Daily American organ. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1856, 1855-01-26


poral punishments or burdens, or by civil incapa
citations, tend only to beget habits of Hypocrisy
and meanness, and are q departure from the plan
of the Holy Author of our religion, who being Lord
both of body and of mind, yet chose not to prop
agate by coercions on either - was in his almighty
power 10 do; that the impious presumption of leg
islatures and rulers, civil as well as ecclesiastical
who, being themselves but hllible and uninspired
men, have assumed dominion over the faith Of
others, setting up their own opinions and modes Of
thinking as the only true and infabe, and as such
endeavoring 70 impose them upon others, hath es-
tablished and maintained false religions over the
greatest part Of the world and through all time !:
that = compel a man to furnish contributions OF
money Tor the propagation Of opinions which he
disbelIsvss is sinful and tyranncal that even the
forcing him TO support this or that teacher of his
own religious persuasion ID depriving him of the
comfortable liberty of giving his contributions
10 the particular pastor whose morals he would
make bis pattern, and whose powers he feels most
persuasive 10 orighteousness and is withdrawing from
the ministry those temporal rewards, which, pro-
ceeding from an appreciation of their personal con-
duct, are an additional Indictment TO earnest and
unremitting labors for the instruction of mankind;
that our civil rights have no dependence on our re-
hgious opinions more than our opinions in physics
Or geometry; that, therefore the prescribing of
any citizen ~ unworthy the public confidence by
the Offices Of trust and emolument unless he pro-
fess or renounce this or that religious opinion, Is
depriving him injuriously of those privileges and
advantages TO which, In common with his fellow
citizens, he has natural right that It tends also
10 corrupt the principles Of the very religion it Is
meant to encourage, by bribing with a monopoly
Of worldly honors, those who win externally pro-
fess and conform to Il; that though indeed, those
are criminal who do not Withstand sach tempta-
x,nra nn,t1 r.
bait In their way that to suffer the civil ma
gstrate to ntrude his powers into the eld Of opin-
ion, and to restrain the profession or Of
principles on the suppositon Of their III tendency,
Is dangerous fallacy which at once destroys all
religious liberty, BECAUSE he being Of course Judge
Of that tendency, will mako his opinions the rule
Of judgment, and approve or condemn the senti-
ments Of Others only as they shall square WITH or
differ from, his own that It is time enough for the
rightfu purposes of civil government for Its Off
GERS to interfere when principles break out into
overt acts against peace and good order; and,
finally, that truth Is great, and will prevail ifleft to
herself that she is the proper and sufficient antag-
onist OF error, and has nothing to fear from the
conflict, unless by human interpostion dsarmed of
her natural weapons, free argument and debate,
errors ceasng to be dangerous when il is permitted
freely 10 combat them.
Be "a, thersfore enscfed by the General de
scm6iy, That no man shall be compelled TO fire.
quent or support any religious worship, place, or
ministry whatsoever, nor shall he be enforced, re-
strained, moested or burdcned In hisbody or goods
norsha he otherwise suffer on mtofhisreiigious
opinions or belief but that all men shall be free to
profess, and by argument to maintain, their opin-
ions In matters Of religion, and that the same shall
in no wise diminish, enlarge or affect their civil
capacities. .5I.,r ~
And though we well know this Assembly, elected
by the people for the ordinary purposes of legis-
ation only, have no power TO restrain the acts Of
succeeding assemblies, constituted with powers
equal TO our own; and that, therefore, to declare
this act irrevocabe would be of no effect in law !;
yet we are free TO declare, and do declare that the
rights hereby asserted Of the natural rights of
mankind, and that II any act shall be hereafter
passed TO repeal the present, to narrow its ope-
rstions, such an act win be an Infringement of
natural rirht. tf@s{ 1i8tltt- f|i3 81