Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1871-1872, 1872-01-13

10 the Editor Of the Washington Chronicle
The following correspondence between
the ''Presbytery of Eastward" and George
Washington, dated shortly after the adop-
ton of the Constitution, being pertinent
to the discussion respecting the proposal
to amend that document by putting into
it some reference to the Deity, may be
found suitable for publication. 1t shows
that the same ideas prevailed among
certain class of theologians then, as now,
and the reply of the Father of his Coun
try will be found crusher::
take in from the Massachusetts, Sen
tinel" of Dec. 5, 1889:
The Presbytery of the Eastward, con
vened at New buryport, in their address to
the President of the United States in his
late tour, says: Among the objections to
the Federal Constitution we never consid
cred the want of a religious test-that
grand engine of persecution IN every ty
rants hand. But we should not have been
alone in rejoicing to have seen some ex-
plicit acknowledgement of the only true
God, and Jesus Christ, whom He hath
sent, inserted somewhere in the Magma
Charta of the country. We are happy to
find, however, that this defect has been
amply remedied in the face of the world
by the piety and devotion in which your
first public act of office was performed, by
the religious observance of the Sabbath,
and of the public worship of God, of
which you have set SO eminent an exam
pie, and by the warm strains of Christian
and devout affections which run through
your proclamation for general Thanks
giving.
Tothe Ministers and Ruling Elders delegated
to represent the Churches an Ndssactusett,
and Neto Hampshire. sohich compose III,
First Presbytery Of the Easteoard:
GENTLEMEN: - The affectionate well
come which you are pleased to give me tc
the eastern part of the Union, would leave
me without excuse, did | fail to acknowl
edge the sensibility which it awak ems, anC
so express he most sine, re return that
grateful sense of your goodness can rug
gest.
To be approved by the praiseworthY i
wish as natural TO becoming ambition
as lis consequence is fiattering to our sell
love.
am, indeed, much indebted to the ia
vorable sentiments which you entertain
towards me, and it will be my duty /
study to deserve them.
The tribute of thanksgiving, whicl
you offer to the gracious Father of Ligh
for Hisiinspiration of our public council
with wisdom and frmness. TO complete til
National Constitution, is worthy of mel
! who, devoted u the pious purposes of rt
ligion, desire their accomplishment
:, such means as advance the temporal hal
= p mess Of their fellow men.
r And here l am persuaded, you will pc
!. nit me to observe that tie path o. ira
pityis too plain as to rela ire tlt little potjtic
direction,
To this consideration ere ought 60 dscril
the absence Of arg regulations respecting n
IL hgion from the Magma Charta Of our cou1
"a tyy TO the guidance of the ministers {
- the Gospel this important object is pc
ii haps more properly committed. 1t wi
Ill be your care to instruct the ignorant an
Ill to reclaim the devious. And in the pr
III gress of morality and science, to whiC
~ our Government will give every furthe
n ance, we may confidently expect the a.
vancement of true religion and the Cor
il petion of our happiness.
pray the munificent Rewarder of vi
g. tue that your agency in this work m'
We receive its compensation here and her
= after. G. WASHINGTON.
q, give the italics and spelling as tn
appear in the original. y. 5. G.