Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1855-08-14

we're not content to risk its security upon inc pro 70
vision cited but determined. by an aiheholO.l' ~
Constitution 10 barricade and tori l, m so1 - ~
invulnerabe 10 those assaults of religious plgo''5
aud intolerance which have oyerwheinieii u ~ ~
Christendon besides. In the first a!iiciG " lsS
aInelIded Constitution, it Is provided 80 90, s
shall make no law respecting the or
srei ou or prohibiting the free exercise iheTSol u
abridig the freedom Of Speech OF OF the press %
the right of the people peaeeahiy 10 'sseIu.s ~,
to lrtiIon the Government for redress OF rlefe-
auCes.
In this article, adopted in fail view Of the cruel
ties cuur.afiies aud uagical prosecutions, WHICH
Catholics, ProesaHis DisSeu'ers and Aah9theG.'rs
had pTac;iced Is proclaimed The great ptinel!i''
that tie civil, ought not, aud should net &c, an e.
cesiaSiica overnaleDt-that religion was q ".''Net
between God aud the creature, which government
could not rigitflir ard should not attempt 20 con-
troll. Suppose this Philadelphia Council Haa pEG-
vilei that tie Catholic press shouid oe sti,tEee''
that the Catholics should not have the rlgh o. 's
fyl asssn4biage or the right OF petition " "u'1.
not that be ptlPahle violation OF this article OF
ihe aIneaded Constitution and is it mere 50 man
the proposed prescription from Office OF CeihocS,
because thev Catholics, IS violation OF Inc 80
section of the 9Th article of the constitution ABOVE
cited? Suppose this proposed prescription had
been extended 10 IiebCG!SiS BaptISts PresOE Icft's
Episcopalfa1s or any ntier Of the numerous sec's1
which under the benign influence OF this principle
Of religious freelom have so happily sprung up IN
our happy country. hat would they say! Miuh
a loud and Indignant voice they would proclaim II
unconstitutional and tyranuousand resist unto blood
Wllv is il not equally unconstitutional anc tHran-
nicaI when directed against CnihohSs they are
not expected t,y the terms OF these constitutional
provisions Inflelity which is measuring its steps
10 power with more fearful raPiGity than 1t IS
thought Catholicism is, may one day or "ther,
place one or the whole of these leading denonlna-
lions in this unpleasant predicament and then, per-
hans while drinking the same bitter draueht wmcl
bitOtrv and Intolerance are now pouring down the
tlroats OF Catholics without mercy, they will duly
appreciate the value Of that religious freedom that
liberty of conscience which they now deny to 9TH
erS.
The next great provision in favor of religious
liberty passing by the constitutional provisions OF
:.moSt every State in the UuIon and the coustItu-
tionaI provision of Virginia in none OF Wn.ch are
Catholics cTccptei to which shall advert IS mat
immortal and uuaR5WcTubie production, the Virginia
Sratufc entitled, sin Gct for eStG5ISh'ng religious
freedom, and which in order that it may he read,
understood. und thoroughly cUmprehendcd, here
insert in lis every word:
Whereas Almighty Gcd hath created Tic mind
free that all attempts TO influence it by temporal
punishment or hUrtLens OF by civil Interpretations,
tend only to begci habits OF hypocrisy and meancss
and are departure fror the plan Of the he author
of orr religion who being Lord both OF body and
mind vet chose not to propagate 1T - coercions on
either as was in his ALMIGHTY porer 10 do; that the
impolls presumption Of legislators and rulers, civil
Ms well IS ecclesiastical, who being themselves but
falIibe and uninsirel mey, have assumed dominion,
over the faith Of others setting uP their own opIH-
ions aud modes OF thinking as the Only true and IN
ful!ilIc aud such Cudcavoring 10 impose them n
The others have established and maintained false reli
E'o'.s - ~ " - =. 80 ,.,'.r;j,r,i T,s
% T'I'.s ~ "2 l,i - t,,,=..,I mn cren i'm
forcing him to support this or that teacher o ms
own religious ersua5i"n IS aeTiTE hi'n OIL ie COM
Portable liberty OF giving his contributions TO tie par
ticular pastor whose morals he Eond make his pat
tern. and whose powers he feels most persuasive to
righteousness anu IS Nl'lNt"M'nS from '!G 'h'llSH
/ those temporary rewards which, proceeding from
an appreciation OF their persona! coAa"ct are an n-
dInnAl excitement 70 earnest ana "h'eH'''HhE II
i,... q a
rights have no dependence on our religious "rta!9as
nur more t:an opinions III Hh sizes or geometry 'h"i
therefore the pro$er lnE any citizen is HHWoF'h% NC
tcu. cp!led to Offices Of irwst and cmuIumen', unless
he profess 20 renounce this or that Fclg'gS O!iio
IS iepriv;ng h i'm trfuiousT OF those UrHuGGcs ana
advantages to which, in common with ms ico" cl-
liens Ic has utturl right tnlt Il tends only 10 cor
rH the principles Of that religion IT IS meant 10 en-
courage by hriUiH@, WITH monopoly OF "0TCE non
and eEinumcnS: those VII" WI! cH'EFh1F PFOi' $
and conform il; that Gin Gcedtl0 are crhI
iuaI who 10 not withstand such tcnNi"tt"nt neither
those innocent VINO lay TIE h"it III 'he,r way
erz into tic field oropnon, AMI to rcstruin the pro
sssfou or propagation principles on aupos; ton Of
their i'll tendency, is a G"ngers "IIacy, winch at
once DESTROYS all RELIGIOUS liberty because he beng OF
course judge OF that tendency. vii! make his OF
IiniUus tlc rulcof iuigHcntHud approve or condemn
,,ri1,,7ts of Trhcr; only rs they shall square
with or ffcr from his own that it is iilnc enough
for fhr ri ftfi1l DyTD0sps 5G civil government, for is
Officers to Interfere when PRINCIPLES break into
overt acts against peace and good order and finally,
,Stil.. S-uI will prcyai!iE LETT herself
~ and sufficient antagonist to Err
}, E,.ir from the conflict. unless
p disllrinea Off trIrr.t Wei
gand debate errors ce.ssitIg 70
~ is permitted freely 10 contra
I. - sSgS3I
"Bctcnartej by the General Assomhly,'ha no man
shall he compelled to frequent support any religious
worship, place ministry whatsoever. nor shall he
/ enforced, .czutUCd WylCS'Cd or burtAoLeI, III l!s
BODY or goods nor shall otherwise snG.r account
] ..t.4i. col NJ . l e. fIrrru