The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1876-08-13
The senatc's Proposed Amendment to
the Constitution.

We deemed 1t our duty, many months
ngo, to call attention to an effort, which
had then already been set on foot, to intro
nuoe religious and seotarian questions into
American politics, and thus array the dif-
ferent denominations in bitterness against
sach other. The little cloud, Mt that time
not bigger than mans hand, now begins
10 cast its dark and threatening shndow
over the land. A measure OF the gravest
Importance has just been adopted by the
Benate Of the United States. Ii Is of q
nharacter to awaken the serious reflection
pf the intelligent people of the country.
The measure to which we refer is nothing
Jess than n proposition to amend the Con-
Hitution of the United states. 1t Is couched
IN the following terms:
Resoired, By the Senate and House Of Representa-
nves OwOthird- Of each House concurring therciul,
lures Of The sev State &c a @ e the
So1s,i!u,9n Of me unilei staes which when ratned
as part OF i9e ssid SUBSTITUTION nancy .,.o.,,.,
IN estab shmcn Of religion or PROHIBITING the free
srcse hereof and 10 religious test sha be rcqnrcdas
sta,e No pubic properly and no puzzle revenue Of, o.
Ene ss =, or any Gr TeT ty Sre or S' ma
bicpal corporation sha be Appropriated to or made
other Institution under the control Of religious or
n 'av psicua oress @f ,eu,,s sr N VINE
or IN part by revenue loan Of credit aud such
appropriation loan OF credit shall be made to any
inailon, or to promote interests OF tenets. $500. -.
This article snsli no! oe sonstraed to prohibit ne
tha not have the effect 10 impair the rights OF proper
SEC 2 consress shall have power by sppropria,e
sn. Of yoSpns Of ih 49, artiet ""D
This amendment, II concurred in by the
House OF Representatives, and ratified by
ssufficient number of State Legislatures.
would cut off many approp riations such
~ our own Legislature Is in the habit of
making to educational institutions under
the control OF the Catholics, or OF some
other religious denomination.
We advocate the largest, the most entire
religious liberty. 1t seems to be an ingre-
dent of the very soil, without which the
earth would grow barren, in America-a
component part of the atmosphere, with
out which the air would lose its elasticity,
and we could not breathe freely. Perfect
freedom III religious matters appears to us
10 be the essential foundation, without
which no pure and indebted religion can
anywhere be erected.
We worship only GoD, Nor even Him
except in our own way.
The practical question arises, what need
b there of any amendment OF the Consti-
tuition on this subject Is its purpose to
secure religious liberty We have en-
toyed that fully and without molestation
throughout the hundred years of our ex-
btence which have just closed.
The very first Amendment to the Con-
Btitution, which went into effect in 1901,
provides that:
-Congress snail make no law respecting an estab-
hnent Of religion, or prohibiting the tree exercise
hereof
That was all that In the opinion OF the
Revolutionary fathers was required on
nat subject. In our opinion 1t is all that
b required now. Why try the expert
nent of something new when that which
b old has worked so well
The hand of the demagogue may mar, II
nnnot mend the Constitution as framed
BY our Fathers.