Lynchburg daily Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1852-1861, 1855-09-24

| priest ca pardon both perjury hnd hiGh treason
Setting their religion aside il is plata that, upon
| principles of reason. no government ought to
| tolerate men who cannot give any security 70
that government for their allegiance aud peaeea'
BILE behavior. But this no Rnmanist can do
! not only while he holds That .'no faith is 10 be
kept with hefeies." but 50 long as he ncknowl-
| edges either priesiy absoluiion. the spiritual
! power of the Pope
II any one peases to answer this and sign
| his name, shall probably reply. But the pro-
| duetinns If any anonymous writer's | do not rro-
mise 10 take any notice of.
en-. sir. your humble servant.
JOHN WESLEY.
City Road. January 81, 1850.
The whole force of the second provsio u
spent IN the prohibition 10 Congress. II Tor
bids Congress To make any law respecting al
establishment of religion, or prohibiting the FREE
exercise thereof" IL does not forbid individual
10 make such establishments On the contrary
we have many of them. II relates to the iegisfa
ton Of Congress, mol 10 The pote ofthe cHi-en
aud the fareign zeal which would distort ihes
provisions of the constitution, so as to diycst III
citizen Of the uncontrolled exercise of his cleo
tive franchise il, us it seems TO me, alike ale
from tho constitution aud the plainest dictates q
reason.
The twelfth article Of the the Philadelphia
platform has been the subject of much common
tary. | stnte. without discussing them, my owl
opinions on the subjects of which il treats.
recognise the mpraciioabty. from whateve
cause of reoonciling the conflicting opinion
which exist on the subject of slavery. aud III
danger Of sgitatng that question in the Na,ioni
Legislature. | am content that the America
party shallin good fath. hold Themselves boundt'
abide hy,nnd maintain the existing laws on thesub
Jet, and with their declaration that Congress ha
no power 10 interfere with slavery in the state
where il exists, or 10 refuse the admission OF an
State, because is constitution dncs or does no
recognise slavery n u part of it's social system
hold fiat the Territories Of the United StateF
are tho property. not of Congress, but ofthc pee
pie of the United States, until such Territory be
comes State. do not believe that Cougres
has the power 10 abolish slavery in the Dstrit
Of Columbia, npart from the contract with Mary
land, or considerations Of public faith, bat as Con
gross hns no constitutional power to violate n sol
emn contract, or TO commit breach of the m
tiona laith, think they are equally preclude
by these considerations.
These are my opinions on the questions pre-
scented TO the desire 10 add brief romark o
another subject.
The several parties in this State have all plant
ed themselves ON the fourth resolution of H.
Georgia Convention of 1850. and the ntcrpreta
ton given 10 il by some persons IL that upo
the happening of either of the contingencies spec
flied in il, Georgin Is 10 prepare for an immediaf
disruption Of the Union" do not 50 under
stand il. | think ii could not have been So N
dcrs,nod by it, framer-. am sure that this
not the fair import ofit terms and still more con
fdcnt that sueh is not the feeling of the people
Grorgin.
In the specified contingencies, Georgia pledge
hcrsefto resist "eYen n n last resort" to the dir
ruptien Of the Union. The term LAST is rela
tive term. Il necessarily implies some precet
ing action, some honest, well meant, patriot
efforts to secure your rights, without the nccess
~ of having recourse u this LAST fearful resor
the disruption of the Union implorc my coun
trymon II give 10 This subject their earnest, mix
Gus consideration: not 10 be diverted from it b
the defamation of political aspirants, the og
tntions of the canvass, or the excitement of tn
hustings; but calmly, quietly in the retirenen
of their own homes, 10 consider what it j.
which this controversy is tending, and humhl
supplicnting that Almighty Being, under who
protecting providence our fathers laid the tnun
daton of this great republic, to Undue us with til
same oonciatory spirit by which they were AM
mated, To seek under His bcnchcient guidanc
the solution of the problem which shall reconcile
Southern rights with the perpetuity of tho Union.
Respectfully. your fellow citizen,
JNO. MACPHERSON BERRIEN,