The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1855-09-12


read the "Act" and blush.
AN ACT FOR ESTABLISHING RELIGIOUS
FREEDOM.
WRITTEN BY THOMAS JEFFERSON.
Passed by the General Assembly of Vir-
ginia, December 10th, 1884.
1. WHEREAS, Almighty God hath Gre
ated the mind free, that all attempts to
influence it by temporal punishments or
burthens, or bycivil Interpretation, tend on
ly to beget habits of hypocrisy and mean
ness, and are a departure from the plan
of the Holy author of our religion, who
being Lord both of body and mind, yet
chose not to propagate it by coercions on
either, as was in his Almighty power to
do; that the impious presumption of Leg
islators and Rulers, civil as well as eccle-
siastical, who being themselves but fallible
and uninspired men, have assumed domin-
ion over the faith of others, setting up
their own opinions and modes of thinking
as the only true and infallible, and as such
endeavoriDg to impose them on others,
hath established and maintained false re-
ligions over the greatest part of the world,
and through all time; that to compel g.
man to furnish contributions of money
for the propagation of opinions which he
disbelieyes, is sinful and tyrannical; that
even the forcing him to support this or
that teacher of his own religious persua-
sion, is depriving him of the comfortable
liberty of giving his contributions to the
particular pastor, whose morals he would
make his pattern, and whose powers he
feels most persuasive to righteousness,
and is Withdrawing from the ministry
those temporal rewards, which, proceeding
from an appreciation of their personal con-
duct, are an additional Indictment to earn
est and unremitting labors for the instruc-
tion of mankind; that our civil rights have
no dependence on our religious opinions
any more than cur opinions of physics or
geometry; that therefore the prescribing
any citizen as unworthy the public conf
dence, by laying upon him an incapacity
of being called to Offices of trust and en-
olument unless he profess, or renounce this
or that religious opinion is depriving him
injurionsly of those privileges and adyan-
tages, to which, in common with his fell
Ilow-citizens, he has natural right; that
it tends only to corrupt the principles of
that religion it is meant to encourage, by
bribing with a monopoly of worldly hon
ors and emoluments, those who will exter-
nally profess and conform to it; that though
indeed those are criminal who 10 not
withstand temptation, yet neither are
those innocent who lay the bait in their
way; that to suffer the civil magistrate to in
trude his powers into the field of opinion,
and to restrain the profession or propoga-
tion of principles on supposition of their
i'll tendency, is a dangerous fallacy, which
at once destroys all religious liberty, be-
cause he, being of course judge of that
tendency, will make his opinion the rule Of
. judgment, and approve or condemn the
sentiments of others only as they shall
square with or differ from his own; that il
is time enough for the rightful purpose OF
J Civil Government, for its officers to inter-
fere when principles break out into overt
acts against peace and good order; and
finally, that Truth is great and will prevail
: if left to herself; that she is the proper and
!, sufficient antagonist to error, and has no.
thing to fear from the conflict, unless by
human interposition disarmed of her nat.
f ural weapons, free argument and debate;
errors ceasing to be dangerous when ii
is permitted freely to contradict them.
2. Be it enacted by the General Assem-,
bly,, That no man shall be compelled to
frequent or support any religious worship
place of Ministry whatsoever, nor shal
be enforced, restrained, molested, or bur.
J thened in his body or goods, nor shall he
otherwise suffer on account of his religious
opinions or belief; but that all men shall
l be free to profess, and by argument tc
maintain their opinions in matters of re
5 ligion, and that the same in no wise di
minish, enlarge or affect their civil capac
:, tiles. kse
/ 8. And though we well know this AS
sembly, elected by the people for the or
5 binary purposes of legislation only, have
l no power to restrain the acts of succeeding
Assemblies continued with powers equa
!. to our own, and that, therefore, to declare
l this act to be irreyocable, would be of NJ
effect in law; yet we are free to declare
that the rights hereby asserted, are of thu
g natual rights of mankind, and that if an,
: act shall be hereafter passed to repeal til,
present, or to narrow its operations, sucl
act will be an infringement of natura
right.
Ell A FreesOilerOn on Know NOthingisIn
o The Belmont Chronicle is publishing
speech of Hon. GEO. w. JULIAN on 9Th
Slavery question, in its precise relation
to American politics" delivered at Stat
e Convention in Indiana. Mr.. JULIAN, i
e will be remembered, was the Freesoil can
e didate for Vice President of the Unite,
S States in 1872 The speeeh contain