Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1856-01-04
Hon. WIN. II. sEWARD,s
GRAFTON AT PLYMOUTH,
December III, 1855.
EXTRACT.

confess that the Puritans nei-
ther disclosed nor discovered any
new truths of morals or of govern
ment. None such have been dis
covered, at least since the Divine
Teacher set forth the whole system
of private and public ethics among
the olive groves, on that one which
was his favorite among the noun
tains that look down upon Jerusa-
lem.
Nevertheless, they were true
Christians, and therefore they de-
clined to set up their own convic-
tions as a standard for others who
subscribed to the Christian faith,
aud freely allowed to all their fell
low subjects the same broad religious
liberty which they claimed for
themselves. They persisted in non
conformity. The more hardly
pressed, the more firmly they per-
sisted. The more firm their per-
sistence. the more severe and un-
relenting was the persecution they
endured.
But this latitude of the principle
of tolerance has been always vigor-
ously and efficiently opposed by
prejudice, pride and bigotry, in
every church, in every sect, in every
State, and under every form of gov
eminent. Each sect has claimed
liberty of conscience for itself as a
natural right, but with gross incon-
sistency, which invalidated its own
argument, has denied that liberty to
other sects-as if the Supreme Ru-
Ter had made men to agree, instead
of differing, upon non-essential as
well as upon essential articles of re-
ligous faith. The principle has
nevertheless continually gained,
and is still gaining, fresh triunphs.
After loug contest in England,
liberation was granted TO all but
Roman Catholics aud Jews. One
hundred and fifty years after the or
ganization of the Puritans, the prin-
ciple entered into all the American
constitutions. Fifty years later, it
emanclpated the Roman Catholics
throughout Great Britain. Only a
year ago it removed the disfran-
chlsement Of the Jews in the Bri-
tish dominions. IL has thus irrevo-
cably become Il part of the consti-
tuition of that great empire.
The Puritan principle draws
closely after it the consequence OF
an absolute separation OF Church
and State, for the reason that the
toleration of conscience can in no
other way be practically and COM
ple,ely established. That separa-
tion has been made in the American
constitutions, with abundant advan-
tage to both the cause OF religion
and the cause Of good government.
Grea, Britain is adganc ing steadily
towards the adoption of the same
broad, just, and bene6cen. policy
The separation of Church and State
may therefore be regarded as con
ribution made by the Puritans to-
wards perfecting the art Of govern
ment.
The political equality of mer
has also met with obstinate resist.
ance, and has also achieved many
and auspicious triumphs. After
one hundred and fifty years of con-
troversy, it was carried into the
British constitution by the judicial
decision in Somerset's case, that a
slave could not breathe the air OF
England. Ten or fifteen years lat
or, il was theoretically adopted and
promulgated in the Declaration OF
American Independence. The sup.
preston Of the African Slave trade
by Convention of the States OF
Christendom, transferred the same
principle TO the law of nations. -
The abolition of slavery from al
European nations, and, with few
exceptions, also by all of the Amer
lean States, is indicative of the uni
versal adoption of the same grea
principle by all Christian nations, al
some period not far distant. "
The Puritan principle tends t.