Daily national Democrat., 1859-01-23
Daily Natlonal 9emottat.
state Laws to Compel the Observance of
Religion,

mending to the present Legislature change
IN the State Constitution and among other
tbipgs SO as to admit Of "an Act for the bet
ter observance Of the Christian Sabbath" in
other words to compel its observance,
Men in power have In all ages, and In all
countries, put forth efforts tc make everybody
think just as they happen to, by obliging
them to renounce something or to observe
some forced rule Such being the case it is
nothing to be wondered at to obey, though it
he condemned. And leading men.in religio-
politics have generally been the first to stir
nm animosity. But in this enlightened age
in this free country in this free and emlighea-
ed State, where honest men from all portions
of the world, of quite different opinions,
have been thrown together, and have learn
ed to respect each others views, it does look
n little strange at first that any among us
should be so wickedly blind in the full light
of reason, as to undertake to domineer over
his ncighbor, and force him into the observ.
once of his own beculiar belief But it seems
that although we, as q people, are the most
intelligent, liberal, conscientious and just of
any other nation or State, We are not quite
infallible We have all the failings which
belong to the mass of humanity, although
evidently to less extent.
History, experience and common sense
have not yet sufficiently taught us that truth
wiH prevail ouer error only by its own mdtu.
raj force. And that those who have under
taken to "hurry it up" on the "hammer and
tongs" principle have done more towards
shutting and burning their own fingers, and
furnishing it with the rust of obstnacy than
in gaining or doing good.
A code of State laws to justly punish all
crime against person, property and the pur-
suit of happiness, and which will protect
every man in the free exercise of his own
cherished principles in religious matters; ;
which will place every man on an equal, so
far as untrammelcd freedom to act goes; will
leave the people at large to pursue the natu-
raj methods of free inquiry and discussion,
while aspiring after the great truth, will do
all that laws can accomplished in this matter.
Laws accomplish nothing We must do it
all. We will do it. but give and protect us
in our freedom to act. In nothing is man
more sensitive than in the sense Of religious
conviction The spirit of intolerance and
persecution, mot yet dead) which has stalked
abroad among the natives and impelled the
stranger to thrust their opinions, (what they
consider truth, and often really truth y upon
the weaker portion, has caused more and
keener resentment, more wars bloodshed,
famine and devastation than volumes can un-
fold.
We hold that every rational man is anx-
ious to believe nothing but the truth, and
that he can never be so able to arrive at
its broad and beautiful proportion, as when
left to the free use Of his own God given fac
ulties, entirely unfettered by the manacles
of oppression. He who knows that he be-
Iieres nothing but the truth, must believe
nothing, or be nearly equal in wisdom to the
Almighty. Heaven knows that we all have
error and bigotry enough in our composition
to contend with. If we can tolerate our own,
for the sake of peace let us tolerate each
other; though it is our duty to firmly adhere
ito what our best reason truly convinces us.
We should respect honest opinions for hon
estys sake, at least. Let us not tolerate in
tolerance.
The eyes of the world are on California.
Her greatness is already shedding a light
through the dim horizon of futurity. All see
and acknowledge it. Shall we, the present
actors upon this grand stage, prove recreant
to our missionH Our Pilgrim Fathers fled
from religious intolerance and persecution,
and landed upon Plymouth Rock from
thence dated a new era. But they brought
some of the old spirit with them. They did
not happen to believe Quakersm. So when
poor honest Quaker came among them who
dared to talk and act Quaker, they concluded
that little hanging would suit his case, and
thought, no doubt, that they were doing
God service. They also undertook to oblige
everybody to attend church. They were de-
termined that every POor sinner should stand
fair show, as all had to listen to. pay for the
support of, and be prayed for by their Minis
ters of religion We were, the most of u.s.
hmpsHed to California by different prompt
iings, thanks to our free government. But
we have 'brCugtlt many of our stale preiu-
.dices with us nevertheless. Still, we trust
that We have true, sterling, moral principle
enough to outweigh the remnant of dogmatic,
ignorant and narrow precepts which have
peen entailed upon us from the dark ages.
We will not comment upon the dangers of
intermedling religious with political laws.
1t is a subject too well understood to demand
it.
Have not religonists, and in fact any por-
tion of the people, entertaining mutual views,
the privilege to organize societies and to inn
press upon its members such observances
rs they choose? Are not the people alive to
their own interests and capable of perform
ingP FLAWS protect societies as well as in
dividuals against oppression, DC, what more
can they reasonably ask Nobody in the
State denies the Christian his Sabbath, and
he who cannot obey the injunctions of his
faith without being forced by State laws. is
more of a hypocrite sthan Christian. Who
denies the Jew his SabbathP Who denies
the man his privilege, who thinks it right to
worship, to produce as we'll as consume. to
exercise the body and mind, to labor and rest
as many hours every day as seems to him for
his best interests and consistent with divine
lawH We are all hSsssaa beings Let US
treat each other as such.
People need enlightenment and enlarge
ment of views more than compulsatory laws;
and freedom more than oppression or restric-
tion The past history of California has
proved this, and may she teach it to the
world.