Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1881-07-29
Church and State.

Under the above heading Judge
George Goldthwaite, of Houston, Texas,
publishes communication in the Post
on the subject of Governor Roberts re-
fusal to assume a religious character in
fixing day of thanksgiving and prayer.
The Judge says:
Il am thankful that we have a Cover
nor who thinks and acts for himself, and
upon his own conceptions of right and
wrong. That he is honest in his con-
viCtiOns-none who know him would
gainsaY-wheu 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 opinion, tends to mix up
church and State and is an entering
wedge in that direction
"GovernOr Roberts is a worthy disciple
of that great statesman and patriot,
Thomas Jefferson. He, when President,
refused to Dllndly follow precedent and
when applied to by a reverend gentle
man to issue his proclamation, recon-
mending that a day be set apart for fast
ing and prayer, refused, and in refusing
said i consider the Government Of the
United States as interdicted by the Con-
stitution from meddling with religious
institutions, their doctrines, discipline or
exercises. But it is only pro
posed that / should recommend, not pre-
scribe, day of fasting and prayer. That
is, that should indirectly assume to the
United States all authority over religious
exercises, which the Constitution has
directly precluded from them. 1t must
be meant, too, that this recommendation
is to carry some authority, and to be
sanctioned by some penalty on those
who disregard it; not of fine and i'm
prisonment, but with some degree of
prescription. perhaps in public opinion.
Ard does the change in the nature of the
penalty make the recommendation less
liar of conduct for those to whom it is
directed7 do not believe it is for the
interest of religion to invite
the civil magistrate TO direct
its exercise, its discipline, or its
doctrines; nor of the religious societies,
that the General Government should be
invested with the power of effecting any
uniformity Of time or matter among
them Fasting and prayer are religious
exercises; the enjOlning them an act of
discipline. Every religious society has a
right to determine for itself the times for
these exercises, and the objects proper
for them, according TO their own par
ticular tenets; and this right can never
be safer than in their own hands, where
the Constitution has deposited it.
Every one must act according to the die
81 hic anH T1ninn fol1c
me that civil powers alone have been
given TO the President of the United
States, and no authority TO direct the
religious exercises Of his constituents.
These views Governor Roberts has
always entertained. He expressed them
to your correspondent more than two
years ago, when asked why he did not
issue his proclamation for thanksgiv-
ing day in accord with the proclamation
of the President of the United States.
1t is to be regretted that an earlier op-
portunity has not been afforded him to
give public expression to these senti
ments by the address of some reverend
gentleman requesting him TO issue his
proclamation for an ordinary thanks
giving day, as in the opportunity given
Mr.. Jefferson. 1t is to be deplored that
a sense of duty requires him to give his
views at 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 Chief
Magistrate of the United States from the
bullet of the assassin.
"But Governor Roberts acts upon a
sense of duty. He knows the force and
effect of precedent. He knows that
what subsists to day by wrong continues
tomorrow by acquiescence, and it is
perpetuated by tradition, till at last the
hoary abuse shakes the gray hairs of an
tiquity at us and gives itself out as the
wisdom of ages. He well knew that
there were many, very many, who, from
motives of policy, would have been de-
lighted to have the Governor of Texas
the very first to issue his proclamation
for day of thanksgiving for the pre-
servatiOn of the life of the President of
the United States. But he is not of the
sort to
- crook the pregnant hinges OF the knee,
Where thrift may follow fawning.'
He is not man to sacrifice convictions
of duty to the demands of policy. When
his action is called for he covers not be-
fore the occasion which demands it, and
| give thanks to God daily that we have
such man for Governor.