Daily Ohio statesman. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1855-1870, 1864-12-14
Union of Church and state.


Union of Church and State.
In the East the propriety of amending tn
Constitution of the United States, so that /
shall affirm the existence of God, the Di
vinity of our Lord Jesus Christ and tn
truth of the Holy Scriptures, is advocated
with zeal, and even with bitterness. II
this proposed amendment. dissent is inter
posed by an Administration journal tina
lies before us, which says that SIT is plair
that the liberation of all religions, ant
the establishment of one may coexist but
it was not upon such a principle that the
Republic was established. Our republican
ism means not the toleration of any reli-
gion, but the absolute equality of all reli-
gions. Anything less than this is the unior
Of Church and State, and, no matter how
slight that may be, the precedent is dan.
gerous, and the principles evil in the germ
rs in the ultimate development. A wrong
to the religious faith of an American citi-
zen is not to be measured by the degree OF
injury and interference; it is absolute in its
nature. The Constitution which should
announce I'VE, the people of the United
States believe the creed of the proposed
amendment would be an outrage on those
people of the United States who do not be-
lieve it, and who would make aliens OF
whole bodies of religious NELL"
The journal that thus arrays itself
against measure that contemplates the
regulation of the peoples views touching
religion, occupies prominent place in the
ranks of those who are clamoring for an
extirpation of slavery as gross sin and an
offense in the sight of the Almighty. Cler-
gyfnen there are who speak with the ut
most positiyeness that it is the wish of the
Lord that slavery shall be removed from
this portion of His footstool, and as He was
pleased to communicate this desire special
ly to Chicago clergymen, to obviate jeal-
ousy between the East and the West, it is
certainly legitimate conclusion that He
has given Eastern clergymen to understand
that while we are embarked in the great
work ofregenerating the people ofthse eonn-
try on the subject of their political notions,
tits likewise of much importance that the
Constitution of the United States be so
amended as to declare His existence, His
divinity, and that the Holy Scriptures
are an exposition of His will. While
He has become communicative on
the subject of slavery, it is not presumptu=
ous to suppose that He would communicate
His pleasure in regard to the phraseology
OF the Constitution, and it is also not pre-
sumptuous to suppose that if He is punctil-
ious on this point He certainly would indi-
cate the form of worship in which He
should be approached. Although there
has been great deal of blood spilled, and
bad feeling created, in consequence of diff
ferent interpretations of the Holy Scrip
tures, it can not be accounted matter of
90 little consequence as to need no express
sion Of opinion from Him at this time. The
fall of sparrow, and the enumeration Of
the hairs on the head of each individual,
are said to be of sufficient Importance to
challenge the attention of Heaven. 1t,
therefore, seems clear that IL the Lord is
particular about having a recognition,
through, an amendment to the Constitu-
ton, Of His existence and divinity, He
would grant us a somewhat more definite
understanding relative to the manner and
matter Of our worship. By settling this
question now, it might serve as preven-
tive against bloodshed in the future. In a
humanitarian aspect therefore, why not
legislate our people into state of perfec-
ton, political and religious, at the same
tine. ss
The writer to whom we refer as objecting
TO the proposed amendment of the Consti-
tuition, says that "a wrong to the religious
faith Of an American citizen Is not to bs
measured by the degree of injury and in
terference; it is absolute in its nature" 1
thissentence means anything, it means that
''the religious faith of an American citizen
is of more consequence than the views O
the Almighty on that subject. Should an
"American citizen" be allowed to 60 to tn,
devil because 1t would be doing "wrong'
to his religious faith" to send him to Heav
en- by the grace Of Constitutional amend
ment and Congressional enactment? It'll
no awrong,p according to the avowed faiti
Of the Administrationists to the politica
afalth OF al American citizen" who be.
lie7esin holding Africans and their descend.
ants In the condition Of servitude, to dc
AWAY withtthat belief with fire and sword