, 1877-03-24

| tbINlllg 10 tIt ulCtaICS OI MS own con-
science, or the conclusions Of his own
reason II they did not see that under
such Constitution Christianity would
have the best possible chance to become
a Almighty moral and spiritual force, then
indeed they builded better than they
| knew. Madison at least had IN iHkllng
of this truth when he wrote: "Rcigion
is essentially distinct from human gov
eminent ard exempt Iromlts cogniznnce.
a connection between them is injurious
to both. There are causes in the hUm0N
dreaSt Vhich e"Sure tie pe,petuiW q re.
dgton "ithout tile all W Mm." The Rev.
Mr.. Shute, in the Massachusetts Con.
vention for the ratification OF the Con
stitution, had perception of the truth
when, in replying to objections made to
the clause prohibiting religious test,
he said; "ln tins great and extensive
empire there is, and will be, a great va.
riety Of sentiments in religion among its
inhabitants. Upon the plan of relig-
iOus test the question. think, must he /.
Who shall be excluded from national
truStSt Whatever answer bigotIy may
suggest, the dictates OF candor and eQ-
uity, conceive, will be: None" So
also the Rev. Mr. Payson, another mem
Der Of the same Convention, when he
said: Had there been in the Constltu.
tion religious test as Il qualification
for office, it would, in my opinion have
been II great blemish upon the instru.
mcnt." SO again the Rev. Mr.. Backus,
who, on the same occasion, said The
imposing ot religious tests hath been the
greatest engine OF tyranny in the world
Much ingenuity has been employed to
rebut tins line of argument, and to show
that, after all, this is, in some not very
clearly.detncd sense, II Christian State.
Some very good people are shocked by
the idea that ours is q purely secular
government. They appear to think that
to listen patiently to such an affirmation
would be little less than treason to
Christ and his cause. 1t would he well
Tor such men to remember that the fran.
ers OF the Constitution, who may be sup.
posed to have understood their work,
have lett US no room tor doubt as to
their opinion upon this question On
the 18th of November, 1896, during the
second administration of Washington, Il
treaty was formed between this cuuptr,
and Trpoli. That treaty, bearing the
signature of Washington, and ratified by
Il Senate in which were II considerable
number OF men who, with him, had
taken an active part in framing the Con-
stltution, contains the following pro.
vision -
As the Government Of the United States /.
not iH eng sense on Me Christian ,tIiyiOa: n, il
has IN itself no character Of enmity against the
laws, religion or tranquility OT Mussulmnns
ana aS the said states never have entered into
any war Or act OfhOstity against any MOhum
mcdan nation, it is declared by tie partir.
tnat no pretcNt arising from siijiOB opinion,
shall ever produce un interruption Of the hur
mony existing between the two countries
This provision, he it remembered, in tho
language OF the Constitution. is nnrt o
THE SUPREME LAW OF TIE LAND"
Our view Of the relation of the UritcC
States Government to religion will no
be complete until we have advertec
particularly to another clause of amend
ment which declares that Congress shal
make no law respecting an establishment
of religion, Or prOhGtting tie free eyercis
thereof or ajridgiag the treaiom qt speecj
or Of Tie press' While IAN establishment
of ofreligion" by law is forbidden, "tht
free exercise thereof" by individuals
churches and other associations, accord
ing to such forms and under such ar
rangCments as they may choose to adopt
is expressly guaranteed by the Who'll,
power Of the Government. The right to
be religious, and to disseminate what ht
holds to be religious truth, pertains tc
every citizen. The State does not tel
him whether he shall be Christian, jew
or MOhammedan Catholic or Protestant
Episcopalian, Presbyterian, Baptist
Methodist, Unitarian, Nationalist Posi-
twist or Atheist. 1t allows him to torn
his own opinions, and to propagate them
by means of the pulpit, the platform
the press, the church, the sunday school,
or whatever other instrumentality he may