The Rutland daily globe. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1873-1877, 1873-07-16
THE RELIGIOUS AMENDMENT.

tional constitution, and that some of the
participants testified to their earnestncss
and faith in the cause by contributing one
hundred dollars, each, forts success. The
particular reform these gentlemen have set
themselves about accomplishing, with a
Judge of the United States Supreme Court
as their actual or nominal leader is TO en-
graft upon the constitution an amendment
which they call the sixteenth wherein
it shall be acknowledged in these cX-
press tcrms-that almighty God is the
"author of the nations existence, and the
"ultimate source of its authority, that
"Jesus Christ is its ruler and that the
edible is the fountain of its laws" 1t
hardly seems possible that such PROPOSE
ton could he seriously entertained, but so
it is. The effect of its adoption would be
to roll back the dial of time for centuries,
and undo that which the wise and good of
all nations have for years and centuries
been striving for and accomplishing The
principle of religious liberation led to the
settlement of the country, its acknowledge
ment was made one OF the chief foundation
stones of our governmental fabric, and it
was and is held out as a beacon to those, in
other lands whose rights to worship ac-
cording to the dictates of their own con-
sciences were restrained or prohibited. So
vital was the clear enunciation of this doc
trine deemed by our fathers that, notwith-
| otn Of t-Q~ had laid II
down as part of our organic law, that
" no religious test shall ever be required as
ga qualification to any Office or public
"trust under the United States,' yet, upon
the constitution a further provision was
adopted upon the same subject matter, and
was ratified by the several states, that of
Virginia, and Vermont in the very year of
its admission, giving it full effect. 1t pro-
vides, in substance and to the effect, that
Congress shall make no law respecting the
establishment, or prohibiting the exercise
of " any religion.
The first effect of the adoption of the
proposed amendment would be, of course,
to abrogate the existing provisions of the
constitution so far as they interfered with
these new doctrines or principles. 1t might
not confer any power upon Congress to
establish particular form of religion, but
it would, at stroke, apply a re-
ligious test as qualification" for Office,
and prohibit the free exercise of religious
beliefs. The foundation or principle upon
which the proposition is based is, however,
still more pernicious. 1t looks to the en-
forcement of religious creeds and dogmas
by legislative enactment, that is by force.
The day has gone by, we trust, for the
success of any such attempt, and we can
conceive of nothing that would be more
disastrous to the country, both in civil
and religious point of view, than its pos
sible attainment. We have hypocricy and
deceit enough now, among our public
men, when the only inducement thereto is
a seeming yielding to the moral sentiments
of mankind, without offering a special
premium therefor. A belief in God, an
acknowledgement of the truth of the Bible
and religious life have their seat in other
places than human constitutions or legisla-
tive enactments. The religious crceds of
and modes of worship by a people, have, in
some parts of the world, for centuries been
under the nominal control of governments.
Particular forms and ceremonies have been
promulgated, special beliefs have been Or
dained, while the terrors of the law have
been Numbered against non-conformists,
non-observers and disbelievers. The effect
has been to multiply sccts and schisms by
the Scores while infidels and sem-infidels
have flourished, and more than kept pace
with the spread of pure christianity.
America was the first to throw off the
yoke, and other nations have gradually
been following in her footsteps, until now,
nearly throughout the whole civilized
world, every one is at liberty to worship
when, how and as he pleases, without let
or hindrance. Belief, the particular form
thereof, or disbelief has been left, where it
properly belongs, with individual man, his
conscience and his God.
bIctl l)Iltuiu HAS tllIOWu tllc uOOTS Vi ucT
parliament open to jew and Gentle alike !;
Russia, France and Germany prosecute no
man for opinions sake ; and Spain, last of
all, has thrown off the shacklcs of ages,
and permits every man to worship at the
altar of his own erection and choice. Just
at this time, when the seed which we
have sown, has taken deep root and is hay
ing an abundant growth in other lands, we
the country to which the world is indebted
for practical religious oleration-through
highly respectable and intelligent body of
our best citizens, under the direction of a
judge of our highest court, propose to up
root the plant and SOW taxes in its stead.
Our whole aim and endcavor, from the
landing of the first European, on our soil,
as a permanent settler, has been in the di-
rection of greater individual rights and more
extended personal freedom, but now an eff
fort is being made in the other direction.
Citizens of Vermont, even, are found as
sembling in conventions, petitioning Con-
gress, and contributing of their time and
money for II diminntion of individual
rights, a restriction of the freedom of con-
science, Acknowledgement of their fellow
citizens, and disqualifying them from hold
ing office. A moments thought or reflec-
ton, upon the part of any one, would seem
to be sufficient to show the dangcr-to say
, nothing of the reactionary character-of
the movement. The number of those who
would be disqualified from holding office
would be fearfully large-much larger than
one would suppose at first thought. The
proposition is speciously worded, and in
the circulars of the "National Reform So
ciety, Or, as they generally style them
selves, the "Christian Statesmen Associa-