The Yazoo City weekly Whig. (Yazoo City, Miss.) 18??-1855, 1855-04-06
oHnReH- ANn sTATN.

Isl an excellent article against the union Of
Church and State; md We heartily concur Il
Al the remarks of is editor tending II show the
evil consequences which invariably result from
such union. The article says
IN what are called tie middle aces Of Europe
the Church and State were 81 issue; but after
long and blood ets the former attained ID
d complete The Sovereign Pom.
tiff set up and down kings At pleasure,
and absoived the 5pIe from their allegiance;
The pr0udest, most powerful monarchs of Europe,
loficiated at his stirrup as grooms; md he plants
led his foot on the necks Of empefors But
the reign of the Church did not last many
aces, and this not without frequent renewals Of
the old contest with the State. Finding at
lenel that both were equally weakenedby these
perpetual conflicts, they BY degrees came to e
compromise for maintaing their mutual authors
ty. From rivals they became partners, and
what they could not do separately they accom-
plished by uniting together.
Il has always been the policy Of the Roman
Catholic Church to interfere with temporal con-
Germs to subject mankind to its rule; and what
was done IN the middle ages would be repeated
again were people weak enough TO submit to the
dictation Of Rome. But the art Of printing by
diffusing information among the masses, and
teaching men to reflect and judge for themselves
has shewn the impostures which have been
practiced ID former ages, and taught the world
the danger Of submitting to ecclesiastical rule.
Il is true, as stated BY the Union. that, when
the Pope Of Rome found that the State was as
sorting its authority in defiance Of Papal power.
union was formed to enslaVe the people. But
the progress Of light, especially il the United
States, has caused this union to be discarded,
and subjected both the spiritual and temporal
power to public opinion and control. This IS
an offence to those who would profit BY COM
bins "a IS Church and State; and It is not
therefore, TO ordered 81 that ecclesiastica
whose predeces sed uHb0Unfea sEay
either. single handed 81 in conjunction
State authority, should seek in this country, .
restoration Of that power which has beer here
tofore SO much abused. The first step towards
acquiring this ascendency is, to dry up the sour
ces of information, the public schools, and to
reduce the rising generation to q state Of ignor-
ance. If that could be accomplished, the SUI
premacy of the Roman pontif would soon fol-
low as necessary consequence, and the Amer
lean people would sink to that degraded condi-
tion which characteristics all nations where such
supremacy is exercised. We are glad 10 hear
the warning voice Of the Washington Union
raised against such q state Of things, and win
cheeffully assist to the best of our ability, ii
preventing its occurrence. The American peo-
pie win have read history to little purpose, If
they ever permit a mon Of Church and State,
|or consent to rive any sect Z control in secular
concers. It is in opposition to such designs,
among other things, that the Americans are nov
ralIying. They are resolved to protect their
civil and religious rights from infringement; and
hence win not trust with power class of peo-
pie who neser have possessed without abusing
it.
From present appearances there is little pros
pect that the ambition Of unprincipled political
demagognes, or the emissaries Of designing
foreign potentate, viii be gratifed. n temporal
and religious affairs the American people are
competent to Judge and act for themselves, and
they will take care not to subject themselves to
tyranical sway il any capacity. They win vigi-
lantly watch al who aim to deprive them Of
their liberties. and place them IN position
where they can do no harm. p efecting Is
object We shall Be glad to see the editor Of the
Union exert himself, even though he should pro
st less than 1T present.