The true Democrat., 1857-02-03
For the True Democrat. Religious Liberty.

For the True Democrat.
 Religious Liberty.
 MR. EDIToR:-Under the above caption, read with ordinary interest, an article ID your paper of the 18th inst, extracted from the Pittsburg Catholic, in which the editor of that paper speaks in high commendaton of an ad- dress delivered by Judge Black before the alumni of the Pennsylvania College.
 The object of the Judge is to show, that the privilege of every human being to worship God according to the dictates of his own con- science, is "natural absolute and inlefeasible right, which civil governments should protect, but which they cannot withhold"
 We admit that there is nothing ne,c in the above sentiment. Standing in almost any other connection, it would scarcely elicit second thought. Mankind have two interests, the one pertains to the present, the other to the future life. The one has to do with the things that are seen, the other with those which are not seen and eternal. It is the office of civil go- vernments to make laws for the affairs of time. It belongs to God to legislate for the concerns of eternity. This He has done in the Infala- ble Word-men have right to enforce their enactments for the we'll being of civil society II ctlzcns conform to the just regulations of the civil compact and infringe upon none of Its decisions, they are just in the eyes of the law, whatever may be their religious belief; that IS matter between them and their final Judge. The State has its own ministers and so has religion. But the two avocatiops are separate and distinct; and they are generally much better managed in their separate capacity. To use the words of distinguished writer lIlS certain that without division of duties, the world could not go on. It is of much more importance that men should have food than that they should have pianofortes. Yet, it by no means follows that every piano forte maker ought to add the business of a baker to his own, for fl he did, we should have much worse music, and much worse bread"
 Nor has one class of worshippers any right to enforce their own belief upon others, or to pun- lsh them for non n-comr rliance with their views. This was taught by the Divine Saviour, when he rebuked the disciples, who spoke of com- manding fire to come down from heaven to consume some who thought not as they did.
 But, while there is nothing new in such sen- timents as the above, it is highly gratifying to See them so fully endorsed by a Roman Catho- nc editor. Does 1t not show rapid assimila- ton to our free institutions, of those, who, in other climes, and, even in our own land, at no remote period, favored opinions directly the reverse! Read, for example the following ex- tract from work of Archbishop Kenrick printed in New York, 1949, dedicated to Plus 9th, entitled, "The prmacy of the Apostolic See Vindicated," and which now lies before me- Speaking of the Roman Inquisition, he remarks The progress of the new opinions (the Re- formation of Luther) awakened the zeal of Paul 3d, who, in the year 1543, organized a council of cardinals, underline title of the Con- gregation of the Supreme Inquistion. Six car. dinals originally composed it, to whom two more were associated by Plus 5th They are strictly an ecclesiastical tribunal, charged with the affairs regarding the integrity of faith ! throughout the world. Hence doctrinal mat ters are referred to them for examination. and the orthodoxy of clergymeu especially, whose sentiments may be called in question, is d. cid ed ty their judgment. They determine also the heterodoxy of books, and condemn them. III case they discover them to contain error.- The Pope IS Supreme Inquisitor as the high est guardian of faith. The tribunal has no tenn. porai attrIbutions out of the Roman States and its acton, within them, is very crcumscribed, beng little more than the injunction of peni tentlal obscrvances or in some cases. imprison- | hent Tor crlmes against religion in connexion with the order Of society In former times although very rarely some executions took place, alter conviction for heresv or some kin dred crime. The Providence of God permit. ted Its archives to fall into the hands of Napo- leon, who caused them to be transported to fariS; but nothing has ever been brought to 'isht to Its prejudice, which, as cardinal Pacca well observes, shows that its proceedings were iound unexceptionabls. * +* sThe In- ! quis'tlon,' says Count de Maisre, is of its na- ture good, ,m.ld, and conservative' Such is the universal and indelibIe character of every er. cleslastlcal institution; you see il at Rome you will see 1t wherever the church has in- | tluence"
 Now lt is questionable if there is single Iayman of that church in the United States. who would approve of that institution in any form. To the Ptt.burg editor then, and to all who hold to the sentiments expressed by him, we would say, as Cato to one whose course he appfoSsa' -naefe '''t"e' Co on and prosper!
 J. w. MOORE.
 -+p. P. 485 436