Weekly Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1853-1861, 1855-07-05
Church and State.

XI-The education of the youth OF our
country in schools provided by the State !;
which schools shall BE- common to all, with
out distinction of creed or party and free
from anv influence or direction of denomi-
nation or partisan character
And inasmuch as Christianity, by the Con-
stitutions of nearly all the States, by the de-
cisions of the most eminent judicial authon-
ties and by the consent of the people OF
America. is considered an element OF our po-
litical system, and as the Holy Bible Is at
once the source of Christianity. and the de-
pository and fountain of all civil and religious
freedom. we oppose every attempt to exclude
it from the schools thus established in the
States.-Resolutioa Of the K. n. Convention at
Philadelphia.
Christianity an element Of our political sys-
tenn! There never was a greater ialsehood
or more dangerous doctrine. Christianity
has no moro to do with our political system
than the science of mathematics. Its sphere
of action is altogether different. 1t dwells in
the serene region of heavenly contemplation
and is far above the smoke and stir of the
political world. Its influence on political IN
stitutions is, from its nature, indirect, second
ary, and casual.
1t is not its office to preach crusade
against Democracy and in favor of Know
Nothingism. II deals with Man in his rela-
tions to his Maker and a future life. To
make it an clement of our political system is
TO degrade it. to soil its srnbrosal weeds. and
draggle them in the mud. The heavenly
visitant has no knowledge of governments !;
il can exist under any form of government,
and adapt itself to all the various stages OF
civilization. Political institutions are things
of time; they vanish with the evanescent
race whose imperfections gave them birth.
But religion is eternal
It's holy fame forever burneth,
From Heaven Il came, to Heaven rcturneth.
The American Revolution has been barren
of beneficial results, if Christianity is to be
made an element of our political system. The
separation of church and state, on which our
illustrious statemcn have indulged in so many
congratulations, is to exist, it seems only in
name. All the intolerance and sectarianism
which have made Europe pandemonium,
are to be transferred to the Western Hemis-
phere, and the sentiment of the poet that
those who cross the sea, change the sky but
not the mind, is to be literally realized.
The American government does not and
cannot recognize the existence of Christianity;
it would be false to the fundamental princi-
pies of republicanism if it did.
Demagogues who, like the members of the
Philadelphia convention, would for spoils and
Office, foster the direful alliance, however dis
guised, between church and State deserve,
as was said by ROBERT HALL, to be tied to
the tail of the great red dragon, and whipt
round the nethennost regions to all eternity.
! We do not wish to be misunderstood and
charged with infdelity; but we shall express
our honest convictions and let the consequent
ces take care Of themselves. The State should
know no religion; this is the true theory of re.
pubcan government. This does not imply in
the men who constitute the State, any want OF
reverence for Christianity. Individually, they
may regard it, as we do. with deep and abiding
respect as an institution which has come
down to us with ali the venerableness of agt
but none of its imbecility, bearing the sgne
of heaven and scattering the blessings of i'm
mortality.