Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1855-09-28
Another Religious MISUNDERSTANDING out In a



why nearly every Universal minister or preacher
in the Northern States is Know Nothing. Such
however is the fact indeed of that denomination
from New England, is known to have been the chap
lain of the National Council at Philadelphia. Dur
ing the Native American 81 Excitement in Phil
adephia in 1843 f. which eventuaed in the terrible
riots of the latter year, it within own person
al knowledge that every preacher of that denom'na'
ton in that city was more less actively engaged
in the movement two OF them Messrs. John H. Gihon
and John Perry figuring quite prominently as orators,
the latter OF whom received Office at the hands OF
the party, which the in all essential partl'
culars with the Know Nothing order of the present
day.
Recent movements in Georgia have placed the
members of that denomination in peculiar position,
especially those who have gone into the order and
taken the usual oaths to support the candidate OF the
of Georgia have dtne
In trial for murder, which came OH some
years since before Judge Garnett Andrews OF Geor'
gia, the Judge decided against the admlsslol'ty OF
the testimony of members of that religious demon"
ination, upon the ground of their non-beLet IN a
future state of rewards and punlshmenis, and thls
summer this same Judge Andrews became the candI-
date Of the Councils for the Office of Governor OF that
State Thus it came about that those unlVefsaIs's
who had gone into combined movement 10 marx
and prescribe Others found themselves IN the position
of men sworn TO support candidate VINO had al
ready marked and prescribed themselves, Tor we take
it that refusing mans testimony upon oath comes to
all that
We find the last number of the UniversaIlst Her
aid, the organ of the Universalist in Alabama and
Geogia, taken up, to considerable extent by this
cnntroversv The Editor, Rev. John {. Burruss,
formerly of ~ Carolina we believe is severe upon the
Judge whose ruling is evidently opposed to the gen.
era understanding of the law in this country as we'll
as to the principles laid down in the great English
teading case of Omichund V. Barker, in which was
involved the admssiblity of the evidence of witness
ses protesting the Gentoo Religion. The witnesses
were admitted and the principle laid down as follows
AS TO the degree Of religious faith required It is
now settled, that when witness believes IN Gou
who will reward and punish even in this world, ne
is competent,
Such has been the general and indeed we believe
the Universal ruling the courts of this country I'M
til Judge Andrews time.
The whole affair exhibits strange instance OF the
complications and Inconsistencies in which men will
inevitably find themselves involved, when once they
begin connecting law or politics with religious belief
The thing once allowed at all one can tell where
it will STOP or whether the most active abettors of
the movement may not find themselves occupying
the position of it's nexts victims.
From a review of this matter over the signature of
Marcus A. Bell, of Atlanta Ga, published in the
Herald we make the following extracts
In conclusion, allow to say that toward the In
dividuals belonging to the American Party have
no i'll WILL for their motives may be good, but surely
not in accordance with the spirit and objects OF our
government. | Cnce belonged TO this new party
mYself-was 0uerpeTSuaded to JOIN by @ hgn MINDED
good and true man,-and remained in that Order
for several weeks though expressed positively TO him
my dissatisfaction with certain features and pros
crIptions which he construed a little differently,
and expressed the hope that the national council
would relieve us from these obnoxious features. |
trembngly hoped that II would, tor ielt that had
committed the error of my life but it failed TO bring
the relief; and tho secret nomination OF Garnett
Andrews a religious proscriber, only bro't horror
upon the sad picturei | resolved to be freeman
And the friend who overpersuaded me to join has
also Withdrawn Had graphic powers of descrIp-
ton might tell you what it is TO be imperceptiby
ensnared to be enhraled, to be bound and the free
spirit longing to be Free noble and generous, chilled
and discounted need not tell you that to be con-
fined in the dark dungeons depths, and bound hand
and foot, to move only at the command of the jaor
is grevous TO the spirit. propounded this question
10 the TREND who now like myself breahes the free
air of liberty: Would Washington have used sign
or password to tell that he was an American!
! = X
This new party, fellow citizens, is POSITIVE
| PROTESTANT PoLITICAL ORGANIZATION. Such an or
ganization is emphaticaly UNCONSTITUTIONAL
| PARTY in fact, and therefore not but tend TO
direfuI consequences. So long this party shall
maintain an IDENTITY, SO long will your wives, your
children, your fathers and your mothers be endan-
gered and annoyed by riots dlssenslons and brolIs
these are the fruits of religious intolerance. There
is no lust cause for the existence OF such party.
Let every man worship God unmolested, under his
own vine and fig tree, not made afraid by religious
intolerance ard prescription. Why should we wish
10 usurp the rights of ether mems ConsCences! And
is it moi wrong an unknd TO manifest spirit Of bit
ter hostility to brothers from distant lands seek
ing a home from oppression Is ii charitable 3
Ought not this unbroherly agitation to cease among
mankind? Let every religion defend itself by its
own inherent virtues If the aggression succeed,
who next will be victim {! And who next? Already
it is charged that the Methodists antIrepublcan
Because you cannot outnumber them in the moral
vineyard, will you assail them by the sword speak
not for any sect-the humble tribute is given TO the
cause of Humanity.
For modes of faith let graoee:s zsalots fight;
He can't be wrong whose life is in the right
II faith and hope the world will disagree
But all mankind's concern is CHARITY.
! How vainy seek
The selfish for that happiness denied
= To aught but VIRTUE! Blind and hardened, they
Who hope for peace amid the storms of care,
Who covet power they Enow not how to use,
And sight for pleasures they refuse to give
A The Wilmington Herald of Thursday, is exercise
on the subject of the Mormons, and asks question
hereupon. So far the religious belief of the Nor
mons is concerned we have nothing to do with that