand
christianity, as we hear it cited around us,
every day, are the views thus imputed to
Lord Baltimore thus entering into and infu-
encing all his plans for the colonial govern
ment. But / know it may be said. nay. it
will be said, that the profession of founder
of a colony may be truly admirable while the
experience of his colonists may be very differ
ent from the hopes which these professions
warranted. That the real intentions, indeed
of the founder and proprietor may be neglec-
ted bv his secular officers, and the adninistra-
tion of affairs be in entire opposition TO his
plans. Such it may be supposed was the case
in some of the colonies. Such it is certain
was not the case in Maryland. while the reli-
gionof which the founder and most of The
eolonists were professors was allowed its op-
Grafton in the Legislation of the inchoate state.
and with view of securing and perpetrating
that freedom of conscience for which he labor
ed, Cecil Calvert prescribed for the Governor
of his province from 1856 onward the follow
ins oath of Office - - 80
Il will not, by myself, or any other direct
ly or indirectly. trouble or modest, or discum-
brance any person protesting to believe in
Jesus Christ. for. or I'm respect to religion.
will make no difference Of persons in confer
ring Offices, favors or rewards. for or in respect
of religion. but merely as they shall be found
faithful aud well deserving, aud endued With
moral virtues and abilities: NV aim shall BE
public pa5i;s unity; and il ssy person or viseer
shall modest any person protesting TO believe
in Jesus Christ on account Of bis religion.
win protect the person molestcd and punish
the offender"
Surely the spirit Of entire equality never
did more perfect work, than tba; proposed
by Lord Baltimore. and carried Out By his
colonisfs Prosecuted at home; oppressed
with legal disabilities, and still more clabar-
rassed with the annoying antagonism Of a
dominant party. and the initiatory hostility Of
numerous sectaries. agreeing only IN that
hostility. those colouists manifested spirit Of
Christian kindness that does infinite credit 70
tSe creed which they professed. And IL sub
sequcnt observation enables some to say that
IL was the true mode Of perpetuatipg the colo
ny. by securing immigration to the oppressed
and suffering Of other creeds. it may be said
in reply that the dictates Of Christianity arc
always the most expedient in full expert
ment and We have advanced in our argument
if we show perfect consistency in the practice
of those elements and the dictates Of Chris
tianity, and made apparent the coincidence Of
their creed, with their beautiful praetice. =