Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1889-08-22
IRONTON. MO. THURSDAY. AUGUST q, 1889.

ing the peace of society or endangerin
its liberties. If this principle is one
introduced, it will be impossible to de
fine its bounds.
"Among all the religious persecu
tions with which almost every page o
modern history is stained, no victim
ever suffered but for the violation @
law of God. To prevent similar trail
of evils in this country. the Constitu
ton has wisely withheld from our Gov
ernment the power OF defining th
divine law. 1t is a right reserved t,
each citizen; and while he respects tn,
rights of others, he cannot be helt
amenaOle to any human tribunal 70
his conclusions. Extensive religious
com binations to effect political object
are, in the opinion OF the committee
always dangerous. This first effort o
the kind calls for the establishment of
principle, which, in the opinion of TIL.
committee, would lay the foundation
for dangerous innovations upon the
spirit of the Constitution, and upon
the religious rights of the citizens. I
admitted,it may be justly apprehendeo
that the future measures of the Gov,
ernment will be strongly marked, il
not eventually controlled, by the same
influence. All religious despotisn
commences by com bination and in.
! f1uence, and when that influence he.
gins to operate upon the political insti.
| tutions of country, the civil power
! soon bends under it; and the catastro.
plie of other nations furnishes an awful
warning of the consequence.
"tWhIle the mail is transported OH
Saturday, the Jew and the Sabbatar-
ian may abstain flom any agency ia
carrying il, on conscientious scruples.
While it is transported on the first day
of the week another class may abstain,
from the same religious scruples. The
obligation of Government is the same
on both classes; and the committee can
discover NO principle on which the
claims of one should be more respected
than those of the other, unless it be
admitted that the conscience OF the
minority are less sacred than those of
the majority.
"'If the observance of holy day
becomes incorporated in our institu-
tions, shall we not forbid the move
meDt of any army, prohibit ar assault
in time of war, and lay an injunction
upon our naval officers to lie in the
wind while upon the ocean on that
day? Consistency would seem to re-
quire it. Nor is it certain that we
shonid stop here. If the principle is
once established that religion, or re-
ligious observances, shall be inter-
woven with our legislative acts, we
must pursue it to its ultimatunl. We
shall, if consistent, provide for the
erection of edifices for worship of the
ian ministers, if We believe such meas
nf
Christianity. It is the settled convic.
ton of the committee, that the only
method ofavoiding these conse quences,
with their attendant train OF evils, is
to adhere strictly to the spirit of the
Constitution, which regards the gener-
al Government in no other light than
that of a civil institution, wholly desti-
tute of religious authority. What
other nations call religious toleration,
we call religious rights. They are not
IN Uirtue of governmental in
bat rs rights, of aOksich Gov-
ernment cannot deprive anu portion of
citizens, ,hoWever small. Despotic pou-
er may inuade those rights, out justice
'tW confirms them.
"'Let the national legislature once
perform all act which involves the de-
,ision of religious controversy, and |
u Will nave paSSeu us leSitiLuale |
bounds. The precedent Will the n be
and the foundation laid,
'or that usurpation of the divine pre-
in this country which has
been the desolating sc urge to the fair
EST portion of the Old World.
"'Our Constitution recognizes no
,ther power than that of persuasion,
or enforcing religious observances. Let
he professors of Christianity recon-
mend their religion by deeds of benev-
,leuce, by Christian meekness. by lives
If temperance and holiness. Let them
combine their efforts to instruct the
gnorant, to relieve the widow and the
orphan, to promulgate to the world the
gospel of their Savior, recommending
is precepts by their habltual example;
will find its legitimate
'biect in protecting them. 1t cannot
oppose them, and they will not need
IS aid. Their moral influence will
hen do infinitely more to advance the
rue interests of religion, than any
Measure which they may call on Con-
,ress to enact. The petitioners do not
complain of any Infringement upon
heir own rights. They enjoy all that
christians ought to ask at the hands of
my Government-prot from all
in the exercise of their re-
igious sentiments.'
"Resoiued, That the committee be
discharged from any further consider
.tion of the subject"