The Bedford gazette. [volume] (Bedford, Pa.) 1805-current, 1858-03-12
Communication.
For the Bedford Gazette.
Test oath in judicial Proceedings Vote in

PENNSYLVANIA Senate-hlf. Sclieli.
It is well known that all Christian and civil
lized nations OF the world have established the
principle that, before person can give testimo-
nv in judicial proceedings, test is required as
to his belief in God and future state Of re-
wards and punishments The wisdom Of this
practice has been confirmed BY ages. Without
it, law and order would be a mockefy, and
mankind would be left to the mercy Of the Vi
cious and bad Let il once be established that
the Infdel and Atheist can enter with mpunl-
ty upon the witness stand, we may then bid a
last farewell to civil and religious liberty
The pursuit oflife, liberty and happiness guar
antied by our institutions, will be but chime
ra. TO dissolve and fade away at the touch Of
impious hands.
In this age Of the Bible and Common Schools,
one would suppose that no man in his proper
senses would think of striking with one fell
swoop, SO vital and wholesome a test from our
system of government The great law Of self
preservation alone, it seems to me, would deter
/ a sane person fIom such an act, however aban-
doned he might be IN his conceptions OF right
and wrong.
BUTT has been left to the bright era Of the
nineteenth century to discover, through the
,cisdom of portion Of Pennsylvania Senate,
that the great fundamental principle OF religion,
morals and good government, which has stood
the test OF all time is an error. BY reference
10 the proceedings Of tie Senate Of Pennsylya-
MIA during some time last week, it will be seen
that bin was introduced to make all persons
competent to give testimony in judicial pro-
ceedings wjthoat requiring Of them declara-
ton OF belefn God and a future state OF re-
wards and punishments; and disgraceiui and
humilialug as il is, this bill, worthy Of the
French Assembly during the dark hours Of In
fidel France, when they declared there was no
God came withia one U0te Of passing Mel
ciful God In this lanA Of religion, OF morals,
of good sense and ProPrety-who would have
dreamed that the dalk spirit of lnfdelly and
Atheism bad made such fearful strides as TO
command 10 the very Senate Chamber of the
keystone State almost majority Well may
the wise and good be aroused to the anxious and
prayer(ul inquiry, TO what are we tending?
As an excuse for this outrage, the specioos
preteXt is put forward that, 10 this land Of free
dom, religious tests are unconstitutional, &c
Now, it is true that our glorious constitution
very properly and wisely declares that, "Con-
g greSs shall make no law respecting an eslab-
- lishmen: Of religion, or prohibiting The free
L" exercise thereoi,' and again "No religious test
shall ever be required as a qualification 10 any
Office or public trust under tie United States"
But the sense and meaning Of all this is, that
Catholicism, Presbyterianism, Methodism, or
any other ism shall never be established by law
as the religion OF this country, OF that any such
ttst shall ever be required as a qualification 10
Office. The constitution Of the United States
was founded and made by men whose religious
belief was firm in God and future state Of re-
Wasfag9d Pjs Re dFsr tea ts tohvd06 aRd 296
which framed the constitution has truthfulIy
said, "Let Us with caution indulge the snPposi-
tion that morality can be maintained wifhom
religion" Those men who talk about morali-
ty ''without religion" are fsariuly mistaken.
There is no such thing as morals and honesty
of purpose without profound reverence and
belief in Supreme Being.
"Reision, in comprehensive sense" saws
Noah Webster, "ncludps belief in the being
and perfectious Of God, in the revelation Of
bis will to man, in mans obligations TO obey
bis commands, in a state Of rewards and pun
lshments, and in mans accountableness 10 God;
and also true godliness Or piety of life, with ihp
practice Of all such moral duties. II therefore
comPrehends theology as system Of doctrines
or principles, as we'll as practical pe.y; for the
practice Of moral duties without belief in
divine law-giyer, and without reference 10 his
vii! or commands, is not religion"
1t would be well for the people Of the Key
stone State, who have at heart the maintenance
OF our laws and system OF government, found
ed as they are upon religion, to lrown down all
such movements as the one alluded to.
To those men in the Senate, who stood up
and maniully Fepelled the blow aimed at the
lie blood oi society, all honor is due, and I am
particularly gralihed to find among such, the
Senator from the Bedford district From my
knowledge Of the character of Mr.. ScheIl, how
ever, feel confident that he will always be
found on the right side, for he Is gentleman,
who in all his actions, is ever prompted by those
manly virtues which adorn and embelish the
character Of good men. B.
WASHINGTON, March 9, 1888.