Wessington Springs herald. (Wessington Springs, Aurora County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1891, 1889-01-11
THE OTHER SIDE.

The American Constitution must
be preserved
These are the lords Chat head the pc
tltion which vas circulated for sigma
lures, a sher. time since. 1T was done
for no other thaG an hon:abla and le-
gltlmate purpose, and in the interest
of those who, love the so much priced
liberty which our fathers ,abored and.
died to maintain.
The petition respectfully requests
the following rights:
Not to pass any bill in regard to Jhe
ohserN ance of the Sabbath, or Lords
Day, or any other religious or ecclesi-
astical institution or rite; nor to favor
in any way the adoption Of any resolu-
tion for the amendment of the nation
al constitution that would in any way
give preference to the principles of
any one religion above another, or that
will in any way sanction legislation
upon the subject of religion; but that
the total separation between religion
and the state, assured by cur national
constitution as it now is, may forever
/ remain as our fathers established it,"
The sentiment OF the petition Is
nothing less than the;free right to
ones conscience. shat should he cher
ished by every individual upon this
'.l[,i tn1,ln rrlnla Tn; l,,
voice and pen.
The petition upholds truth and right
eousness. and is opposed to any article,
oramendment, to the contrary in what
ever form in regard to religion.
Every man who conducts himself
\ as a good citizen is accountable alone
TO God! for his religious faith, and
should be protected IN worshiplng God
according to the dictates of his own
conscience. George Washington.
Leave the matter of religion to the
family alter, the church. and the pri-
vate school. supported entirely by pri-
vate contributions Keep the church
and the state forever separate" S.
l Grant.
Congress shall make no law respect
| ing an establishment of religion, or
prohibiting the free exercise thereof .
u. S. Constitution.
If Senator Blairs proposed amend
ment to the national constitution does
not provide for the establishment ana
maintainance OF a national religion,
then no religion was ever established
or maintained in this world.
AS no religious tenets. doctrines, or
beliefs can be taught in the school. eX-
cept such as are consDen tc 81 denom-
nations of the Christina, religion, it
will follow inevitably that There shall
be officially called national council
of the churches TO decide what Are the
principles common to ALL and to estab-
lish national creed. which shall be
enforced and inculcated by national
| power in all the public schools in the
United States. That is exactly what
Senator Blair's constitutional amend
ment assures, so surely as it, Or any
thing similar to it, shall ever be adopt
ed. }
Yours for ,eahal rights and liberty OF
conscience, Amer Citizen:
| GRAND SPELLING CONTEST.
The editor of sthe True Republican.
kindly offers Alden's Encyclopedia as
| L capital prize to the township contain
ing the best spellerin The county.
This plize IS to be competed for year
ly. the banner township retaining the
books for one year.
MIR. B1osser further offers one years
subscription OF the True Republican
to the best speller in each township.
Co. Supt. ,3inford offers copy OF the
Eclectic Geography to the capital priz,
winner.
A committee of seven were appoint
I'd to complete arrangements
The committee have decided on the
following points:
| The contest will be written. One
| hundred words are to be selected from
| the first rs pages OF McGuffey's Revised
| speller, and in case Of tie % additional
words from the next 25 pages OF the
book.
The number of applicants from any
one townships is limited to four these
will be selected by contest IN each
township. ~,
Final contest will be held in the
court house at Washington Springs
about March the first, 1852
COMMUNICATIONS.