Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1855-06-15

ed. for if the plaintiff has a constitution
al right to be absolved from a regulation
of the school requiring its reading be-
cause it it is in conflic, with her religious
conscientious belief, it is not easy to
perceive, why she has no. an equally
valid ground Of objection, to hearing it
read. If so, as others may have their
consciences, it follows, not merely that
no translation of the bible can be used
but that no book can be used which ma Y
contain any proposition opposed to the
conscientious belief Of any scholar.
The language of the constitution, up.
on which the learned counsel for the
plaintiff relies. in support Of the grounds
by him token in argument, is found in
article |, So and is in these words
"All men have a natural and unaIien.
able right to worship almighty God ac.
cordlng to the dictates Of their own CON
sciences, and no one shal! be hurt, moIfsi-
ed or restrained IN his person, liberty or
estate for morsdi.Fiag God III the matter
ani season most agreeable 10 the dictate,
"' MS o"a Conscience nor lot hts Feii-
bious professions or sentiments. provided
ne ''es "o' "'s'"'o 'he p"oi.c peace h'
ous'.uct euiets III t.teif religious "orsiiii''
'''u "H persons dr'leah'hS 'he"seiNes
ie"' e"otf' d sooa t'e"'oe'S "' .hc >'"'e'
s"''' oe e'la'''5 u'aer 'he protection "i
'he Law, ana no Sa00f4 mutton nor P1'
e't"'e o' any sect OF ugho'hla'''on 10
a"o'Aet e"aH ever DC established Dl law,
nor S'al, any ''L's'oN' "St De '''l'''ea
IS iaaiiiAsa''o" lor any ONCE OF 'fu"'
u""'' ''''s ''a'e
ihe Clause III 'he constitution upon
"'''''' 'e''''''N' - 'Pee''''' f''se'' - '''''
no one sha'i oe ""ff '"'feS'sa or restrain
~ III us person. .iDe''y OF estate i'f
""'9h'pplhS "'" III ''c '''''l'et ana -
10" most "s'ceao'e 10 '''' 't'its> o' IN
ON" conscience nor 'of "in fet'' ms
professions OF Se"t'"'a'''s, FtssH'"'a he
does mol disturb ''e puo'l I.."tt' ".'' on
s'Hc' oH'e's III '"e'f te'' s'oHs "''9"f.
/ he object oil this clause was I" "pfo're' a.
the Meh'''''hea.' anu tue D'''''''''
the 1e" ana 'he .nil9'''"' "l every u
'efs'ty oil feHg'oa' ep "'o"' III '"e "i'ft'
strained tbef'y oi worship ana 'eH.'oa>
pfo'f'ssio"' PROVIDED the Poniic peace
should not thereby De endangered nor
the worship ~ Others ooslructed. IL
was TO prevent pailis ana pehat'ie'' '''
PrisonIneh' OF Tue deprivation OF social
OF political rights being imposed as a
penalty tor reiiSous professions aud o.
pluions.
Ii was held by the Supreme Court OF
Massachusetts, IN lhnrston rs " htney
= Cush. | i, that the rejection OF Wit
ness, as incompetent, by reason OF want
.of religious belief, was not violation o'
The Bill OF Rights, winch is similar in It's
language to the constitutional provisions
IN this State. To which reference has been
made. Il, Was, says Wilde j., "in,eud.
ed to prevent prosecutions BY furnishing
any one Tor his religious opinions, how
ever erroneous they might be"
Another clause IN the constitution, up.
on which reliance is placed, Is. that nc
suJordinafios nor preference OF any $ecr
or denomination to another shall ever be
established by law"
This clause obviously provides for the
eonali,y of all sects, and iorbids the
preference Of one over another. Ii is
insisted that here Is preference by law
This relates to an act oi the Legislature
which shall establish the preference o.
one sect and the subord'"alion OF others
Inc selection oil school book Is nc