Smyrna times., 1859-12-01

poor and rich, IN the eye Of the law, are uDon n
common basls; no lorded aristocracy, no "boa st
OF heraldry or "pomp Of power" excludes the
man OF honorable ambition from the eniovment
OF his efforts in any pursuit. To effect this
change III the condition of the colonies. il de.
manded the wisest forethought and prav.
est dellberatlon. Indeed, my brethren, it
never could have been consummated hut.
as we 6eiieve, for the nterposilion of God
Ihat providence which brought US successfully
thfough the dark storms of the Revolution. did
not lorsake us to the jealousies of sectional de-
pate. When the mind Of Washington was
most agitdted, and good men began to fear that
all parties could not be suited by such Con-
stltutlon as was proposed-when the Assembly
was about 10 disperse in confusion, BENJAMIN
Franklin arose and said, in substance: We need
the aid OF that wisdom which IS from above
some one stronger aud wiser than we are to
help US; let US call upon a minister of the
u1spe4 TO pray for the guidance of Providence.
move that we have minister of the Gospel
70 pray Tor US" The motion was seconded and
carried, and the prayer of faith brought an an
sWer oi peace-aud thus God set the seal of his
| appreciation upon the American Constitution
The charter of our llberties-the pledye of onr
national blrthrigh;. Under its auspices. n dino
equality in all the benefits of American citi7en.
| ship has been guaranteed TO every section of
the Union; and in this regard we stand alone
among the civilized nations of the world. He
hdtA not deaH so NTH any nation. Look ont
upon tho civilized powers Of the world and con-
trdst their condition. Absoutism prevails in
RUSSIA; OF her population of 67,O0O,0OO, forty.
e'ght millions are In the iron shackles Of slave.
ry-oi theSe, twenty millions are Crown.ser(s.
OF immediately under the control of the Empe-
holo
prletorS OF the land. Germany, with its Al
OOO,OOO inhabitants has no less than six Kings
anu twenty-seven Duchies a rigid censorship
guards the Press, and no man dare exercise
time OF the freedom Of speech we enjoy, except
at the sacrlhce OF his lite more than half of lis
PopuIaUoh' TOO, are under the bondage of Ro
"lish superStltuton, and denied the public use
vi ther bibles. Italy, we know, is broken
up INTO feeble and suffering dependencies
sardinia, though rising far above the level of
Inc absolute despotism that surrounds ber is in
possession OF a very precarous freedom. bnr
enemies, notwithstanding the protection of
france, wall her in on every side. Austria
tome, and Russia, with her colossal shadow
Fo"h down upon her present policy az tepding
10 reVolutlonlLe the minds of the people and
snake the stability of European monarcbies
ana their hatred Of her preecnt policy is as in.
tense as the bright light Of hope she is shedding
1Iounu Hei: III france there ls no lberty-but
'o,rne i!cehSe' outrag!ng all the proprietIes
~ CHRISTIAN age and deservedly stigmatizing
"ci as 'he most Immoral of civilized govern.
ments. Her Emperor, in the wisdo6n of ovnn-
rlence, knows that the people necd 70 ho rPv-
erned, and his armies literally control the On
pIre-not LdW, nor the suyereipntv of nrinc;nI,
o"t might and brute force In Sweden !, now
Stahos as the law OF the land, if a native Ieave
tue National or Lutheran church and become
hohah CatholIc, he subjects himself TO twenty
years imprisonment or exile he incurs the |
same penalty IT he should become a Baptist |
methodist or Presbyterian. Despotic Spain de- |
mes the rite OF Christian burial TO all Pro,ps.
tants within her domains, and does no, oven
allow strangers sojourning in her provinces N
celeOrate social worship according 10 the f,;,b
oI their fathers. And, until recently only has
rrotestant and Free England annulIed the oLi.
Jus Jaw disabling Jews from participation in
'cf Ieglsiation. CIvIl and religious intolerance
iu'e scourged The nations of Europe, and so,on
toOl lHelr DirIh or creed have been almost ev
;'uCeu from the pale of humanity. The rre,t
'oI' VI ou[ language, who drew mankind lust 8
. nc iouhu 'neIn' puts into the mouth of Shy. ,
',a" oI reasoning that proceeds upon this {
lteadIul supposItlOn, Hath not a lew ovns :
lath not Jew hands Fed by the so,no fond =,
warmed aud cooled by the same winter md =
ummer as a Christian is 2" And this religion. 7
Intolerance we discover has been sanct,orol h.. =
ONE oil the best men. But never has !, fnnny {
lousHlent in the breast Of our people. or >
0nctioh IN their laws. The utmost liberty oil .
i8,ouS 'hought, opinion aud Worship is 90. |
ana the 'Fue principle of our institutions e
'HGt lald down by the Apostle, q let everv e
"a, "a" oe luiiy persuaded in his own mind. - @
mere my brethren, will you find a similar o
-, J"ui'loh Ci 1he people under any government! c
mere VIII you find such n pure charity. sncb C.
aternal equality, as blesscs the civil. social OF
~ rellgIous relations Of American Citizens = -
0'c, no man taIth Is an obstacle 10 his char al
8 al 'ne civil Immunltes Of native born resi- fu
M"ether protesting allegiance TO the tt
'"tiI ol u corrupt and enslaving hierarchy. or 10
l"ueu ny The traditions and prejudces of Jew N
Observation-Disclosures trusting 10 the fabulous OF
Veiations OF Emmanuel Swodenborr, or fol- al
wing The wicked apostle OF the Mormon M. as
samlsls, even. AS far as their conscience is fo
nceFhed' the government does not interfere lii
luyS no restraints upon their liberty it en- tn
ecS III no crusade against individual opinions; cL
oilers all alike the same privileges. and binds
alike by an oath of allegiance to the Con. nc
tuiion upon the sacred authority of The Billie. "
hateVer lllbeTal cynics may aver in repord w
tins liberty, we believe it to be sanctioned CT,
The laws OF charity and of sound policv = ev
e hnu ny the test OF nearly a century that ra
I'll constitution has most largely promoted he
interests OF true religion and saved our civil sn
'ric from the shock of sectnriun iealousies- he
oKlng out then. from this stand point of oh. ba
'"atioil, may we not a truly and cordiallv as no
ore aihrln in the language of THANKSGIVING. liz
Is nan mol deaH so 0iM any nation" be
B. But once more. Let us call 10 mind Tho al
Instantly OF our country. Although her re-. rel
ION 10 not established by La,0, yet how orgc. ste
mas she been permitted to share in the Mss. ed
Is oi Protestant, Evangelical faith. Thou. lig
lds OF children are not kept in Ignorance in ed
midst as they are in England because of The to-
nroVersy between the Romanists and the sid
,ls'ers OF the Established Church as to the PEI
'ein OF instruction to be adopted. But with He