The Bedford gazette. [volume] (Bedford, Pa.) 1805-current, 1855-06-15

evidence OF the inronststencE Of man, !hai when the
Puritans, who had fled fon religions pefseentan IN
Europe. landed upon shores among Their fst acts
they refused to permit Roman Catholic, Quaker
OF Baptist 70 reside among them, under PAIN Of
death.
All restraints by law, or the snnrene power Of the
with the rights OF man. All tIammeis upon
science equally Tyranny and oppression aud ysi
they frs removed in this country BY the organ
ir laws o. the states of the Union. | believe the
right 10 worship God according the dictates Of
mans conscience, 6Fs recognized III the t1Raker
COLONY OF Pennsylvania and The Roman Catholic co.o
/ ny of Maryland.
Undersisud me- am no adyorate OF apologist Ter
either the doctrine the church government OF the
Roman Catholics: am IN my religious sentiments,
old school PresbYieFan, by birth, hahts and con-
vicJioH. Bot an anwiilins that religions opinions
should be mingled With political considerations
mans religion. belief Is thing between him and
bis God, aud believe thai with The lights before
him, is responsible 10 his maker for the correct
OF his religious belief and sentiments, ~ essen
tal matters
The advocates Of the doctrines Of any sec, have
right 10 TT1ake many religious proselytes they
please. They have right. yal the fair and leaiP-
innate arguments that they use. 10 convince fheIr
fellow that Their doctrines and plans OF church
government correct. But, the religious and po-
tcal INSTITUTIONS Of eonnry must he kept distinct
Religion s always injured by being brought INTO
contact with politics. Ii rs sacred thing ever
10 be connected with the civil government OF ihe
country Both the Interests offeligion and the gats
ct The citizens prejudIced by II.
To the honor OF these free States. they have 81 the
theory Of 1heie government provided for The utmost
freedom OF thought and action on the subject Of re-
gion and equal rights 10 all religious denominations
The Constitution ofthe United States provides 81 on
sress shall make law respecting an establishment
of religion. prohibiting the free exercise thereof,
or abrideng the freeor ufSpeeeh or of the press.
The Cons titutlon Of Pennsylvania says ''alS men
have a natural and indefeasihie right to worship Al
mighty God according to fEe dictates OF ineir own
conscieuCes; no man can. OF right. be compelled 10
attend erect support any paee q worshpor maiR-
fain any minister against bis eonsrn no human an-
taorily can, in any whatever, control or inter-
ere with the rights oi conscience, and no preference
shall be- given, by law 10 any religious estab-
llshments or modes OF worship.
No person who aekuoaied@es the being ot a God,
aud iutu,e Of rewards and Punishmenis. shall,
account OF his religious sentiments, be dIsqua-
fed to bold any Office orace Of trust or profit andef
( thjS commomw ealth."
] again, II declares that the free communication
OF thoughts and opinions. Of Tie Invaluable
! risl', OF man, and thar every ctizrn may freely
speak, write and print. any subject, being reSPon-
sIbe for The abuse Of that liberty"
~ ths day the same provisions are substantially
contained in the Constitutions Of all the States. They
thr cariinai doctrines OF the revolution, which
first pat upon record the basis OF all tree govern
neu that all power Is Inherent in the people, and
that all governments derive their just powers from
]
! Again. the constitution Of the United States con
fers upon Congress the power .tn establish Uniform
ruie Of Naturalization, and IL viii be remembered
by al thai of the acts Of arbitrary power, which
Justified iofe-fah-rs in casting oil al allegiance
to the British King, FteIied in the Declaration
OF Independence. his refusal TO sanction the laws
for the naturalization OF foreigners. 0ur forefahers
thought, and thought rightly, that II as the interest,
a> Well he policy of this country 70 encourage
/ the emigration OF foreigners 20 settle among us,
! when heV dpihprarpIv aXuraE-pG gBTefpreHCe for
our institutions and form o: government Our popu-
aJon would have been able, by the ordinary IN
OF the human family, without the aid OF emf
grafton augment sufficiently for the exigencles of
+ our country. We had much, aud still have much
vacant ard uuImproyed land 10 bring mo culture
uoi able in ourselves 70 spare the necessary
hands from the culture Of the soil from the mechanic
and sciences-and above all. IN sympa heiic
feelings Tor The oppressed OF other lands, held ont
to them the hand Of invitation and friendship, to come
among aud participate in the enjoyments OF free
thoHgh-free specctfree conscience and tree rights,
winch We enjoyed. Our fathers had fed from opPres-
TO these shores, and felt il sacred duty to make
our land an asylum for all who had been oppressed
like them.
The constitution ofthe United States makes no
distinction between natural born and naiaralized ci
Izpns, except that the latter excluded from the
Offices OF President and Vice Presiden, OF the United
States.
We have therefore these things laid down as funda-
mental principles Of our zoverpment--whiIe they
ist, we have right directly TO disregard them
indeed the law would not permit Us 10 do. What
re cannot do directly ought not TO be permitted
10 do indirectly-hence il that when Cling a
judicial felt II my dniy charge the grand
juries in and adjacent district that:
at any two more shall combine together
Tor the purpose OF preventing any OF ctzens, nat
uraIized native, from enjoying the rights guaran-
teed 10 them by the constitution, II is a conspiracy
and punishable such by indictment.
Il any two or more mea combine together TO pre-
vent any citizen from enjoying the rights guaranteed
10 blT by the constitution account OF has reiIgi-
eious feeling. particular mode ot woFshippng
tod II Is conspiracy ard punishable such by N
dicimeut.
II any number of men. combine form themselves
into association. by agreements oaths TO
control the opinions and any portion Of cri-
Zens tn the exercise Of their sufages, that they
snail vote not according 20 their own choice The
dictates Of their own consciences, bot majority
Of such association shall determines il is cnuspira-
cy and punishable : such by indictment.
And II Is the agreemrnt 10 do the act, that con-
stitules the criminaty even fthe act itself be not
done"
! took occasion then, also 10 say: "That il any
person persons, shall have untbnkingly, unadvs-
edy without being aware OF the criminal charac-
ter of such act, joined sach association or taken
upon himsefany such VOWS, obligations, oaths,
they not binding upon him in law and onght not
TO be in morals. He will enact the part of a good
citizen by esche1sing all smch fellowship assoca-
ton and abandoning their Illegal enterprise
Upon careful review Of this subject, can soc
nothing in law morals to induce any change in the
doctrines thu, laid down. and | am glad TO find that
The same views have been taken upon this subject
in New York and North Carolina It is toe view
which is sanctioned by law, By sound policy and good
morals.
From what we learn of This association which
changes IFS often Proeas is tabled to have
changed his form, the members sworn TO deny
that they belong TO It, That they 10 preserve lis
secrets and that all their doing, secret and in
conelave. They vote in secret TO nominate their
didaes for political Offices and each member is sworn