The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1891-04-30

called to the Office of trust and emolument. I'M
less ne profess or renounce this or that re-
iiglous opinion, is depriving him injuriously Of
lnose privileges and advantages to which Ia
common with his fellowcitizens he has a
natural right; that it tends also to corrupt the
principles OF that very religion it is meant to
encourage, by brihing, with a monopoly Of
worldly honors and emoluments, those who
VIII externally profess and conform to it; that
though, indeed, these are criminal who do not
Withstand such temptation yet neither are
those innocent who lay the bait in their way:
lhat to suffer the civil magistrate TO intrude his
powers into the field of opinion and to restrain
Inc profession or propagation of principles,
on the supposition OF their ill-tendency,
Is dangerous fallacy, which at once
destroys all religious liberty, because he being
OF course Judge OF that tendency will make his
opinions the rule OF judgment, and approve or
condemn the sentiments OF others only as they
Shall square with or differ from his own; that it
is Tune enough for the rightful purposes OF
civil government, for its officers to interfere
when principles break out into overt actions
against peace and good order; and. finally
that truth is great, aud will prevail if left to
herself, that she is the proper and sufficient
antagonist to error, and has nothing to fear
dlsarmed OF her natural weapons, free argu-
ment and debate, errors ceasing to be dangerous
when it is permitted freely to contradict them
BE 1t therefore enacted by the general assem-
bly,, That no man shall be compelled to fire.
quent or support any religious worship, place
or ministry whatsoever; nor shall be enforced,
restrained, molested. or burthened in his body
or goods; nor shall otherwise suffer on account
OF his religious opinions er belief; but that all
men shall be free to profess and by argument
TO main tain, their opinions in matters of relig-
Ion; and that the same shall in no wise dimin-
lsh, enlarge or affect their civil capacities.
And though we well know that this assembly
elected by the people for the ordinary purposes
OF legislation only, has no power TO restrain the
acts of succeeding assemblies constituted with
power equal to our own, and that therefore to
declare this act irrevocable, would be of no
effect IN law, yet We are free to declare and do
declare, that the rights hereby asserted are of
the natural rights of mankind and that if any
act shall be hereafter passed to repeal the pres
ent or to narrow its operations, such act will
be an infringement of natural right
This act was passed by the Virginia legis-
lature hundred years ago. JEFFERSON
took especial pride in this ''act for estab-
fishing religious freedom" ranking it next
IN Importance to the Declaration of indie
pendence, of which he was likewise the
author
When we see pretended Democrats con-
sent to the Acknowledgement of body of
citizens, the most law-abiding and peaceful
In the state, OF whom they never would
hear except on election day, when these
citizens would elect the Democrats to Office,
we may fairly doubt not only their Democ-
recy but their sanity as well.