The Feliciana Democrat. (Clinton, La.) 1855-186?, 1857-07-04
CHURCH AND STATE.

or continuing good government, there are none so
palpabe and alarming as those arising from the
union or intimate association Of church and state.
Politics aud religion should be as wide apart in
exercise rs they are designed to be really In their
respective objects. The one pertains to things of
earth; the other points TO higher and holier mis-
Sion Each is indispensable in its peculiar province
TO the existence of civilized society and the welfare
of mankind But they belong, not less by the laws
Of God than the requirements of all rghtfu legsla-
ton, to separate spheres of usefulness. And to
found them is at once to amagamatc incongruous
elements, to degrade religion to the level of secular
concerns, and to impair the utility Of Legislative
action, by obtruding IL upon matters beyond its
reach, and investing mortal man with an authority
which belongs alone to tho Supreme Ruler Of the
universe. The church relates to things eternal. the
State to those that are temporal. In monarchica
nrisocratic countries, II Is not altogether inconss
tent for the state TO control the church. or the
church the state for there, freedom Of thought
and action are in humble obedience to the imperial
will of kings and courts, or of dcspot. who assumes
superiority and exercises authority. derived nch-
er directly nor indirectly from the pcoplcthc only
source Of legitimate political power But under re.
be at all related, is contradictory to reason and
right and subversvc Of the institutions which are
thereby perverted from their purposes, and prostn-
ted to the base designs of demagogues and hypo-
critics.
The most notorious instance in which disposi-
ton has been indicated on the part Of the American
people to render religion element of political
warfare. was in The Introduction of Know-Nothing-
ism. the speedy downfall of which affords evidence
of an appreciation Of the genius of government,
and a fitness for constitutional liberty, which will
ever gloriously illustrate the pages Of our political
history But while Acknowledgment presented n
proposition for the union Of church and state, which
would have invested il with all the forniality Of law,
and was cried down by the popular voice soon it
Is not to be presumed or inferred that politics and
religion are incapable Of being brought together in
action in 'his country.
At the North, the sermons Of men who are called
ministers Of the gospel, are not unrcucnty devoted
entirely to dcnunciation of the southern people and
their institutions the subject of slavery preached
with warmth and passion, rccklessness and men
dacty only cguallcG by "freedom shrckers" in the
Legislatures Of the non slavehoding states and in
the House of Representatives. The happiness Of
Heaven Is altogether forgotten in the haranges of
these impious demagogues; and the STAKEHOLDER Of
the SOUTH with all the soul narrowing sins that sur
round him, is portrayed in lying language as a de-
mon hateful as the devil himself and the true type
Of social system encouraging iniqulties more horl-
BILE than the blacklist sins of those who have been
damned to eternal pcrditon, for any other cause.
And it is this feature tending towards an anal
gaination of politics and religion, which has mani
tested itself in those divisions of Christian denomi-
nations in this country. according to geographical
lines of demarcaton which have already taken place.
and are still multiplying and widening.
The last instance Of this kind. Is another i'll omen
added to those that have induced sad forbodings for
the fate of the Union. The Presbyterian Church is
now no longer national in It's organization The
northern members 90 way, and the southern
members another The institution of slavery is the
irrcconcilablc subject between them. And it
would seem, that one by one the religious ties of
brotherhood between the north and south are break
ing. This is most significant symptom of the in
efficiency of free society for the ends of segoyern
ment. In the south, religious denominations are
divided only upon differences Of opinion relative to
rites and conflicting faith in different forms There
Is disposition on the part of our people to contam
nate the pulpit with politics.
Church and state cannot be combined in repub
lcan country. 1t is inconsistent with civil and re-
lgous liberty, and incompatible with those instu
TONS under which alone the mind of man is free and
society secure-Richmond Enquirer.
b6r At the late Democratic Convention
held at Jackson, Miss, similar resolution to
that of the Georgia Democracy, in relation to
Robert j. Walkers course in Kansas, was
introduced by Mr.. George of Carroll. A
motion to lay it on the table was lost, aftel