Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1855-06-15

State. made by its constituted anth"rI'
ties. As right existing on the part ol
one child, it is equally a right belonging
to all. As it relates to Que book, so II
NAV apply 10 another-w whether relating
TO science or to morals. Error may
reach the understanding by the hearing
equally as by visioE-by the ear as by
the eye. As the child may object to
reading any book, So 1t may equally OBJ
iect to hearing i, read, for the same
cause-and thus the power Of selection
Of books is Withdrawn from those TO
whom the law eniru,ls II, and by the
right Of negation is transferred TO the
scholars.
The right, as claimed, undermlnes the
power of State. 1t is that the will OF
the majority shall bow to The conscience
of the minority, or OF one. If the sew.
eraI consciences of the scholars are per.
mlted TO contravene, obstruct or annnl
the action Of the State. then power ceases
to reside in majarilies. and IS transferred
to minorties. Nor is this ALL While
the Laws are made and established by
those Of full age, the ri ght Of obstruc-
ton, Of interdiction, IS gwen TO any and
Ii Il, i.
age or judgment.
Neither can the committee select
books, for they do not know all existing,
and they cannot foreknow all contingent
and prospective scruples Of conscience.
II the fact tha, book, or some portions
of it, is not III accordance with the con.
SC scientlous scrup'es of some scholar,
or tie permission Of lis use by mother
to whom 1t is unobjeclionable in the
presence Of the dissenting scholar, the
unconstitutional exercise of power. then
the constitutional selection OF books be-
comes a variable quantity, dependent up
on the presen; aud temporary conscience
of every scholar IN every school.
But while the constitution recognizes
.',he goodness of the Sovereign Ruler OF
the Universe" it does not recognize the
superiority Of any form Of religion, or of
any sect or denomination. Ii knows no
religion nor form Of religion, as such, as
having any binding force over its citizens,
against its will cons,liu'onally expressed.
1t regards the Pagan and the Mormon
the Bramin and the Jew, the Swedenbor-
pian and the Buddhist, the Catholic and
the Quaker, as all possessing equal
rights. The DEGREES Of council. or the
decisions of the Uema are alike power
less before its will. |, acknow lodges n"
royernment external 10 itsell -ro eccle-
siastlcal or other organization as having
power over its citizens, or any right to
dispense with the obligation Of its laws.
Its doctrine is the supremacy Of the peo-
pie, and that "all free governments are
founded on their authority, and lnstl,ut.
ed for their b1netit."
The legislature establishes general
rules for the guidance OF It's cltlzans 1t
does not necessarily follow that they are
unconstitutional, nor tina. citizen is la
be legally absolve from obedience, be.
cause they may conflict with his con-
sclen,iouS views OF religious duty OF right,
To allow this would be 10 subor llia,c
/ the State TO the individual conscience. =
\ law is not unconstitutional, because II
may prohibit what a citizen may conscl.
cnliously thing right, or require what he
may consclcutlously think wrcng. The
Stale is governed BY It's own views OF
duty. The rish: or wrong OF The State,
is the right or wrong as declared by Ieg,s.
latlve acts constitutionaliy passed. Ii
may pass laws against polygamy. yet the
Mormon or Mahomeiau cannot clam ALI
exemption from their operation. or free.
dom from punishment imposed npon The il
violation, because they nay believe, how.
ever consclentlousiy that II is an ln>liln-
ton founded on the soundcst political
wisdom, aud resting on The sure inunda.
ton Of inspired revelation. 1t may es-
iabish Il day Of rest, as civil institutions,
though the effect OF II may be to deprive
the Jew Of one-sixlh Of his time, for pur-
posses OF labor or of business.
The claim of exemption from the opera
ton OF a general law as matter ni r,gn,
has received the consideration OF Courts
Of the greatest learnin. and ability. Tie
case Of Simons EX. c5 Gr4,z,2 Penn,
AID, involved the Question whether the
affidavit, of a Jew, who was one Of the
plaintiffs. tha, he could moi appear IN
| Court on SATURDAY. from conc,en,.on,