The weekly democratic statesman. [volume] (Austin, Tex.) 1871-1883, 1881-07-28
oHuRcn AND stare.


Under the above heading Judge
George Goldthwaite, of Houston,
publishes a compensation in the
Post on the subject of Governor
Roberts refusal to assume relig-
foas character in fixing day of
Thanksgiving and prayer. The
judge says:
am thankful that we have a
governor who thinks and acts for
himself, and upon his own concep-
lions of right and wrong. That he
is honest in his convictions-none
who know him would gainsay-
when he says: my judgment is
that it is thing to be left entirely
to the preachers. The governors
directing that religious services be
held for any purpose, in my opin-
ion, tends TO mix up church and
state and is an entering wedge in
that direction"
Governor Roberts is worthy dis
ciple of that great statesman and
patriot, Thomas jefferson. He,
when president, refused to blindly
follow precedent, and when applied
to by reverend gentleman to issue
his proclamation, recommending
that a day be set apart for fasting
and prayer, refused, and in refusing,
said: Il consider the government
of the United States as interdicted
by the constitution from meddling
with religious institutions, their
doctrines, discipline or exercises.
But it is only proposed
that L should recommend, not pre-
scribe, day of fasting and prayer.
That is, that L should indirectly as
sumo to the United States all
authority over religious exercises,
which the constitution has directly
precluded from them. 1t must be
meant, too, that this rec
ommendation is to carry some
authority, and to be sanctioned by
some penalty on those who disre-
gard il; not of fine and imprison-
ment, but with sonic degree of pro-
scription, perhaps in public opinion.
And does the change in the nature
of the penalty make the recommen-
dation less lac ofconduct for those
to whom it is directed? 1 do not be-
lieve 1t is for the interest of religion
to invite the civil magistrate to di-
rect its exercise, its discipline, or its
doctrines; nor of the religious socie-
ties, that the general government
should be invested with the
power of effecting any uniformi-
ty of time or matter among them.
Fasting and prayer are religious eX-
ercises; the enjoining them an act
of discipline. Every religious socie-
ty has a right to determine for itself
the times for these exercises, and
the objects proper for them, accord
ing to their own particular tenets;
and this right can never be safer
than in their own hands, where the
constitution has deposited it. \
Every one must according to
the dictates of his own reason,
and mine tells me that civil
powers alone have been given to
the president of the United States,
and no authority to direct the relig-
ious exercises of his constituents"
These views Governor Roberts
has always entertained. He eX-
pressed them to your correspondent
more than two years ago, when ask
ed why he did not issue his procla-
nation for thanksgiving day in ac-
cord with the proclamation of the
president of the United States. 1t is
to be regretted that an earlier oppor-
tunity has not been afforded him to
give public expression to these senti-
ments by the address of some rever-
end gentleman requesting him to ia
sue his proclamation for an ordinary
thanksgiving day, as in the oppor-
tunity given Mr.. Jefferson. 1t is to
be deplored that a sense of duty re-
quires him to give his views at a
time and on an occasion when the
great heart of the American people
is beating in a unison of praise and
thanksgiving to Almighty God for
the preservation of the life of the
hiefmagistrato of the United States
from the bullet of the assassin.
But Governor Roberts acts upon
q sense of duty. He knows the
force and effect of precedent. He
knows that "what subsists to-day by
wrong continues tomorrow by at
quiescence, and it is perpetuated by
tradition, till at last the hoary abuse
shakes the gray hairs of antiquity at
us and gives itself out as the wis
dom of ages" He well knew that
there were many, very many, who
from motives OF policy would have
been delighted to have had the gov
ernor ofTexas the Ueyy first to issue
his proclamation for day ofthanks-
giving for the preservation of the
life OF the president of the United
States. But he is not of the sort to
the pregnant hinges of the knee,
Where thrift may follow fawning."
He is not man to sacrifice convic-
tons of duty to the demands OF pol
Icy. When his action is called for
he covers not before the occasion
which demands it, and L give thanks
to God daily that we have such