American union. [volume] (Morgantown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1855-1859, 1856-04-19

isla,ure, to enlist the power Of The State, and
throw into that State the power to egisla,e
win regard TO our natural and unalienable
rights Tor mere philanthropic objects, for
mere moral objects, which must depend on
the law of conscience, else thus thew give to
the State the right to regulate everything
that concerns US.
THE UsUsPATIoNs OF INDIvIpUALfsM.
| On the other hand we have the tend sncy
I to lndividualism. Sometimes we find both
| tendencies in the same person, on the one
hand asserting the absolutsm OF the State
on the other the absoutsm Of the Indivdu-
al. Thus, while the very end OF your phi
llanthroplc movements is 10 concentrat te
power i'll the State, aud establish /, social
| tdespotism, yet the same philanthropists cry
out egains. The State and assert The suprem.
acy of the Individual. Some go so far as to
say they care not for Government, and we
have enough among us ready 10 say that the
! people may at any time, without reference
10 existing law, meet,oge,her an d overthrow
the existing Constitution, and introduce my
new order that they please. But need not
dwell longer on these matters. They are
clear and evident to every one.
! WHAT Is WANTED BY WAY OF REMEDY.
| Now, what doyou want? You need some
/ thing that will step in between these two
tendencies ana harmonize them; that on
the one hand is strong enough 10 prevent the
| State from becoming absolute that when
the State tends 10 absolutism, by siding with
tho individual, il can strengthen the Inii-
ivdual, so that the Slate must keep within
/ the limits of The law; on the other hand,
something that will be strong enough 10
lprsscrve the just authority of The State, and
4 save the country from anarchy. Ouly in
! pan Ia,
/ by power that steps in between the Indi.
vidual and the State. For if YOU have on,y
the Individual and the State, you have ne
cessarily an,agonism. The one 10, and OIL
most must be, pi,ted against the other, un.
less you have mediarng term, and that
mediatlng term, | need spend no time in
proving IS RELIGION. .s-.r
! 1t is our Christian Religion. II is the only
thing tha, can madiate between The two
But under what condition does Religion save
society, or can it save our Republic on the
hand from social despotism, and on the 9th
Ter from anarchy. ii cannot do it if il de
pends on the Individual, and is whatever
the individual chooses to make it, 1t can
not do ii il il depends on The State, and i:
whatever the Safe pleases TO make IT, 1t
must be a religion which rests on a basis
higher than the individual and higher thar
the temporal Notwithstanding which
neither the National authori rity nor lie lndi
vidua authority can control, but sometime
capable OF controlling both the State, wher
! it would 90 out OF It's jus: limits, and The in.
\ diyidual when he would abuse his Liberty
Cloud aPpIause.) IF have made myself
understood, you see now what is wanted
what we iced from Religion.
THE CONDITIONS UNDER WHICH RELIrGoN IS
! INoPERATivE.
Let me ask yOn what religion can do this
a religion that has no organization? Tha
is not Church, but is a mere opinion.
Thon it is nothing but individualism. If i
has no organism. no Church, and no organ.
through which it can speak, it is nothing
Dut the private conviction of each individu.
al, and can have no strength beyond the
private conviction Of that individual. II il
has no organization, if it is Church, aud
| be a Church, then the individual can make
or unmako ii for himself, and it cannot fol-
the same reason, accomplish lis end. II il
be Church and dependent on the State
as is the Russian Church under the control
OF the Car, and The English Church under
. the control Of Her Gracious Majesty YictO.
ria, laughter then it must be just simply
what the State chooses 10 make it and its
ministers, instead OF having authority in the
! presence OF magistrates, can be themselves
nothing better than portion Of the con.
stabnlary. Applause.
CAN PRoTEsTANTIsM ANsw Err THE END DgsIREp1
Well, now. let me ask, and do i, with all
! respect TO The feelings OF Protestant friends,
III have any here, whether Professionalism
can therefore answer the end that | have
shown is TO be answered Protestantism,
whatever you moy say about il, is either In.
dIvIduh, depending on the Individual, or it
Is po'itical depending on the State. In
most countries, Protestantism IS subject To
temporal power. His Majesty of Russia
took ii into his head few years ago to u.
! mite the Lutherans and Calyinsts into ono
Church, and he draws up liturgy, and
commands them 10 unite. They, as good
cuiIens, are bound 10 obey. and most OF them
dId obey. In England the Queen and Par
lament have supre me authority to deter
mne what shall be the religion of the Sate,
TO determine the liturgy, To- make such al
teTsiions as they Judge proper. In our
| country, the State claims no authority in
The matter, but here each individual claims
TO ee at liberty 10 make his own Church
and great portion Of our people will say,
each OF them for himself, 81 am my own
church" at least that portion Of them who
oelievo IN any Church at all. great por.
ton Of them do not. Now. Lot this Church,
which is the slave Of the Siate, dependent
on the Sale fereyery thing, undertake 10 in. !.
terpose its spiritual authority in defence of
right and justice II can do nothing be.
cause the Stale will answer, as Queen Eliz.
abetb answered the Bishop Of Ely, in regard
10 something he had done, proud pfeatc.
have male you. aud if you do not conduct
yourself better. | viii unmake you" tAp.
plausso and laughter Now, when the State
has the power OF making ond unmakng the
bishops making aud unmaking the priests,
making and unmabiug the Church. why, The
Church is nothing more tbsrl a part of itself.
and must obey il, will, and do as il saws, =.
owith regard 10 the individual. If ho has
The making Of his religion, why, il must be-
subject 20 him. have r.eh, to command
my creature. Aud if religion is creation
oI my own. have right To modify il, and
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