The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1879-05-13

- ~ AFA -NNII'@ AN
equivalent language in the Constitu.
tiOns Of all the States Of the North
west, is in these significant words: IRE.
ligiOn, morality, and knowledge being
necessary TO good government and the
happiness Of mankind, schools and the
means Of education shall ever beenCourag.
ed.
(2) l wish to emphasize in this connec.
ton the exceeding great importance OF
Cultivating morality in this country. 1t
arises from the peculiar relation existing
in this country between Church and State.
How complete heseparation-no union
Of Church and State; no preference for
any religion; no recognition Of the Bible
as the standard OF right and wrong,
To show how great a contrast exists in
these respects between Ou country and
England we will read English law to you.
In England, laws are expressly found
ed on the Bible. 1.-THE Statutes OF King
Alfred, begin thus: THE Lord spake
these words to Moses Here follow the
Ten Commandments, and sundry other
laws from Moses, Of q moral character.)
The 49th clause proceeds thus; These
are the dooms which the Almighty God
himself spake unto Moses, and command.
cd him to keep; and after the only begot-
ten Son Of the Lord Our God, that is Our
Saviour Christ, anne on earth, he said he
came not to break nor to forbid these
commandments, but with all good to in.
crease them; and mercy and humility he
taught Allred's laws close thus: 4
then, Alfred, King Of the West Saxons,
showed these to all my witan, and
they then said that it seemed good
to them all TO be holden" These
laws have never been repealed; but
their great principle has been repeatedly
sustained BY judicial decisions, some OF
them older than the Reformation. In
the reign Of Henry VI, "Ancient Scrip
ture is Uncommon law on which oil man
ner Of laws are founded" In the reign OF
Henry VIII, "0ur law is founded on the
law OF God" AS late as 1857 it was ad.
judged in the Court of Exchequer that
christianity is part and parcel OF the law
of the land" III any general custom
were opposed TO the Divine law, or il any
statute were passed directly contrary
thereto, such a custom or such an act
would be void"
The Bible is the Constitution OF England.
There can be no law that conflicts with it,
and some laws have 10 other reason for
their existence than that they are found
in the Bible; for example, the law forbid
ding a man to marry his deceased wiie's
sister. It has been thought by some that
in our country as well as in England,
Christianity is a part Of the common law,
but the decision Of our highest courts is
against it,
In the Girard will case it was decided
that christianity is not a part OF the law
Of the land in the sense that would entille
the courts TO take notice Of and base their
Judgments upon it, except so far as they
should find its precepts had been incur-
porated in, aud become a component part
Of, the law"
Many State decisions are to the same ef.
feet.
But, as might be supposed, this does not
imply indifference to tho true religion.
Such a position would be impossible While
our citizens are so largely Christian.
THE Slate, rs separated from the indi.
viduals who compose 1t, has no existence
except in a figure.
And while a majority arc in sympathy
with the Christian religion it eau never be
said our country is Indifferent to what re.
ligiOn prevails among its citizens.
The principle undertaking this complete
separation OF Church and State is, that il
is better for both the Stale and the true
religion. That il granted IN open field
and a fair combat with all the religions of
the world the true will triumph. AS far
as Christians are concerned they stand
upon the words oil John Milton:
Though all the winds OF doctrine were
let loose upon the earth, so Truth be among
them we need not fear. Let her and
Falsehood grapple: who ever knew her 10
be put TO the worst, in a .free and open en-.
counter?"
This government Is founded on conf.
denee in the common people. 1t ia as.
sumed that the majority will always have
sense enough TO vote for those measures
that will perpetuate the blessings Of the
freedom We already enjoy. A century Of
trial hasconfirmed our confidence in This
assumption. Men may come to us from
all climes, and We are sure that as long AZ
they are protected in the rights we eniOy
and are granted the privileges we have
they will be so pleased with them as 10 be
willing to share them with others. In
other words, VIC are confident OF our now.
er to Americanize men Of all n%ationalitles
In like manner the apostles OF NOLAN.
mechanism, the deyotees OF Paganism and
the advocates OF corrupted Christi.
anity and Of InRdelity may settle in
our midst aud proclaim their religious
convictions with the utmost freedom, but
we are confident that a full and free dis.
cussion will result in the majority of
people accepting the true religion, II Il
cannot prove itself better than all com
petitors 1t deserves rejection, NihiIism
grows in Russia, where the power Of the
government Is almost almighty; It wonI5
die in America under thN 6liShting inlu.
ence Of a free discussion and Inc presence
OF q government whose chief end il IN
protect all men in all natural rights. Bnt
what II the government BY trampIinS
upon or disregarding only the n rI1bt n
to rest, should so change the customs
Of the people as TO render a full discussion
impossiblep What Is to become OF our
country nthe greed ofmen for gain orthe
devotion Of men 10 selfish pleasure