Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1855-08-07

God and the creature, which government could no
rightfully and should not attempt to contr"l; nmP
pose this Philadelphia Council had provided t.ia' IN
: Catholic press should be suppressed, that inc Ca'h'
lie pulpit should b. closed, or that Catholics shc"i'
not have the right of peaceful nsscnblag', or the fiSh
nj urtition! Would moi that be Il palpablc violation
Of this article of The amended constitution and 1
i more so than the proposed prescription from ohic'
of Catholics, 5ccalise they ue CATHOLICS, is Il violation
of the 81 section of the 9th article Of the constitution
above cited Suppose this proposed prescription la'
been extended TO Metlolists, Bnptists, Presbyterians
rp;sropaIians, or any other Of the numerous scctS
which, under the benign influence of this principle "
RELIGIOUS freedom, have 80 happily sprung up III gu
h,nrv rnuutrv, what would they say! With n lout
n nj indignant voice they would proclaim it unconst'
t,,;,naI and tvrannoua, and resist unto blood. VIII,
!. If not equally uncon>titutional and tyraliiical "lci
dirrctcd against Catholics They nre not excepted
nv the terms Of these constitutional PROVISIONS. IN
tii.Iily. which is measuring its steps to power witt
more fearful rapidity than it is thought Catl0!icislI
is, may, one day or other, place one or the Whole .
thes, iendin. denominations, III this unpleasant pre-
dicanlcnt, and tilcn. perhaps, while drinking the same
bitter drauglt which bigOtry and intolerance ARE io"
pouring down the threats 81 Catholics without mcr'
cy, they will duly appreciate the value Of that relI'
.ious freedom, thai liberty of conscience which they
now deny Ia others. :.
The next great provision in flvor nf religious Ii.
bcrty, pussln. by Tho constitutional! provisions OF a..
most every State in the Union, ani 'hr constitutional
provision of Nirginia, in none OF which are Cat!Io-
lies excepted, TO which | shall advert. is. that lmmor-
tai and unanswcrEblc produciion, the Virginia Statute,
emitted, ain act tOr r,tHbiShIng~ religions ~trffd0m,'
and which, in order thut it may be read, understood,
and thoroughly comprchended, | here insert in its
every word:
"whcrens Almighty God hath created the mind free;
thu; all attempts TO influence it by temporal punishment,
uI bur;lens, or by civil Interpretations, tend only 10 beget
!abir1 ut hypocrisy and m.ann"-r. and nc II departure
from the plan Of the Holy Author OF our religion. who. BE-.
Ing Lord both OF body and mind, yet chose not to p:opo:
gate il, by rucrcions on either, u. wrs in hi, Almighty pow.
or To do; tha, the impious presumption Of LEGISLATORS ana
rulers, civil Hs well M cccics!n-iicAl, who, h"!ns them
selves bur inllb:r ami unin-pirct men. hnve Hafunlcd uo'
! muiJn over III" faith 81 uihrr- s.ltIns up their own up.n'
ions and modes nt thinkin, H. the only true hnd !niAllhh',
md n .ucl. rnicnvuring 10 impose them on others, nav"
established and maintained inl-r religions over III" grcut
rs, purt OF the world, nui through Nil tim"; that To e"nlpcI
n man to furnish contributions Of money 10! the ,rropasn'
ton Of opinions which Ii" di-6cliev'., Is sinful and tyrnnn''
cl: and even the forcing him TO support TINS or t:iNt tsnrn.
81 OF his own religious prrsrasion. Is depTiFiA@ nm vi tm'
comfortable liberty OF giving his contributions totnr put'i
cular pst,ur whose morals he would maze his pattern, b"
whose puwrr+ he frris most persuasive 10 Righteousness,
md il withdrawing from the ministry those temporary re-
ward. which. proceeding from an appreciation OF th"ir
p.rsunnl conduct, ara nm additional incitrfn"nt IN earnest
and uurnmit,ins labors for the instruction hf nlhnSind;
thn; our civil rights have no dcrrndrnc" on our religious
opinions my more than our opinions III lhysirr"r G'ou''
try; tina, therefore the prescribing ny ci!!Zrn NJ unworthy
tin public confidence hy laying upon HIM al inchl'nri's Oh
being called 10 offices ni trust mnd cniO!uin"ni. unless hr
profess 20 rrroumre ;li- or TINT religious opinion, Is d"pr:'
wing him :uiuriou-lv of ,hosr Trivh"-cs amt ntvtitrSes I"
which, in Common with h- fellow c!lz"ns.h II" Inns mht"
rnl right; that /; tends Only {" CORRUPT the p:iicii"'S q!
,Eu, r,licirn il !. u.cnni To encourage, By br!D!ng, with Il
MONOPOLY 81 worldly hOnur- md rmolunlen;s, mos" WAC
will externally profess aid conform /" II; ih"i though III
deed thuse are criminal who do NOT withstand such temp.
rhtiJa, yet, neither ARE thusc innocent VINO lay IN: oht III
their way; thnt TO suffer H." rivil magistrate 10 in;rudc h:s
powcrs into the hrli OF opinion, md 10 restrain tile pro
ir.sirn or propagation % ~prias.p!"s on s!ullo'ltion o: her
i'll tendency. is dangerous i,l!acy, which ut once destroys
all reli.i us liberty. because be-, being oil course Judge o'
ttnt tendency, will make his opinions thcrulc al Judgment,
ami spprovc or condemn the sentiments Uf others only a'
they shall SQUIRE with Ur deer from lie own; that II IS time
enough for the riyhrrul pTrposts Of civil government, Tor liz
pnr,r. IN iufrrtrIt, G..fn ~ nI'plG6 DfpuK uI lllOO EtIl
acts aruinrr peace and gno't order; and hnn!!y, tent truth
i, great and will prevail, II left 10 hcrsrl!; tiiut she Is the
proper and -utfcirn; antagonist 10 Error, and Ft- nothing
Ia fear from the conflict. unless by human intrrposltIon
di.armrd of her natural weapons. free argument AMI de
bate; errors crmsing 10 be- dangerous when us permitted
freely 70 contradict them
ne |, enacted by the General Assembly, rhan no man
shall BE- compelled 10 irequen; or support amy religious
worship, plncc or ministry whatsoever, nor shall ne en:orc.
ed. restrained. molcstcl or burihcEcd. IN his body or goods,
nor shall! otherwise suffer on accoun. Of his religious opn
ions or belief hut that all men shall BE- free to profess,
and BIZ argument TO mnintuin, their opinions in matters OF
religion, and thnt the same shall in no vice diminish, en-
large or s.cc; their civil capacities.
"Ani though He we'll know that this Assembly, elected
by the people for tine ordinary purposes of legislation only,
have no power to restrain the acts Of succeeding assem-
bile. constituted with powers equal 10 our own, and TINT.
therefore. 10 declare thi. act ID beirrcvocnblc. would be Il;
no effect in law; yet we ARE tree to dcclnre, and do declare
that tue ri2i,r hereby asserted "re OF the natural rights Of
mankind; aud ;ha; /! my act shall be hereafter passed 70
rcp.sl the present, or TO narrow its operation, such nct will
br an Infringement OF natr-ni night.
SEC. !. The General Assembly do iinDw hgaia declare
lAAhN a. Ah-'H"
rights OF mPEnInd.
The ID clause Of the net contains the enactment,
which is religious liberty, full and complete, without
excepting any order or denomination. The preamble
enfDrccs The enactment by arguments fair. thorough,
cornplet. ami uualswrrahlc, and with an elUqucncc
uurivalIrd. Tie third clause recommends the pcrpc-
,,itv of the net NJ essential 10 the protection ot me
natural rights Of mankind, and the second section
winds up with the declaration, that the rights as
serted in The act nre Of the natural rights OF man-
kind; and ~ they 9rc, whether fa;a; or sinner, Ca
thulic or Protestant, Jew or Gentle. Let the truly
charitable christian, the real unbiased patriot, the
man whose feelings are imbucd with tbs true spirit
OF liberty, re4I urd ponder oTc. the principles OF this
act. and NJ cannot bat acknowledge tho power Of the
a-,umtn;, :hc truth If the principles, nnd the justice
TO all naukinu Of liz PROVISIONS. Il will be the
GROWING glory of Jcf!crso III and ot Virginia, 30 l"nS
US trcr.ln!n hus n name or u vn,ary-'hc efforts ut the
pirnies ni the PniIn!"lphia Council 70 tasnlsii it,"
The contrary Notwithstanding.
| ,Lall appropriate my next number to this subject.
JEFFERSON.