The Kansas herald of freedom., 1858-03-06
For as Hrala ef Freedom.
RsHgiozs sTeiszznoa.
February 9Th. 1888.

1eDfa4y ftn1 1920.
G. W. BaowE, Esg.:-I read yeur pa
per, and consequently much about Free
State Constitution. Now suppose when
you speak of OF act for such Constitu-
ton you mean such one as viii prohibit
Negro slavery. Well, 50 far all right, but
there are other principles of freedom
equally importan. and dear TO individuals
as Negro freedom: the right OF testifying
in court or serving as juror is freedom
which no one should Be denied for the
want of professed belief in certain dog
mas, or In other words TO make the COM
potency of witness or juror in court a
religious test Now I presume that
you are aware that such is the law In
most of our States that a person must
profess to believe in God to entitle them
to the above mentioned rights. Now
such laws will answer quite well for
hypocrites and other dishonest people who
would sgear to anything to obtain their
own desires; but with honest ones it is
quite different; snch as have belief of
their own, and are honest and firm enough
to declare it, are the ones 70 suffer by the
above mentioned laws. Now this is not
as it should be; and no intelligent, honest
man can for moment believe such laws
to De just. 1t is quite certain that there
arc many confirmed Atheists In these
United States and Territories and those
too who are honest and firm enough TO
declare themselves such, therefore they
are denied the inestimable rights guaran-
teed to ali, set forth in the Federal Con-
stitution. Now each State government
should guarantee universal mental liberty;
and all honest belief should be protected
| by its laws--both Christian and Atheist.
/ Difference of opinions should not render
one party more than an other ineligible to
civil or political privileges or immuni-
| ties; but, shame on its makers, the law
does it; and what a basis for professed
Republican Constitution, making mans
civil rights depend upon his belief Be-
lief is not at the will of any one, for we
| are constrained to believe or disbelieve,
and not unfrequently against our will,
and who is to blame for it I? The Christ
ians say that we must believe or be
damned, and the law says that We must
believe or be disfranchised. This, to me,
seems hard, and I believe that every
/ honest and intelligent person viii think
the same; and now, with all your professed
want Of free Constitution for Kansas,
are you willing to exert your influence,
which | believe would be much, to estab-
lish by law equal rights to all-both
Christian and Infdel I do not know
what may be your views or belief upon
religion, but I believe, Judging from what
/ have read of your editorial matter, that
you possess wisdom sufficient to discrimi-
nate between so just right and so glar-
ing a wrong. Occupying as you do so
favorable position for the promotion of
a just aud righteous a cause, / hope and
trust you viii not be deferred from SO
plain duty which we owe to our fellow
men, by the thought that but few COM
1 paratiyely suffer by the accused evil. /
do not know what the Constitution about
to be presented to Congress may contain
in relation to those rights, but do know
there can be nothing more irrepublican
than that of disfranehising individuals
for the want of a dogmatical belief in any
creed; and know that the so called bogus
Constitution, by the Territorial Legisla-
ture, does not contain one single passage
more unjust, unrighteous and anti-republi-
can than that of disfranehising party for
not protesting to believe in a particular dog
ma. | know of what speak by sad
experience, for am an Atheist, and have
been the greater part Of my life, and am
now ffty-fouF years OF age, yet never,
until 1856, was the competency of my
testimony as a witness in court questioned,
but then came the pinch of the law at
the January term of Circuit Court held
at Princeton, Bureau Co., ILL.,, Judge Al
lister presiding. / was in attendance as
witness. Being called to the stand to
testify, was objected to by one of the
Counsel, his objection was, lack of a
religious belief. Then / was sworn or
affirmed to answer such questions as
should be put to me touching those mat
tiers; then the question was put, Do you
believe there is God?" My answer was,
:" No sir ~ Then came the stare, scowl-
, ing and grinning. One would have sup
posed, from appearance, that such a de-
claration was never heard or read soi
before by those present. Well | was
asked some further questions by both
, Counsel and Court, and the latter taking
occasion to express his horror of such :
sacrilegious dareing. Then the opposing
Counsel read a passage from our christian
statute, the amount of which is, no one car
{ testify as witness in Court who dis
believes in the existence of God
Notice what consistency. Compel me
to swear to obtain testimony to disqualify
me as witness; as though my testimony
5 was not as good in one case as the other
, Certainly consistency is a jewel; but the
result of the investigation of my compe
tency as witness was, that the Court told
me to stand one side, Of course. Iobeyed
, gathered myself UP and went home, ant
probably shall stay there unmoiested by
the service ofsubpenas &c. Ifyou please
you may publish this, and, of course
make such comments as suit you. Blu
, really I should like to know your senti
i ments upon the subject, whether Infidel
should have equal rights--civii and po
llitical-with Christians or not.
l Very Respectfully, Yours,
' IRA ALDRIGH.
q We can answer our friend very readil,
: in regard to this matter. We are in fave
+ Of universal religious liberation, and d
not believe that opinion is a standard 9