New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1865-04-07
NINTH DISTRICT.
Etntc X liy;On.
To q. rdi,c, Of zze " =. r.ibAae:

To Me Edffor OF Inc A. 4. L'N"'~
SIR: Unavoidable circumstances have pre-
vented me from noticing sooner your remarks on my
article on State Religion. in Tue rEIBuSE Of the 7h
Inst a..
With all due Difference, think you misapprohepd
tho point Of difference which wished 20 make between
u.s. You had said: 1--WE prefer not 10 live under
Government which would seem to have tho creation
ard diffusion Of hypocrisy and false religions profession
as Of its chief ends and nge all who prefer sin
cerity and honesty to oppose eli State Religion. by ui'
understood you arguing against the present move
nont to erncnd tie National Constitution because. IL sc
amended then the Government would seem to hsrs
the creation end dason of hypocrisy and fuse religious
profession Of It, elif ends" md that this worid
constitute State Religion, which al Who prefer
honesty and sincerity should oppo'e." From Your re
marks" 1t appears tlPt right In understanding
you. To ycrr view took exception for reasons winch
stated briefly. And tie question was not, whether
there should be any religious test proposed as {" the
fitness or ur fitness Of any ons for OBJECT Eut simply
would the amending Of the National Constitution go %
to have in t the nck nowledgmept that Almighty God
is the source OF al authority and power constitute
STATIC Religion which al who prefer honesty totyroersY
should oppose because IL would make the creation
and diffusion Of h, pocry and fse religious profession
scstion 10 no, whether this is Christian nation in
iisorgaaic eldr seirj for on this agreed But
should IL be r.aGo such. since We are emrhhtcaiy a
Christian peoplei The accomplishment Of his end Id
the object Of the present movement Et. again the
question WINS not Whether Almighty God Is ;he sourrr
Of all authority and power IN 0VrsrHn<hfT !'uf Is
He In facti On this point tie whole controversy
mus turn And that tls docs not constitute mn oblec'
tionsbe form Of State Religion" any more than GER
tain legislative aots against which 10 one disseLis,
have asserted.
Now If it Be wrong to acknowledge In the National
Constitution. the authority Of God why Is not that
more exI ieh form Of State Religion which ictisiat's
for the carrying ont OF certain preoepts VI the Divine
Law eth more ohectionsblef WIN the oekno~ieds'
lnent contemplated In the amendment make ihn rea
ton and diffusion Of hypocrisy and flse religions pro-
fesson one Of tho oAif enS' Of the Gpyernreni-any
more than thu legislative acts reerred 10 sJo,ei III II
does, why iocs not 1Bf TRIBUNE show it, And II u
does NOT why has IL remained silens. against
what Il seeme 20 esteem grave an evil Ard
why s,iI 70 back 70 plead Mr. Benjsmini ea.s against
TIE Riol,aoad Esgssr.rs Tho roirt 70 which took
! exception WIS the sen.once already quoted several
times and surely have the night TO arruc 20 ny own
exception. Bm YET am asked Why do seek TO evsde
the Issue by talking Of the bogus Cabinet At Rich
rnondi" 1wss not aware tina, aid tall q It. used
- words Quoted. II Is true. instead Of ss.'ns "Souib
ern Confedersey.' That they were hot respectful to
ward the powe,s tba, at Richmond. Iconfesa and
| beg the CoDfcdoIacy's pardon.
| You say in' jour remarks" The VITAL Question
concerns vhat u right md proper In the premises for
any Government To this most cordially assent.
Tie question thoni Is: IL 1T right and proper for ary
Government to acknowledge that "Anithiy God i'
1 N A La .l,ls ltnr
Or are he pcofle that souYcei To Go the former yon
say will compel many people 10 Assert. ar assent b.
wha. they do believe under penalty ~ er'on'i lon
or degradation" willout whiting " inquire hov mr.
This staemcn, may he would simply 'ay That
thi. argument Is one Of that Kind that ogciars fprsk
Of as having two horns The Of these you missed
seeing and ~ equally sharp the one on which
Won tried 10 hook me. And the mischief IL that the
point OF II stands overwhelmingly toward your sde
II Is this: II the latter part Of che proposition viz
"that the people TIE Of oil authority and
power is tie doctrine OF the Constitution as under
stand you 10 Affirm then large class Of people, who
may safely say areconned by the million, are com
PEELED TO assert assent 20 What they do not believe
under penalty Of personal loss or degradation And
now which has the sharTost point the possibility that
tome infdels nay act the hypocrte. or the certainty
that Christians must virtually derry vital par, OF their
religious belief or suffer personal loss or degradation
II proves too much. here's proves nothing.
But be, ider there is high authority for saying All
power IL OF the powers that be are ordained of God
1t would be better. therefore. TO make radical
change Of base" han to coutinue practically to deny
this fact. -...- ...r.. .-..-..-t.
IN regard TO my observation Of tho fitness OF this
change when God is visiting chastfement upon Us
fn our national sins" you remark I'll he means that
our failure TO embody religious profession or text In
our Constitution is one Of thee AIMS then Lis remark 10
pertinent, Otherwise NOT, ID mean that the failure
TO acknowledge IN any form In our CONSTITUTION that
God Is the source Of all authority and p0wer. was
grave national erior aud that the continuing TO do 10
ia one Of those sins that In OF no small magnitude Bn
how any one can conclude that therefore must hold
that this the ine,ismsni u the shareholders re-
bcllion." defes ny powers Of perception. thought
that II was admitted by Christians all Lands, that
there Providence that orders and directs oil tbese
things, and that, when He deals with men for their
oenses Ho makes use VI whatever fundamentally lie
secs ft.
Your honest acknowledgment that this 10 net a
Christian nation. and that God is not the q oil
authority and power In this Govcrnnentthat tho peo
pie are that source-wl do In favor Of the con
teppated amendment than whole pages Of argument In
ts favor Tbis Just the point from which, 10 far.
mhin opposition has come. We are charged with pratt
ing about words. 1t 10 claimed that tho ~afioS Ia
Christian already. and that God ind his authority
imp'isdly acknowledged in the Constitution You have
saved rs great deal Of argument In the futuIe-foI
which receive thanks .-,
= With ell respect I am yours. &C..
I tfsreh @, 1868 RAo
RtmSrks. lfI.tNN flN