The Lansing state Republican. [volume] (Lansing, Mich.) 1855-1874, 1864-04-20

shall appear
In regard to the establishment Of Govern I
men, Religion. the readers Of history will r |
member that our Puritan Fathers. down to the
time of Roger Williams, believed with all the
rest Of the world. that the civil mag siraie7
should have power to compel conformity In
all religious matters. But since that time the
people Of this country have been nearly unaa-
imous for leaving religious opinions aud prac-
tees TO tue con-cienee Of each Individual.
Hence in forming The Z. 5. Constitution.
State Religion was carefully excluded. Still
the old leaven OF Puritanism has been secretly
al work aud now thi- disposition, as soon a.
il dare show Itself, apprars in an attempt TO
change the Constitution 30 as to have Gov
ernment Relig ion established. by the side OF the
prohibition Of slavery. a. The supreme ia" oil
III. land. The Lansing Journal OF last week
has long article, exposing and at the same
bitterly Opposing this new enterprise Of the
Republican party We make an extract, con-
tanning the historical facts Oh this subject. OF
New England PuriIanism the Journal says:
The fanatics Of this school are preparing
their pans ana nar- halBng their forces or az
K
a Tree y. oplc, The liberty OF conscience Had Of
| rOrsh p
Ia tue month OF January last, convention
q the Sc mn, composed mostly OF pr acher- OF
lie COngTeg d iOuai and PreSoy ter al church ;.
met al Allegheny CITY. Penny iva Ia, ANA sub
seeueutly al MashiugtOn. n February last,
aud adopted the i.TIu Oi a memorial 10 I'm
grtss, praying Tor amendments u the Cohsu-
tuition 20 a. ~ u fully express the Christian
j. =
theIr INST pIOpO~, amendment IS 80 fulluw~-
We, tue people OF The Uuiied States. hum
bly acknOwl -lng Almig liy God as thesOu CO
.. all au bOrliy and power III vii govern
meut the Lord Jesus Christ as tie Governor
among be nations aud Ills r veaicd iil a
Ia, supr, inc las Uf the land, order 10 cou
stitute Christian government AMI IN order
iOIm more perfect un Ola. establish justice.
insure dom, ste tranquility. provide Tor IN
common defence, promote tue general welfare
and secure tue inailenaDle rights and the bless
.ngs, 10 OuTselve-, our pUsterity. and all The
people. do orddin aud e-taol-h thi~ COnstitu
uOn Of TIE United States OF America
A COMPARISON OF Ih.s language with that OF
the Constitution a. our fathers framed it, and
a. II now ands. viii show The radical Change
these men propo-e. but 10 settle the character
VI the proposed amendment Dcs Old doubt, read
the following. winch app ars IL the memorial
10 Congress which these men are now clrcuia
ting throughout the country:
Aud Ne further petition that such changes,
with respect TO the cath oi oaice, slavery. and
others matters, a. may be necessary 10 give ei-
iect To tbese amendments TO the preamble, may
be introduced MO the LOdy vi the Constltut.-
on, and We. your humble petiuOneIs, viii ever
pray, &c, &c
1t is true that the Republicans assert that
his was an application from only local body
IN Pennsy lsauia all Scotch rrcsOy ter.aus, d
part or all OF whom deny the validity OF any
human governments opposed to the d.
vine, and that the petition has not been signed
ny a single New England mau or Congreg CATION
alst, aud has not been approved by even one
paper IN tie United States But what OF that 4?
Is not the spirit the same a. that Of the old
Puritans,
The Journal objects that the Necessary
ohanges and the oath ol office under such pro
posed amendments of the Constitution would
unquestionably compel every p. rson exercising
the right Of suffrage. or entering upon any
nfice under the government. to swear 10 support
t the Christian rel gon, aud would, therefore.
utterly disqualny Jew or an inddel from
both.
The Journal further objects that the sect
: Which Is dominant will prosecute The others,
aud perpetual contests will be the result:
Uniting against Juda SIN. Intdelty and
Catholicism. AID destroying each IN turn. the
fanatics repeating the les~iou of all history.
Wlll then turu upon ach other. and a IN Eng
land the Church oi nsiaud expelled he Cath
olics, the PIesOy tcrians he Episcopal as. and
tie Indeps LdenIs IN their turn crushed out tnr
Presbyter aus, 30 here sect after Sect in turn.
Viii De rsecute lis fellOw IN Indication OF the
cause vi God aud Christianity, tlll " anarchy
cOmes down on Us like night and massacre
seals the eternal doom VI religious AID civil
iiverty.'
I he establishment OF a Government Religion
IN this country. with its clergy aud titles, aud
oeLeiceS, aud church rats il 30 great al uu-
deriakiDg that one would be led at dr-t to
doubt whether il could be done 10y The Rcpub-
+ leans But this doubt is removed when we
consider the authority on which these state
ments are made. We are assured that this result
: neither remote or unreal. The scholar and
r statesman who conducts the Jo',,'.at aud IL
= " ON we are ind, bted tor the facts upon ID
subject has TO doubt Oh the matter. He says
With the history OF the country for Tue
4 last twenty ears before him no enc an doubt
that the spirit VIII ch against such great odds
has wTou ght such Wonderful changes in the
condition aud prosperity OF our cou4tTy in r.
short time have Witnessed. may not
and vii. lot accomplish as much when applied
. 10 other objects OF agitation slavery Is hut
, the accidental subject Of hnautcal action
The ilslInctve normal aud controlling law OF
a Pur iauI-m ; spiritual sway aud domiL alton.
{, Inc SidVerg Increment ras out q step a means
, fo'easd The great end T rs aubit,.p, and to-
irds thu & non i,arches ruth byid and rapid
IS STRIDES, scarcely condeSccnd ~ 90 veil It's Al
. tempt at a spiritual supremacy over the mind
4 aud cOnscences OF men. now that 10 has pros
iraied their rights Of person aud pr perry AT is
ieet'
d II this important project advances with
such " bold and rapd strides a. is predicted
he details OF the plan OF the Republicans ioI
/, carrying out their scheme will probably soon
h come to light, aud we shall lay before our
4 readers the earl est information We can get a
/, o the sect which is 10 predominant, the number
!, and order of the clergy. the color. texture and
, fashion Of their dress the numbers that are 10
r be respectively whites. negroes and mula,-
- toes, whether they are to war square OF
: | round toed shoes. and all other matters OF
8 interest on this great subject
e The state Census.