Anti-slavery bugle. [volume] (New-Lisbon, Ohio) 1845-1861, 1855-02-17
FREEDOM OF CONSCIENCE.

General Cass has last wear and the nresent. been
conspicuous as the champion of the rights of
citizens, when they happened to be So
journing among European Catholics. lie has a
no less striking case of intolerance presented, than
any which has heretofore arrested his attention
and commanded his cloquence. 1t remains to be
seen whether he and his associates are as Jealous
of the rights of conscience in Maryland, as in
Florence. Here is a systematic attempt and we
suppose a successful one by Protestants to suppress
the social, i" moral and religious improvement
Of "large and numerous bodies" of native Ameri-
cans by suppression of the assemblies and church
meetings of these honorable aspirants for social
moral and religious improvement. Will General
Cass see to it now that Congress does something to
secure to these Marylanders the rights of conscience
of which they are so unceremoniously deprived
and in direct violation of the constitution of Mary
land and of the United States.
The following resolutions were adopted at a re
cent meeting of the citizens of Upper Marlboro, in
Maryland
Resolved, That, in a slaveholding community
like this, it is unwise, incxpedient, and dangerous
to allow large and numerous bodies of slaves OF
free negroes to assemble at night for any purpose
whatever, whether it be religious, social or moral
such assemblages are sure to beget feelings o
physical superiority, in regard to numbers owe
tie white race, and, even when -unaccompanied by
tumult, have always a natural tendency to engen
der discomfort and INSTRUMENTATION on the part o
the colored race.
Resolved, That this meeting is animated b,
no feelings of political or religious excitemen
whatever, but as Shareholders alone, regardfu
of their own personal rights and safety, the,
have met together to express their unqualified
disapprobation of such night meetings Of thei
slaves.
Oh, the towards. Afraid of the feelings 0
physical superiority which religious mcetin!
generate" Maryland chivalry quakes in its shoe
when their slaves hold a prayer meeting, and tn,
personal rights and safety" of Shareholders cal
only be secured by their suppression. EVIDENT!
they are of Jeferson's opinion that the "Almight,
has no attribute that can take sides with them il
a contest with their slaves"
The Albany Journal speaking on this topic
Surprising Europe to have granted all that on
slaveholding Congress asks of her Government
in the way of religious liberation, says:
And when all this is done, and Europe, a
our instance, has set us an example Of Religion
Freedom, will it then be too much to ask of GU
government the SAINT boon for ourselves? Wi
It then be dangerous" and 'unpatriotic," as it
said now to be, to ask that it may no longer be
crime by statute to teach the Scriptures in Mary
land, or to go as a missionary to the servants {
the Choctaws? That the widow in Virginia VIII
contributes her mite to Christianity by teachin
her ignorant neighbor to read the Bible. may II
longer be fined and imprisoned thirty days in tn
county jail?-That shameful violations of tn
marriage VOW shall no longer be tolerated on tn
Eastern Shore for the purpose of increasing 9Th
stock for market?" That the dead-when of tn
race that Phillip baptized and taught-instead
being flung "unknelled" into a common receptacle
in the purlieus of our Southern cities, may hay
decent Christian burial? After Rome and Par
have been attended to, cannot our government col
trive some way to negotiate a treaty with Charlie
ton ? or to send an envoy to New Orleans? {
must we still stand before the world q living col
trndiction of our Notwithstanding abroa
what we dare not grant at homer