The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1866-06-09

tract Of Rev. DR.. Fuller's remarks ID
esard to religious liberty, made at NUS
ellville on the subject of the test oa.'
eouIred Of ministers In Missouri w
,uo,e some interesting passages
Nv brother from Missouri suh"''g,"
no.. resolutions To me, and most heaL'hS
,rona them. In advocating t1''l ""'f-
,;nr have n, reference to Missouri OF any
,r, ~ orr cormtry. | speak Tor me
.n, Gina s,ulh, the cast. the west; or
'. - mr. anr whole country, knowing no
,>.,I, 40 smith. no east, no west. lfthis
',,.,,,n, hy civil government 10 interfere
with religions duties and privileges had
aeon made i'm Massachusetts,, how glorious
,ld Fancuil Hall would have rocked, and
.hundcrcd, and lightcncd' fthe outrage
1ad occurred in Rhode Island, Roger VIII
Jams would have turned over in his coffin.
speak, Of course, by the strongest meta
phOr for when, many long years ago, they
tug down into the grave Of this great
postlc OF freedom, meaning 10 remove his
zones and give them noble burial anu Il
monument, il was found that an old apple
tree had sent its roots down into the coffin
md eaten up everything; 80 that IN
apples the good people of Rhode Island
really ate Roger Williams. | have no
doubt the apples tasted very tart and
Grabbed 10 some appctlteS.
If the Southern Contcdcracy had sue
recded, and my native State, South Caro-
lima, had adopted a constitution authorizing
he civil magistrate 10 interfere with spi-
ritual things, would have gone there To
protest against it. South Carolina how |
Iovc that dear little State. Ny heart grows
.iquid and my eyes moist at the very men
ion OF her name. When Port Royal was
lakcn | WAS of course cut off from my
accustomed income, and hut for the noble
church Of which am pastor, / could not
nave had any support for my family, th'h'
too. in great affection. AT that very time
A gentleman from New York offered 10
purchase ny estate and slaves there. Ny
answer was prompt. | replied that as 10
the negroes, | would rs soon sell my
children for money; and "a to the lands,
# nc would give me hushcl for hu>hel
would not exchange, al that time,
South Carolina dirt for California gold
dust. The question now before Us is no
new thing. History is full Of prcccdcnts.
Now lilf h-ltlN >N'hllS " AiNh'' va AN''-
nous rights. and now the Church seeking
10 usurp civil power. The Bible torbidN
and condemns each Of these usurpationS
and from the times Of Christ to the present
hour the Blptists have protested against
each. This was the very controversy be-
tween the Apostles OF Christ amt the
Jewish Sanhcdrim, and they had but one
answer, Whether it be right to hcarHcn
10 YOU rather than TO God, judge yc.
We cannot but speak the things we have
heard. They were imprisoned; but az
soon a. they were released they again
preached and with zeal rcd0uhlcd by
persecution. Indeed, the angels who set
them free said, " Go aud preach the words
Of truth"
In my adopted State (Maryland) this
asurpation was commenced three years
ago, and have reason torcmcmher II well,
and 10 thank God and noble men III tie
Government for protecting me then.
Living quietly a. loyal citizen OF my
country, said nothing To any one, and had
nothing t. do with political matters, find
ng great consolation i'll supplying the
wants Of the southern prisoners, which the
Government molly allowed me TO do, (thc
fIccr in command OF the prison al Elmira,
all honor 10 him, thanking me for Al one
time sending clothes to three hundred who
mad had the small-pox,l and also in minis
scriug 10 the wounded soldiers Of the
Onion both III Baltimore and on several
battle fields.
But al length a hill was introduced int"
The Maryland Legislature requiring minis
tiers - take an oath that they would usc
.heir influence against the rebellion. This
influence was. d course. that OF their Spi-
ritual pastoral Office. | then felt that |
could 10 longer hc silent without peril
iiuu>ucss both 10 God and my country.
After earnest suppication to God that He
would avert this sore evil, al once wrote
IN address 10 the Legislature, cntrcating
them not L. pas, the law, declaring that n"
honorable pastor, 10 pastor whom the coun-
try could trust, could thus bring his sacred
calling and influence into matters which
were secular; that civil governments had
no more right To interfere in spiritual things
than bank or Il water company: that our
duty was Cuu>cjcntiouSly To obey the law.
ana 10 teach others 10 obey, but that such
IN oath would degrade minister 10y cau>-
ing him to use his pastoral relations for
mere political or secular ends. This appeal
was printed aud sent to the membcrs by
devoted Union and loyal men, who de-
nouuced the south but loved religious
freedom and all honor 10 noble Mary
land, though the war was then raging, the
sound Of cannon in our ears, and the State
invaded, the Legislature ~ once rejected
the bill. The Senator who had introduced
il, wrote 10 tell me that ministers OF the
Gospel were its authors; and Mr.. Rcverdy
Johnson sent me q letter expressing ms
ama2cmcut that ministers otrcligion, bound
together with such ties, and following such
Il Saviour, could seek to pcrsccute amt
injurc each other.
The war is over. Where We have done
wrong, let Us confess. Where We have
received wrongs, let Us forgive. | hope
the Constitution in Missouri will be altered !;
but the course OF ChriSt's ministers To civil
government il plain: Render to Caesar
the things that are Caesars, but TO God the
things that are Gods; at our peril We
violate either Of these solemn duties.