The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1856-01-03

British dominions. 1t has thus irrevocably be-
come part of the constitution of that great en-
pire.
The Puritan principle draws closely after it the
consequence of an absolute separation of Church
and State, for the reason that the federation of
conscience can in no other way be practically and
completely established. That separation %has
been made in the American constitutions, with
abundant advantage to both the cause of religion
and the cause of good government. Great Brit
ain is advancing steadily towards the adoption
of the same broad, just, and benefcent policy.
The separation of Church and State may there
fore be regarded a contribution made by the
Puritans towards perfecting the art of govern
ment.
The political equality of men has also met
with obstinate resistance, and has also achieved
many and auspicious triumphs. After hun
dred and fifty years of controversy it was carried
into the British constitution by the judicial deci-
sion in SOmmersets case, that a slave could not
breathe the air of England. Ten or fifteen years
later it was theoretically adopted and promulga-
ted in the Declaration of American Independence.
The suppression of the African slave trade by cen
yention among the States of Christendom, trans
ferred the same principle to the law of nations.
The abolition of slavery by all the European ma
TONS and, with few exceptions also by all of the
American States, is indicative of the universal
adoption of the same great principle by all Chris
tian nations, at some period not far distant.
You are now prepared, | trust, for another
and still more comprehensive view of the Puritan
principle, namely: that its full and perfect de-
velopment is the pure system of republican gov
ernment. Such was its marked tendency in the
beginning e. generous disdain of one mans
WILL says truly philosophical writer, is to Re-
publics what chastity is to woman-a conserva-
tive principle, not to be argued upon or subject
ed to calculations of utility" Puritanism was
a protest against the will of one man, whether
that man was Pope or King. What form of gov
eminent, other than the pure Republic can there
be- where there is complete separation of Church
and State, and where absolute political eg lality
prevails Abolish the connection of Church and
State and all political distinctions between the
members of the State, in any of the kingdoms or
empires of Europe, and what would remsin, or
could exist there, but pure Republic? If the
argument is not vet conclusive consider then
that the Puritan principle tends TO the pu:e Re-
public, by virtue of it's conservative protection of
the individual member of the State against its
corporate oppression by virtue, also, of lis ele-
walton of individual cOnscience-thus bringing
down the Importance of the aggregate mass and
raising the personal Importance and dignity OF the
subject or citizen by virtue of the Importance it
attaches to personal rights, exalting them above
material interests-and so making those rights,
and not property the primary object of the care
of government; and by virtue, still further, of the
openness, directness, and frankness of conduct
which it requires Equal tolerance in religion
and equal enjoyment of the other absolute rights
of man. inconsistent with the secrecy and fraud
which monarchy and aristOcracy necessarily EN-,
ploy and cannot endure private councils or cabals
The Puritan principle tends to the pure Republic
still more obviously, because it seeks to abrdgc
the powers OF government, and substitute con-
sent and free acquiescence as the bond of ANTON
between the members of the State, in the pltce Of
armed or military force. This operation If the
principle is happily illustrated in our owl, Re-
public, which, although constituted by an ever
increasing number of distinct States, has Iever-
theless been held together eighty years, and is
trust, to be held together forever, without, for
that purpose, even the shadow of a standing az
my-an anomaly MS pleasing as it is full of profl-
able instruction.
Let it be confessed that the Puritans, as body
were slow to discern these consequences aud
tendencies. They disclaimed them long, and with
UNREASONABLE sincerity
Although (said they to Ezabeth) her Majesty he IN
censed against as If we would obey laws, take
the Lord of Heaven and Earth witness that we .c-
knowledge. from The bottom OF our hearts, her Majesty
be our lawful Queen, placed good: and
give God most humble and hearty thanks her hap
Ply government and both in public and private con-
siany pray for her prosperity We renounce all foreign
power and acknowledge her Majesy's supremacy be
lawful and Just. We deest all error and here.y Yet
desire that her Majesty will think diso6edept
seeing suffer ourselves 10 be displaced rather
all we have are in her Majesys hands; only Our souls
TO God, who is able and condemn
u.s.
Long afterwards, and after the Puritans in
America had practically enjoyed pure republic
can government through some generations the
Colony of Massachusetts, saluted Charles III, on
his restoration, with this loyal address:
go ENJOY liberty, and to walk according to the
the faith and order OF the Gospel, the us
transpaniing ourselves with wives our liule ones
and substance. choosing the pure Christian worship
with good conscience. in this remote wderAess, rather
than the pleasures of England with submissi1 the
positions OF the hierarchy, which cou;l not yield
interests OF Caesar"
Nevertheless, the reluctance of the uritans to
admit the full tendencies of their prin eiple can
not justly excite surprise. We necessarily fear,
and feel our way, when We are treadng on un-
known ground, or in the dark. Let no one who
begins innovation" says MachiavelIi, expect
that he shall stop it at his pleasure, regulate it
according to his intention" The Puritans never
aimed to be- and never consciously were, SECULAR
or political reformers. Their field of aabor, as
they bounded it, lay all within the Church of
Christ. They sought not an earthly Republic,
but only the Kingdom of Heaven. When, some
times, the thought presented itself that, by rea-
son of their fidelity to their profession, purer
and better political state would arise out Of the
it seemed still to them merely secondary object
subordinate to the one sole religious purpose for
which they had combined. We all have learned
how slowly the sentiment of independence and
the principle of republicanism, ripened in these
colonies during the early stages Of the revolu-
tOnary contest, and how these fee institu-
tons rose suddenly under the hands of people
who were even yet protesting end lring loyal
ty to the Throne and Parliament of eat Britain.
mot With he gcto s,,ir
Adams, Otis, and jefferson. Nor was it So in the
case of the Puritans, with Milton.
"No man, sad he, J who knows augh CT be So stupid
to deny, that all naturally born rec being the
image and resemblance OF God himself and were, by
privilege, above all the born command and
obey. The power of kings and strates MOTH
ing else but what only derivave transferred and COM
United TO them in trust from the people, the common
good of them ALL i'll whom the power yet fundamentally
remains and cannot be taken from them without viola
ton OF their natural brthrRht"
How, then, has it happened that civil conse-
quences so vast have followed the merely religious
action of the Puritans? The apparent mystery
is easily explained Civil Liberty is an object of
universal and intense desire. The canse of the
Puritans identified itself with the cauee of Civil
Liberty in England, and ultimately, though on
their part unconsciously, became the leading
element of that cause, both in Europe and
America Thus identified and Smineat, the
Puritan cause effected the establishment Of Re-
public which endured through shoI' but glorious
period in England. Though the itish nation
soon relapscd, and monarchy was estored, yet
the Puritan principle, nevertheless, modified the
constitution, and gave to it the aopulsr form
which it now bears. A throne yet towers
above that edifce, but it is no longer the throne
of the Stuarts or of the Tudort, or even of
the Plantagenets. 1t is simply ornsnentaI. The
Lords Spiritual and Temporal still constitute
distinct estates and retain their ancient dignity
But their real political power and influence have
passed away. and the Commons no longer con-