Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1862-02-03

age into parties founded upon distinctions of
Dlrth. Inc safety OF our country requires the
speedy assimilation of all discordant elements
The body polite cannot long endure the an.
tagonlSms OF foreign material beyond tbe
reach of what may be termed its digestive. as
Stimulating, absorbing pow ers. An irrepressi.
bic conflict here is deadly. The genius and
proper Influence of our institutions, of our
school system, pre-eminently, is TO fuse into
one all the various elements of our heteroeen.
Gus society-to blend all its fragments and sec.
tons into one broad, grand nationality. Away,
then, with every middle wall of partition. AS
speedily as may be, let our perfect nationality
resemble the perfect unity OF the true church,
where there is no longer "Greek nor jew, cir.
cumclsiOn nor uncircumcision, barbarism,
Scythian, bond, nor Tree" but all distinctions
merged, all differences forever ob!iterated, and
in their place one all-embracing ali-pervadirg,
altcontrolling sentiment and principle OF our
undivided and ndivisibe American unity.
4. But there is a still more important consid-
Grafton. By recognizing rights Of conscience
in the petitioner who objects to the compuso-
ry reading of our version OF the Scriptures,
you educate them in their rights Of conscience.
High as place the preceding point, as chris,
tan man must give this latter still higher
ground. 1t mas not been touched upon in the
discussion, and beg to call especial attention
TO it, The point is this By treating with
respect the conscientious convictions of this
class OF our population, you teach them TO
assert and maintain their convictions. You
open lie way 10 the ir religious freedom. You
disenthral them from the dctation in matters
OF faith of any fellow mortal. You encourage
in them the right and the practice of private
Judgment You make them partakers with US
in the liberty OF investigating and deciding for
themselves. You bring them under the in
spring, controlling influence OF the great doc
trine OF personal accountability. You will de
velope and mature sturdy conviction of right
and wrong
But moment is LETT (under the rule adopt.
ed for consideration OF one other point viz:
to compel the reading OF the scriptures by
those who dissent from our version, IS not
right
Among the inherent, inalienable rights of
man l place complete liberty OF conscience.
This right we individually claim. This right
let us collectively respect. That dread pre-
cinct where the individual soul is alone res
ponSible to God let no sacriigious foot invade;
government has no authority here. Its high
est prerogatives reacn not the righlful power
of Inc slightest interference with conscience
Watchtul as the government should be for the
peoples highest interests, searching as should
be lis eye 10 detect evils. and almost omnipo-
tent as should be its arm To correct them, it
may not question my privilege to embrace and
to teach my children what my conscientious
convictions determines TO be right. " hat |
claim tor myself as a man, that am willing
as a citizen a hundred told more willing as
legislator, to concede to others.
We establish forever the Bible in our
schools avoiding collision with all classes on
this subject. Gentlemen express fears on
this subject. l do not share them. In the
heart OF the old Bay State" we Of Worces-
ter, feel safe in the working OF this policy
which we have already adopted. 1t will be
safe throughout the commonwealth. 1t is al
ways safe everywhere to do right. For these
reasons favor the amendment OF the gentle
man from Marlboro, retaining the Bible in
the schools. but allowing liberty OF choice in
the version to be used.