, 1856-03-21
LYMPIA, WASHINGTON TERRITORY FRIDAY MARCH d. 1856


charge them with any such design, fwnl
not impugn their motives In their advocacy
Of this bill, will allow them to do so
from sense of duty, But to my judg
ment, it is knownothingism in principle,
and if it is passed and becomes a law il
will be so in effect. Tn the event of the
passage Of this bill and It's becoming law,
this legislature may well be called the
DRAGON that giveth power unto the beast,
who shall make war against catholic and
other missionaries. This little beast is diff
fercnt from others Of its kindred, for the
bill does not propose TO establish any par
ticular creed or sect, but it is lproscriptive
and will operate against missionaries OF a
certain sect, sent here by the home depart
'ment as such (and not by foreign corpor-
alton as contended for by the Honorable
gentleman from Skamania, Mr.. BIsH6P)
1t places a dagger in the hands of unprinoi-
pied bigots of any organization, either relig-
ious or political, to persccute in pious man
ner, avowedly for the public goodLholds
out inducements to Tom, Dick and Harry
to bring missionaries Of certain sect to
trial, under grave charges, that of treason
against the people Of this territory. The
bill proposes certain fines and inptSson-
meut against offenders, both men and WON.
en--giyes half Of the fue to the inforher
and the other half 10 the common school
fund. Quite an indueement this, for pious
loafers to arrest and bring to Judgment
peaceable and quiet Offenders for their own
and the pnblic. interest This inIprisoning
reminds me of an Instance that took place
in Virginia, in early times, wherein the,
late ELDER JEREMIAH Moore was thrown
into prison, and sentenced to lie there nn-
til be should rot for preaching the gospel
Of JEsUs CHMsr. The passage of this bill
would be q dark stigma on the legislation
Of this territory. The nyowed object Of
these aliens in coming here being to preach
the gospel TO our heather, we, BY law, say
ing you shall not do so only on the pros
pect Of 6qe aud imprisonment 10 50 doing
Most Of the sects in our own country have
their missionaries abroad, consisting of
both men and women They are to be
found in all quarters Of the globe-in cath
.olic, pagan; mahOmedan and heathen ccuns
tries ayowsdIy to preach the gospel and
to teach the principles. Of civilization,
The same feeling actnates foreign mis-,
sionaries to come 70 cur shores, there seems
TO be kind of reciprocal lfreS.trade princie
pie existing among the various dsnQmiAa-
tons in different countries to act recipro-
cally in this missionary business. Now sirs,
suppose that the dragon gives power unto
the beast to make war against them in this
free country, is it not reasonable to infer
that the powers that be in other countries
will retaliate aud drive back to our. own
shores, the many pious men and women
who have forsaken houses, lands and friends
at home and encountered perils BY sea and
land TO preach the gospel 10 them 70 EsB
IhaTe ever withheld my influence from
the support Of this missionary business, for
reasons which shall not here assign, but
am for giving liberty Of conscience to all
people under tho sun, TO the fullest extent
IN matters of faith To our own master
we stand or fall, ii matters not to me how
erroneous their principles and practice may.
appear 70 my view, am ready to accord
to them, the same rights Of conscience that
| claim for myself lido not believe these
missionaries ever did or everwilI beget q
spiritual son for our spiritual Father, no
more than can believe that Dick eau help
Tom beget. his son Sam, but il they think
otherwise, l am willing that they should
keep on trying, and thus serve GoD in their
own way Our laws are made to protect
the people in their rights, not to confer
rights already in their possession. Civil
government has no right to, coerce, orin-
terdict any citizen In bis or her religious de-
votions, nor yet In their works BY which
they show forth their faith. 20 lls0A h
In conclusion, viii say that foreigners
and Roman Catholics fought side by side
with our protestant fathers, in the glorious
old revolutionary war, for the liberty we
now enjoy. twas bought at great price
and though as an American citizen, may
differ with others in their religious tenets,
as American citizens we are equal, aud
when you invade their rights you invade
my rights, and before viii yield to spirit
ual tyrany, or see them deprived Of the
rights of American citizens politically and
religiously, trust that shall stand shoul-
der to shoulder with them, battling for the
old ship of state. l hope never to give
her up, not even at cost. II, however, the
old ship founders so that all is lost, will
go down with the crew.
B9- Queen Maria Amelia, the widow
Of Louis PHILIPPE, died recently at q eouh-