Lynchburg daily Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1852-1861, 1857-05-04
Religieu aud Politics.

Religisn aud Politics.
The practice, which is sadly prevalent now at
the North, of ministers Of the Gospel, departing
from their peculiar vocation Of disseminating
peace on Garth and good will to men, TO plunge
in the turbd waters of current politics; to desc
crate the alters wherein they standard lead away
the minds of those TO whom they should minis
ter in 'word and doctrine" from the pure and
simple truths which it was the mission of their
great Master TO announces; cannot be too strong
ly reprobated. They pervert the truth. They
are ministers of wrath. rather than heralds of
peace. They proclaim n sword. instead of the
mild scep.re of Him who said "my kingdom is
not of this world" Instead Of seeking to bind
and restrain the wild passions Of men, and deyo
ting their energies to the legitimate propagation
of a system that is destined TO extrpate every
evil from the earth. they proclaim the adyat
of Sharp's rifles and bowie knives, us the means
ordained for the settlement of moral questions
From all such teachers of righteousness the Lord
deliver us.
A practice not less reprehensbe, is that of
journals, devoted to the advocacy OF peculiar
ecclesiastical interests, deviating from their
prescribed sphere to dictate measures, or tn full
the highest legal tribunal of the land, respecting
questions Of judicial political character When
the respect with which we have been taught to look
upon the decisions of that venerable body; wheth
er Of questions arising between the States, or be-
tween the States and the general Government;
the rights of individuals under the Constitution,
or the proper Interpretation of the laws of Con
gress--as the only appointed means whereby
conflicting opinions are to be reconeiled Mt least
so far as to securea uniform and outward con-
formty to the paramount law throughout the
entire confederacy-shal cease to be entertained,
the Republic will have seen its best days, aud an
archy. confusion, and strife will be likely to fol
low. Whatever his pretensons may be, he who
seeks to array public opinion against the arbi-
trament Of this supreme tribunal; to drag again
into the domain of excited popular debate ques-
tons of the most agitatng character, and thus re-.
open the food gates Of angry controversy-oan-
not be true friend of that order which is SO -s-
sential TO good government. We ARE led to these
remarks by article which appears in the last
number of Brownson's Quarterly Rtrieir, pc
riodica which lis well known 10 he one of the a
blest and most efficient organs in the service of
the Catholic Church The number 10 which we
refer, arragns the Supreme Court and rebukes
Chief Justice fancy for his decsionin the bred
Scott case which il condemns and denounces as
subversive of the Constitution, and Of the teach,
ings of the Roman Catholic Church and ergo,
Mr.. fancy is a bad judge aud Indifferent Ro-
IN an Catholic, his decision being such as no true
of the Church either could, would or should
have sanctioned. lie charges that the decision
is at variance with the authoritative teachings Of
the Popes for nearly four cenurie and therefore
in conflict with the dogmns Of the church. He
maintains that the Chief Justice, whilst render
ing his decisions upon the Supreme Bench, should
look beyond the i1ir and the Constitution of the
United S,ates-should keep IN view the doctrines
of his Church, and make his decisions conforma-
BILE thereto, This is surely the sublimaton of
Stewards .'hgher law" doctrines; not a whit aba
Ted in their force when considered eiranating
from one who speaks by authority Of great
church, aud bears the endorsement Of twenty
five of its highest dignitaries in this country
What unparalleled presumption, Are the PEG
pie of this country who have sedulously endeav
ored TO separate the Legislative aud judicial de-
partments Of the government from the influence
and domination of ecele astcal bodies, prep ar
ed to admit that "he teachings Of the Popes,'
and the dogmas Of the Church are TO be subs,i-
tuted for the Constitution aud laws as guides in
the decisions of Supreme Judicaryl We
trusted that Brownson had been partially cured
of his folly, and had yielded much of the high
pretensions and prer1gaives whira he claimed
for bis church some years since. but we hive new
er seen any thing more grossly offensive to the
public sentiment or savoring mora strongly of
that superclous arrogance which eHce aroused
the whole nation, thnn this homily which Doctor
Brownson reads TO the Supreme Court of the t..
nited States. We have ITO desire to see ",he
scots" Gas DIR. u. denominates all Protestants)
arrayed against the members of the true church,
far, very far from it, Tor we depreca,e reIioiops
persecution as sincerely any body, and desire
to live Ia love aud charity with all men vet navor
theless. that the most etfectual way 10 seopre
that freedom of religious opinion which all should
cher-h,is to uphold the constitution OF the cou,,.
try;.naintain the supremacy Of the laws: and
teach those in whom ecclesiastical bigotrv pre.
dominates over patriotism. that. if they would
claim that liberation which il is the peculiar pro
vince of our government 10 extend, they mus
be tolerant towards il. and yield ready ODE
dience TO all the measures which it constitution.
ally ordains
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