The New York herald., 1869-06-20

The Attempt to Christiauize the Constitv' <.
Of the United states-A COngregr go,


From the New York Independer
There is class of persons IN this c. l
In number as compared with the W "n"y-s.nsn
people, and, as we think, very far ,s D' =. s..s
the view generally held by IT. - o.
who denounce the constitut' % ohris'ah onuion-
=. ,h.,iao, an, ,rro,,c On OF the United States
oon,o,n s,rac, osser,, 1ious because It does not
,oo,r,no, or tne ~ >0n or some OF the elementary
aoctriro or Cod .Ar:stian religion especially the
Tno po,orme, and the LOrdship OF Jesus Christ
Nawhnrc AfTesSyterians, who recently met at
s,o,em, "a tpts State, illustrate the truth Of this
tom mt, as shown by their speeches and resolu
tc 10 them and all others OF like faith we wish
>say one or two words.
The only passages in the constitution which
make any reference to religion, directly or ind-
recty, are those in which the President, the men,
bers Of both houses of Congress, the members OF
State legislatures and all executive and judicial OFF,
OF the United States and OF the several States
are required to be sworn into Office by oath or
affirmation; which deny to Congress all power TO
pass any laws prospecting an establishment OF reli-
gon or prohibiting the free exercise thereof;'' and
which declare thaG mo religious test shall ever be
trust under the United states.n The oath or aiiim.
alton inferentially Involves the doctrine OF
Supreme Being. The restriction OF the power
of Congress and the exclusion OF all religious
tests guarantee religious liberty as against any
entertainments by the national government and
make impossible the enactment OF any law by Con.
gress for the establishment OF religion. SO the mat
ter stands as left in the constitution The impugn-
ers OF this instrument, understand them, ind
fault with 1t account OF what it contains, but
account OF what 1t does not contain They insist
that at least some OF the dOgmas of the Christian re-
ngiOn, especially two, should be formally announced
as part OF the fundamental law OF the lands and to
gain this end they propose an amendment Of the
In response to this theory, which regard as es-
senaly false we take the liberty OF saying that the
tended TO be, religious creed to express the
faith or define the policy OF the Christian
SnarS or for any sss @ I
deslgned 70 establish justice, insure domestic tran
guilty, provide Tor the common defence, promote
the general welfare and secure the blessings OF b
ery'' 10 the American people, This civil govern.
ment exists in the name Of the people, and derives
oil its just powers from their legally expressed
sent. 1t is, moreover, not the0cracy, created by
any special intervention of God, and OF which He is
the civil head. 1t has appointment OF form, pre-.
negatives or powers by the Author OF Nature be-
yOnd those which inhere IN the very constitution
and necessities OF civil society," II is just what it
processes to be-a civil government, anu nothing
more. 1t Is not Church, 70 Dropound propagate
or enforce religious creeds; but civil government
relations to each other considered as SUBJECTS
and cltlzens OF the State. To say tnat the consti
tuition under which this government exists is
athestic and lrrelgous because it does not contain
religious creed, either in whole or IN part, would,
IN principle, be equivalent to saying that chemistry
Is aheistc and rreilgious because It does not IN.
clude in Its analyses and syntheses the doctrine of
God and the Lordship Of Jesus Christ. bank cor.
pOTatlOn or railroad company would be atheistc
and rreligous for the same reason We take 1t that
finance is one thing and theology another. And
we hold that civil government Is one thing and re-
liglon quite another.
We hence confront the primary principle Of these
gentlemen with a square and positive denial We
deny that 1t is the province OF any civil govern
ment unless 1T can make good its claim to
the plenary attributes OF tne0cracy, to pre-
faith. 1t deals with men In the relations OF
tlme and not those OF eternity. SO far as it
enters the field OF moral virtues, 1t cOntemplates
them IN their civic relations. This, and this only is
the legitimate province OF civil government. The
moment 1t passes this boundary 1t becomes usur-
patton IN theory, and almost always such In fact
Considered philosOphically it becomes absurdity
SINCE no legal regulation or prescription can ever
govern ones reigious lth. IL may repress its eX.
preston by the arm OF prosecutions; but human law
can never reach the thing Itself. 1t ought not to
reach 1t. The question involved is one that lies be.
tween the Individual soul and the God OF the soul and
not between the soul and the State. The civil power
Is bound TO protect the individual against all nrac.
ton OF his rights and then leave HIM to adjust his
own faith upon his responsibility to the God who
made him. This Is The only principle that can be
Teconced with the inalienable rights OF personal
conscience In application to religion Reject 1t and
the great doctrine OF religious liberty is at once
peril
The sad experience Of the world proves as ques-
ton Of consequences that 1t Is best for religion and
best for the state tnat civil government should let
religion Alone and leave It's history to be determined
by other influences. Hypocrisy, corruption, ambi-
ton and persecution in both State and Church are
the usual fruits Of crowdng religious creeds into the
constitution OF the State and extending the powers
Of the State into the bosom OF the Church. There
may possibly be some world In which the thing can
be done with safety; but II there be any truth in his
tory this not that world. All the advantages that
have ever been gained by the process more than
th0usand-fo fold Overbalanced by the evils resulting
from 1t. We protest against the whole idea ia theSi
and we equally protest against 1t In the light
or history. There Is no deeper plot or
satan than that which undertakes to commit the
definition and regulation OF religious faith TO the
safer for the whole people. We want no approaches
TO 1t. We accept no proposition which Is the Incl
United States, because il utterly absolves itself from
all direct connection with the religion OF the land
and all the sects who profess It,
There are, moreover, several grave questions that
would ARISE In reducing the theory OF these gentle
men TO practice. How much theology would they
have put into the constitution Precisely what are
the theological dogmas to be incorporated In this
governmental Instruments What use shall be made
Of them as integral parts Of the supreme civil law
OF the landf snail they be tests OF qualification for
Offcep What laws snail he enacted TO give them
living expression Shall they be merely ornamental
beliefs, with no practical character; shall they be
ofncered by o judicial and executive agencyS We
anticipate little difficulty the solution OF these
American mind, the multiplicity and diversity OF
Christian sects, and the large number Of people
some OF whom are religionsts-that belong to none
OF these sects. The people can agree-as we think
by an overwhelming majority they do agree-that
the constitution shall leave the question OF religion
untouched. This Is fair and Just TO all. But II they
were to undertake the work OF q religious amend
ment they could never come to any common under
standing as to the nature ana contents OF that
the praclice Of the nation in regard to religion
ought 10 be sufficient to satisfy even the most Zeal
GUS Christians. While the government tolerstes ali
religious beliefs, and authoritalivey enforces
none, it nevertheless appoints Christian chap
lans for the army and navy. The two
houses OF Congress elect chaplains to open their
sessions with prayer. Governmental business Ia for
the most part suspended on the sabbath day. The
Bible 10 used In the administration OF q civil OATH
The vested rights OF religious bodies are protected
In these and the like ways Christianity, as the
prevalent religion OF the land, Is recognized and
respected without any legal declaration. ratification
or enforcement OF It's d0gmas Its influence upon
the government Is felt through Its influence upon
the people, aud, o. believe, better felt than It
would be II II were legally engrated upon the con-
ettuton OF the state. This ought to be suficient.
1t Is all tharelgon:n and ali that It can safely
receive at the hands OF government. The general
practice OF those moral virtues which as part OF
religion commend the soul to God, land which az the
equities and philanthropies OF earth benefit the
State, is after all, the best Offering which nation
can present to the God Of atoms.
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