."^a 
 
 ^ .^M 
 
 V^ 
 
 o . V^^^'^ 
 
 ^n^. 
 ^ "" .^\l 
 
 IMAGE EVALUATION 
 TEST TARGET (MT-3) 
 
 V 
 
 W 
 
 
 y^ ..V ^* 
 
 
 
 1.0 
 
 I.I 
 
 •" MIA 
 US 
 
 2.5 
 2.2 
 
 i£ mil 2.0 
 
 1.8 
 
 
 1.25 1.4 
 
 1^ 
 
 
 •• 6" — 
 
 
 ► 
 
 P^. 
 
 o>y % 
 
 e" 
 
 ^1 
 
 
 W 
 
 '^i 
 
 w 
 
 Photographic 
 
 Sciences 
 
 Corporation 
 
 23 WEST MAIN l.TltiiET 
 
 WEBSTER, N.Y. Mlii? 
 
 (716) 872-4503 
 
<p 
 
 s.r* ^, ^ 
 
 ^ ^ms^ 
 
 CIHM/ICMH 
 
 Microfiche 
 
 Series. 
 
 CIHM/ICIVIH 
 Collection de 
 microfiches. 
 
 Canadian Institute for Historical Microreproductions / Institut canadien de microreproductions historlques 
 
 \ 
 
 \ 
 
Technical and Bibliographic Notes/Notes tachniquas at bibiiographiquas 
 
 The Institute has attempted to obtain the best 
 original copy available for filming. Features of this 
 copy which may be bibliographically unique, 
 which may alter any of the images in the 
 reproduction, or which may significantly change 
 the usual method of filming, are checked below. 
 
 D 
 
 D 
 
 D 
 D 
 
 D 
 D 
 
 n 
 
 D 
 
 Coloured covers/ 
 Couverture de couleur 
 
 I I Covers damaged/ 
 
 Couverture endommagde 
 
 Covers restored and/or laminated/ 
 Couverture restaur6e et/ou pelllculie 
 
 I I Cover title missing/ 
 
 Le titre de couverture manque 
 
 Coloured maps/ 
 
 Cartes g^ographiques en couleur 
 
 Coloured ink (i.e. other than blue or black)/ 
 Encre de couleur (i.e. autre que bleue ou noire) 
 
 I I Coloured plates and/or illustrations/ 
 
 Planches et/ou illustrations en couleur 
 
 Bound with other material/ 
 Reli6 avec d'autres documents 
 
 Tight binding may cause shadows or distor:ion 
 along interior margin/ 
 
 Lareliure serr^e peut causer de I'ombre ou de la 
 distortion le long de la marge int6rieure 
 
 Blank leaves added during restoration may 
 appear within the text. Whenever possible, these 
 have been omitted from filming/ 
 II se peut que certaines pages blanches ajouties 
 lors d'une restauration apparaissent dans le texte, 
 mais, lorsque cela 6tait possible, ces pages n'ont 
 pas 6x6 filmdes. 
 
 Additional comments:/ 
 Commentaires supplimentaires; 
 
 L'Institut a microfilm^ le meilleur exemplaire 
 qu'il lui a At6 possible de se procurer. Les details 
 de cet exemplaire qui sont peut-Atre uniques du 
 point de vue bibliographique, qui peuvent modifier 
 une image reproduite, ou qui peuvent exiger une 
 modification dans la m6thode normale de filmage 
 sont indiquAs ci-dessous. 
 
 I I Coloured pages/ 
 
 Pages de couleur 
 
 Pages damaged/ 
 Pages endommagies 
 
 I I Pages restored and/or laminated/ 
 
 Pages restaur^es et/ou pelliculdes 
 
 Q^; 
 
 ages discoloured, stained or foxed/ 
 Pages dicolories, ta':het6es ou piqu6es 
 
 □ Pages detached/ 
 Pages ddtachdes 
 
 I l/Showthrough/ 
 Lid^ Transparence 
 
 □ Quality of print varies/ 
 Quality inigale de I'impression 
 
 □ Includes supplementary material/ 
 Comprend du materiel supplementaire 
 
 □ Only edition available/ 
 Seule Edition disponible 
 
 D 
 
 Pages wholly or partially obscured by errata 
 slips, tissues, etc., have been refilmed to 
 ensure the best possible image/ 
 Les pages totalement ou partieliement 
 obscurcies par un feuillet d'errata, une pelure, 
 etc., ont 4ti film^es 6 nouveau de fapon d 
 obtenir la meilleure image possible. 
 
 This item is filmed at the reduction ratio checked below/ 
 
 Ce document est filmd au taux de reduction indiqui ci-dessous. 
 
 10X 14X 18X 22X 
 
 26X 
 
 30X 
 
 J 
 
 12X 
 
 16X 
 
 20X 
 
 24X 
 
 28X 
 
 32X 
 
I 
 
 tails 
 I du 
 odifier 
 une 
 mage 
 
 Trie copy filmed her* ha* b**n r*produc*d thanks 
 to th* g*n*ro*ity of: 
 
 University of British Columbia Library 
 
 Th* imagari appaaring here are the best quality 
 posslbl* ccinsid*ring th* condition and lagibiiity 
 of th* original copy and in k**ping with th* 
 filming contract spacif ications. 
 
 L'*x*mplair* filmA fut r*produit grAc* A la 
 gAntrositi de: 
 
 University of British Columbia Library 
 
 Les imag** suivantas ont AtA reproduites avec le 
 plus grarid soin, compte tenu de la condition at 
 de la nettetA de I'exemplaire filmi, et en 
 conformity avec les conditions du contrat de 
 filmage. 
 
 Original copies in printed paper covers are filmed 
 beginning with the front cover and ending on 
 the last page with a printed or illustrated impres- 
 sion, or the back cover when appropriate. All 
 other original copies are filmed beginning on the 
 first page with a printed or illustrated impres- 
 sion, and ending on the last page with a printed 
 or illustrated impression. 
 
 Les exemplaires originaux dont la couverture en 
 papier est imprimte sont fiimis en commen^ant 
 par le premier plat et en terminant soit par la 
 derniire page qi li comporte une empreinte 
 d'impression ou d'illustration, soit par le second 
 plat, salon le cas. Tous les autres exemplaires 
 originaux sont filmAs en commen^ant par la 
 premiere page qui comporte une empreinte 
 d'impression ou d'illustration et en terminant par 
 la dernlAre page qui comporte une telle 
 empreinte. 
 
 The last recorded frame on each microfiche 
 shall contain the symbol -^ (meaning "CON- 
 TINUED"), or the symbol Y (meaning "END "). 
 whichever applies. 
 
 Un des symboles suivants apparaitra sur la 
 derniAre image de cheque microfiche, selon le 
 cas: le symbol* ^^- signifie "A SUIVRE", le 
 symbols V signifie "FIN". 
 
 Maps, plates, charts, etc., may be filmed at 
 different reduction ratios. Those too large to be 
 entirely included in one exposure are filmed 
 beginning in the upper left hand corner, left to 
 right and top to bottom, as many frames as 
 required. The following diagrams illustrate the 
 method: 
 
 Les cartes, planches, tableaux, etc., peuvent Atre 
 filmAs i des taux de rAdjction diffArents. 
 Lorsque le document est trop grand pour dtre 
 reproduit en un seui clichA, il est filmA A partir 
 de Tangle supArieur gauche, de gauche d droite, 
 et de haut en bas, en prenant le nombre 
 d'images nAcessaire. Les diagrammes suivants 
 illustrent la mAthode. 
 
 rata 
 
 leiure. 
 
 1 
 
 2 
 
 3 
 
 I2X 
 
 !,.■ *- . 
 
 2 
 
 1 ■ 
 
 3 
 
 4 
 
 5 
 
 6 
 
INTOLERANCE: 
 
 M-^.* i. 
 
 O R 
 
 OIlTZXi ittZOBTS DBNZB1>/ 
 
 j^l «ii JkccovsTT or 
 
 RELIGIOUS BELISF 
 
 iir ^BK VMS oir 
 
 J0IIW JiY^lft 
 
 4v 
 
 K^IIBB&G...XOW£R Cm»9^ 
 
 £■*.'■ 
 
 ^ 
 
 ■i"";jF'" , ' 
 
 ffe 
 
 :^ 
 
 tivir|BryM»tOR or wet: 
 
 — 4i- 
 
 
 mi 
 
^mim*!^ 
 
 CASE OF JOHN RYAN. 
 
 Hoirlang wilMtbe before mankind will have sufHcieftt wisdom 't<» 
 cow^that the certainty of truth and the sstfety of the public, depend 
 lore on the mora] character, uprightness of conduct) and well knoewn 
 VQ^^ and integrity than it does on the religious, of i^pposed irreli- 
 l<»l^heUef of any man whatever? Mankind are to be tested by their 
 eneipl character and conduct^ aild !^t by (heir speculati're notions^ 
 pi«i<m8t or belief. Until these rnlet shall be generally adopted, the 
 ett &Cmenxn9j be set aside, and ^fHhr cilfjtl rights and privileges de- 
 iedi ^tiijWmk the testimony ofiteies iiiid hypocrit^iB will have to be 
 diwiKtod M ffood :tela| etid«oce. ,f :. ^ ■ '[.'■' ■■■ ,' , ^' --■ 
 
 Th,« fojiowuiip case k onlv 0ne 9m^g seteral that have already oc- 
 ir|«d^ not 00% ttitder the laws of fiih^nid) i^tijt alsiot of these stzif es, 
 i^'iUm more will probably occur, and ihemme mfHOi^ t^ome more 
 3n«i»i But few yet, compara|iyely,,^ll^e |*crtBi<WI enough^ ^ 
 ige the truth, to their own^^ dila4i^^i»a|[^^ in tl^e eyes of a religi 
 imunity. No, they will sooaier ii^ the part olt*ii hypop^^Ur. But it 
 the highest degree praisewortli^i when people i<rf^^^^ t6> be hon- 
 spite of public opiju.on| anl pl^ll i^ 
 ""^ ijuise of.religw)^ w®"^^^*^f^o]|f itpti in the eyes of thj^ 
 
 ||B|#e characteiv anil scch it O30 hard case oriT J^hw Btan, of 
 
 I, Lower Cana4a, who stands high ts a moral and upright n^n, 
 
 TagtJ^^i bat/:7ho is supposed to be incompetent to Ull ai]pf 
 
 ..^f tooi^ i|^4 iecnUdemce, becau#i&, on acconnt of his belief, he i» 
 
 '"] to hit miM^\i^B^ttom taking an oath — or, in other irords, frot& 
 
 'legiltdtsumony vnder oath. He has already been,|Rt «iS«i* ' 
 
 ^rolihan once on tliit jgrtycdid^ as the following statement 
 
 |{epeti^m# MCjUKlPi^incial Parliament of LoWttf 
 
 4«es8; 
 
 fccot, hi 
 
 The, 
 
 illbate in the House of 
 -iJMerred toUie Standili|r 
 
 '^tJ»e ^liPM^ or Memoria) here refe 
 
 ^ih^ Peoph of Lower Camtdif^.^ 
 m$mb$ed, J''^" 
 
 %l^i a mtin of Lower <^MMiia^ 
 
 r!a'list,%ithi^'|^ 
 e in tl^ljii|)i«l 
 
 ;i, 
 
 
 U.^C&fl>tfc>. .i ? 
 
sions in this city, touching the moral delinquency of one John Bccktord. 
 Irrelevant questions were put to your Memorialist, and thoug-h consci- 
 entiously replied to, the Court declared your Memorialist'H evidence 
 inadmissible, and the culprit set at large. 
 
 That in the month of August last, William Phillip?, one of the Jus- 
 ticea of the Peace for the District, refused, (in consequence of the be- 
 forementioned rejection) the attestation of your Memorialist. 
 
 That on the ninth instant, P. X. Persault, one of the District Clerks 
 of the Peace, suffered not your Memorialist to depose relative to the 
 moral turpitude of a youth of this city, and who was not proceeded 
 against. 
 
 That your Memorialist as Agent to the Montreal Steam Tow Boat 
 Coa)|»any in this city, enjoys a corofortabie situation, the Aonscious 
 result or years of probity and assiduity. Incompetency as a witm^i. 
 wiil not onljr deprive your Memorialist of his present employmfent^ iiot 
 prove a serious obstacle in earnings a subsistence for a numerous 1ktitA\f 
 wholly dependent on your Memorialist. 
 
 AVherefore your Memorialist earnestly implores restoration of ei|VH-^; 
 rights. And as in duty bound, grateftilly acknowledged. ;' * 
 
 5ghn RWf^. 
 
 Quebec, 24th Dec. 1831. 
 
 The facts as appeared befbte the CoQunittee,, and their 1*^drt th«>W>* 
 on, are the following, which we copy from the " Canadian <3oitrft!iti** 
 
 Committee Room, House of Assombly. Present Messrs. Ctiie^l, 
 President, Duval, Morin, and Vijgfeii'* 
 
 Evidence of John M^em, On the^ltth of July last, I attended the 
 Courts of Q,i:artbr Se^ion in this City, to give evidence in stippoTt o! 
 an indictmeitt aifiaiinst one Jolm Becltf(yr4t for larceny, llav'ing^ b«if^j 
 Kworn, ^BB at the instance of the ]>e^Bdaht9 Council sworn, den»v<^ 
 the Fbi ihre to answer such questions as should theti be put %^ 
 The first question was in tlieicib wing wordki — 
 
 Of what religion are you ? 
 
 Tasked to know what he m«{tmt by religion, on it^ieii^lgl'iRtked nM 
 if I btHiv«d la a God ? ,?^ ', , 
 
 Jo this l^nswered No, not in the (ifcod of the J«w« Ot0lir|jrtiiii»#^ 
 
 W|« Couit deliberated and decided that I was an iac<^|p||^!^ilt 
 
 S^ W^^you asked do you lielii^^i&v%/»t«^^'«Ute of 
 >T«ai^>oiiishnients ? : 
 
 1^1(1 the lAonth of Augast last, I 
 
 ^Ikm^^if the Justices of the V^tl^ti 
 ti^ that he should recdve i^ || 
 bh I thoa placed befoifohim. ^. 
 
 deelejion given in tbt €|tt«ft«[^liMMj|^,4. 
 
 Hi^d w. Piiiiiips a«^ ktioiM^m^Mimk^^iii^ 
 
 ,io|is?V' '- ' ' '^^.^^ ■JW*''- 
 
 d ftidn4itdil tU« truth ^f^ %fiVi vmn n^tfe h || || i||ltiiiu a 
 
 ^^W^P^WBWiKfc-'-i 
 
 •ijfciiS^* 
 
On the f>th Dec. la;it, F. X. PcrrauU, Esq. one of the Clcrloi of the 
 Peace declined to draw up my deposition as i.s usually done by him, as- 
 iiignins^ the .lamo reason as Mr. Piiillipd. 
 
 Inf'rrogaL'd. Did W. P. ask you if you believed in a future state 
 of rewards and punishments? 
 Answer. No. 
 
 February 18th, the Committee reported as follows :— 
 < ornmittoe on Courts of Justice. Present Messrs. Q,uesnel, President ; 
 Panet, Viger, Duval, and Morin. 
 
 On the Memorial of John Hyan. Your Committee, aflor having ex- 
 amined the Petitioner, on the merits of his petition, and the. circum- 
 stance that gave rise to it, are unanimously of opinion, Uiat tliis House 
 I ciuinot interfere in this particular case. Thut the law of the land, rel- 
 ' ^tive to the oath to be taken by Witness, in Che several Courts of S^s- 
 ' ticA, wm explicit, and in conformity to the said laws, the Petitioner haV- 
 r^ rtffbsed to comply to take the usual oath, and not having demanded 
 \'!fib1»if» the said oath, under any of the forms allowed by l&w, the Peti- 
 I istotv^ eaoDot be admitted} as an evidence. 
 
 Tho whole humbly submitted. [Signed] 
 I J. A. QUESNELL, President. . 
 
 !Slr. Neilson-said, that he should, as having presented the petition, if 
 it hftd not ht&A too late in the Session, he would have moved for the re- 
 port to be referred to a Committee of the whole House ; bnt he would 
 jn[«|rose that the consideration of it should be resumed next Session. — 
 ;^ni was not however presaed^ and the nittiter dropped. 
 i \ pti the above we shall offer af^v^ word* \»f way of comnieut First, 
 iip order te brinff the subject fiiirlf before our readers, \ve extract the 
 |m|owin|f from the **■ Quebec Gaaette*' of lanaary 3, IB'^ which gives 
 outline of the debates in the House of Assembly. 
 V Neilson presented a {>et}tion from Jolhn Ryan atating[ that on it 
 Ir^re the Q.uarter Sessions of Q^u^i^bec of a man fordetrandiug tho 
 
 rieam Tow Boat Company, in which he (Mr. Ryan,) as agent, was the 
 pfmecuU>tf certain irrelevant questions were put to him, after lie hkd 
 ^m sworn, in^ iiseiase^iKuttce of his answers to which, the CoBml-xei^MNBd 
 |oJ|imit his teilAkoony, and the pskoner was discharg^^d; tM pn an- 
 'w^_ occasion, in \he moftth of August last, having ap(died to^a Ins ' 
 $f the. Peace for a wjarraltt te take up a man for larceny, the ll 
 (iised to talltfcliiK ba^tlM^ be could not obtain a warrant i "^' 
 ilar w:ay on t ^ijjyfell fccember instant, the Clerk of Ibe 
 &|«tally i^^iWHHHK^ oath ; and praying for « vesieralio|t 
 nsthtAi wlMllXnSa^lKlieen deprived. 
 
 ^^■'■^iW^WwM'0^'W^^^ iniphed a reflection, 
 the i gtf i pl i r JlP^-W-dfeyk of the Peace, wi' ' . 
 
 Mt w«s sensible of the greaf 
 ^, pistitioner from the inptgr 
 i^iniMr liad placed himself | wiskM 
 the |te#^erwaa a mauef Ifti^foiw 
 rming aft^b^ tinttes to. si 
 
 'm 
 
 employeifti 
 
 [n nlM ^0 
 ^tineerel 
 ^cter 
 Tianaer, 
 
 perfo: 
 
 '!-M& .... 
 
r the 
 
 1, as- 
 stttte 
 
 lent ; 
 
 nately there wasone4ittle bhmish, notin his chancter,butin ln?< licad. 
 Oil one point the man was cracked in tiie head — there was a point up- 
 on which he was actually insane. He does not believe in a Gnl, or in 
 a future state, and this he avowed in the court. The court could thnrc- 
 fore do no otherwise than rufuse his testimony ; such is the law of the 
 land — those who do not believe in a God of some kind or other, or in a 
 future state, are not admissible as witnesses in any of our courts. Tins 
 is a perfectly free coimtry as to religious opinions ; there can be no ob- 
 jection to his professing any religion or no religion, Atheism, Deism, 
 or MahometanisnSI ; but if he boasts publicly of his atheism, he ought to 
 know, JUid must abide the consequence. But the plain truth is, that in 
 tills particular pairt the man is insane. 
 
 Mr. Neiison did not want to know any tiling but that the petitioner 
 ptayed for a restoration of civil rights. If any individual in *^*^ 
 thinks himself injured in them, his oul^ recourse was to come t»„^m9 
 House, and pray for redress. Law objections having been made, jt 
 would be right to refer the petition to the Standing C(munittoe ea 
 Courts of Justice* 
 
 Mr. Stuart bad by no mean* meaM any ditrespect either to tiiff ItdH^ , 
 orable member or the individnalin qoestioo. He and eveiy 1i*Qiil9^ Ittitfir , 
 Mr. Ryan as a person who was irreproachably correct hi Vs eoate^^i, 
 and in every remtion of life ; andneiwilUistanding any speeqiative opfeti* 
 ions he might entertain, his eiHiseienUouBnes^t was displayed b}^ liii^ 
 very declaration which had hrmigbt this inconvenience upon himiiliii 
 the more so, as it was evidently a|^iest his own manifest intereet^f* 
 that this weoldbe hlgll^#j^rioneto Mbi in his prospects in tifei^^f^l 
 be evidentj'l^it mu^iniie^ss«tSy d^^^ otherwise very nw#"^^'"^ 
 
 man, with a toily, of ^ »d«aiB^ sltnatien which he 
 
 with a credit and eapiiE^y that 1^i>d^^t^-0 met with. 
 S.) vegrretted this as much as an^ pf»^ bat it could not be helped. 
 
 Mr. Neilscm withiittt fuHher|dv«Ftif»ig to the injinrioas con ' 
 to the petjtk^ner, would say ^t he |ii«dr had heardtbe «)tf h 
 eion enti, on his moral charactet^ nor, he believed, had mf9m evir ii^, 
 puted 1^ least reproach to li1&* E^to as the father of m fkmily, % vref 
 4i^0ted jpatizeb, and an indefiiiid^ie agent f<Sarhi»ei^|^ers ; ai|^;i! 
 .i«^,r|pire}y happened that one individual eiiyM.oeaaiiii«0^ 
 ;;^J^ tougue of Zander had never wagged. ' 
 
 ll^etition was then referred to. the Stvadtng Committee on Cou 
 
 ^^^^ Chronicle" there is a r^m-i^ifS^Mj^^le on thk 
 "tibanaix columns, written witEi0h0i<mm talent, 
 .ii^^i arguments asKin^^^ail, aii4 |!|49«t*cMpt hav< 
 i^yiei: must use, to hold theiir dQi««i|ie^ri]|^ iwtiy ov«f r6a|j 
 n siiK^. The whole artMijIe aniouip|^#iJtiis i, to wit ; t ^ 
 it divide df kings, or any othel? a^^|^i^;^y|^ oi' todoul 
 of 11^ church, is tanta^oantt»)i|iEjft:<ii^^ of evej 
 
 teiil^^JTson an ouU'i^ 
 
 %ntpathi2^ S^^^y ^^^^ ^^' ^y^ ^^ regret^ 
 '■^ :^,^^<^il^te, oeing such an>|il^s^ ana up- 
 
I 
 
 6 
 
 rigiit. man, as to liave his "head a little cracked!" And even the wor- 
 thy President of the Committee seemed to think a ^litllc hypocrisy^ would 
 liave suited his turn much better I It is not .so mudi for Mr. Ryan, l)Ut 
 for the people for whom and with whom they should sympathize. One 
 villain, it would seem has escaped punishment already ; and how many 
 more will escape time only will determine. They will no longer need 
 the darkness of the niirht to cover their villiany; — but' in the pre- 
 sence of such honest men as John liyan, — men who are too honest to 
 lie, or even to dissemble to save their reputation, they may go on in 
 open day light, steal, rob, ravish, murder, or set fire to your dwellingfs, 
 and all witii impunity. And why ? Why ! forsooth — it is bocauae that 
 men who are too honei^t to be hypocrites are not to be belived; and no 
 oth^ltt being witnesses to the fact, the culprit or culprits must ** be ac- 
 nuitt«!ii!" Canadians ! what are you about.'' poesi it necessarily follow 
 »piVb#cause a man does not believe, because he has too much good sense 
 i^lwRliwe in the imreiaginary or cruel Gods of the Tews, Christians or 
 Jbmi^t tbat he must be considered an aOtoi atheiat ? In relation to all 
 t^eiiods which are made up ofattributes only, without any substance, 
 iiftllnf^be} but not in relation to tbat which is the cause of life in all liv^ 
 i&j| b^MJigs, wbetberit be animal or vegetable life.' I'hat such a cause 
 iexMifta is as certain as it is certain that the effect is true ; and no man 
 ye;^ wis erer capable of being to mt(eb b^ ftn Atheist at to doubt it. But 
 v^ajtmord do we or any oneelso'kiiow^ ftbout it? Notite[: just nothing at 
 M* it is this, that or the other atrtbute^ tfaerefeitef wMch fanatics at- 
 tain to this principle of life, thftt thos9 who «te tilled Atheists, deny, 
 4»l«iA which they do not believe i|itifti)i<)t4hoeil^fc6iice of the principle 
 y. The only attribute we iltiefc lo it^^lHii of po|»!er-*-po>»rer to 
 Iwbatever is done-^nothii^ !««?, «n?«l nolfeitginoje. The moral tie 
 ii binds such men to tntth^ to apeak the^rath^ alt oocaaiotif, either 
 Ifcourt or out of court, i» that of jMltlitff} aikd he i^fco wiU not be 
 %^ky this tie, would not be hoatt^ hy all the mumoieftea of a relig- - 
 i^h ; which are but a tnere modtery of the religion of htm who 
 otiiiwaRdeci hisfc d^mf^les to ** swear not «t all."— J5o«£jn J^«?««%«rf#» 
 Yes, accortiing to ^e gospel, Je6tti savs, "SW^EAE NOT A^ 
 ' * !" How Q^1^i>9€< then be Chrislians,' who not oflly ail^w w)^^* 
 di(weftr.tb0«|ielVe«^^UteompeI o^ers to sweaiy^i' to ^^<>' Vtf 
 which is tantamount to swearing, eVten against thek ei|fpi ^»*»*^''' 
 cienee ^ Would it not? he^ better, and even 8aferi,^?l||lE<^ 
 
 ■'>.r 
 
 testimony nte'ri 
 against |he tri 
 leave hii ' '" 
 nothin 
 
 , Th%.^.««-, 
 Unto^ie{fCrY4 
 ^el aware "j^ 
 pom l^e tftti 
 
 j^ Thefo^ 
 jEnquifor, 
 mgfl^all L 
 stence 0f a 
 
 
 >ii^o^ and honor ? If any tli| 
 _^^*l^acity of tlie witness, ^ 
 .Wppns entirely otit of m 
 %\if^%\%ht, of his testtmc^ny. 
 remarl^^from the Boston inveitti 
 ree ^q^hrer, with remarks ; an4 
 ^~''' ^Irilh ftirthet comments, as pife fol 
 
 p> Wiiic^ wa^ copied into the 
 
 {Written iji^fipom one of 
 te laoonaiste ii l ^jyi > 4j afeiuri'' 
 follies, persecutlsifor 
 
 
 
 ^ 
 
i 
 
 wor- 
 ould 
 
 One 
 any 
 need 
 pre- 
 8t to 
 n in 
 ings, 
 that 
 d no 
 eac- 
 bllov 
 ense 
 i or 
 to all 
 ance, 
 llliv- 
 ause 
 man 
 But 
 mg at 
 :s at- 
 deny, 
 iciple 
 ver to 
 ■al tic 
 sither 
 oi be 
 re Jig- - 
 wb0 
 
 
 BOTH SIDES. 
 
 While relipjionibts urg^e the belief in God as preliminary to correct 
 opinions of other things, and as the only basis on which to erect a mor- 
 al superstructure that will bear investij^ation, or support its advocates 
 in the hour of temptation or trial ; auti-reiigionists deemed the admis- 
 sion of such a dogma unworthy a rational being, calculated to check 
 the spirit of free enquiry, to which alone they look for the discover)' of 
 all the truth which can be made subservient to profit or pleasure. It is 
 difficult to conceive how both can be right, without granting that both 
 may be wrong. 
 
 There is a God, that is an independent existence, extraneous to man or 
 there is not; such a being exists or does not exist, whether men believe 
 or disbelieve; thus far there can be no disagreement; no one pretends that 
 either affirmative or neorative of this question is dependent on his opinion; 
 the truth rs because it always was thus, or so, he merely professes 
 to have found it ; had he not found it, it would nevertlieless have been 
 the truth. It is of more importance then might be supposed on a curso- 
 ry view, let men decide as they may on this unsettled question^ li^ per- 
 ceive that their decision neither cu ates nor annihilates, but merely re- 
 lates to an antecedent fact. 
 
 This being so, it would seem that the mere circumstance of belieC pr 
 unbelief can be of little consequence only so far as one or the otbih: 
 state of .nind may have influence on the conduct of life. If it cVkife 
 shewn that those who profess belief in a God cannot be g«od men, be.- 
 cause such belief has a natural tendency to evil, and reference be 
 had to all the facts to establish this tendency ; or if it be shown on the 
 other hand that unbelief tends to immorality and facts be adduced to 
 prove that they are incompatible and irreconcilable, then in either case 
 "will the opponents of the one, or the other, have reason to press the 
 importance of their dogma. But if neither can be done, if there can 
 be found among those who believe and those who doubt, men eminent 
 for the correctness of their lives, immorality will have to be accounted 
 for on sonde other principle than faith or the want of it. And such is 
 the fact. There are good men of all opinions, and no opinions respect* 
 il^bn$eeii things, sufficient to break the association in every dispas^^ 
 (ilQii^te, unprejudiced mind between opinion and goodness ; hence the 
 cti^$$ of error must be sought elsewhere than in speculative theory. 
 
 ig^|k»ston ilivc in an article relating to the rejection of 
 
 rlRytn'$ testtmohjf, has some very judicious sentiments. Speaking 
 l^^ilif aicen^piet^cy to give evidence in Canada, on account of his 
 
 aS. ,^ a fe A r i M . : -. jt'ig aid i— 
 
 ^ .loii to ill tbe Gods which are made up of a^butes only, 
 
 i^ Substaaiee he may disbelieve ; but not in relitiQn to l^at 
 
 me Cause of life in all living beings, whether M<^ animal or 
 
 iife. That such a cause exists, ts liieiifliHy^ certain 
 
 Bt is true, and no n>an yet w%d ever ^iip|pd ;|^]^eing so 
 
 L^a^eist as to doubt it What more dir "we bi^i|g|^ne ©lee 
 
 it * ;^otUingH«st nothing at all. It is th^paat, ;.ei^||e 
 
 Iter;::;' 
 
 ^;^s*u 
 
other attribute, therefore, which fanatics attach to this principlo of life, 
 that those who arc called atheists deny, or in which they do not believe^ 
 and not the existence of the principle itself. The only attribute wc 
 n^ach to it is that of power — power to do whatever is done — nothing 
 less and nothing more. The moral tie that binds such men to truth — 
 to speak the truth on all occasions, either in court or out of court, is 
 that of utility, and he who will^ not be bound by this tie, would not be 
 bound by all the mummeries of a religious oath; which arc but a mere 
 mockery of the reli>rion of him who commanded his disciples to "swear 
 not at all." 
 
 I have said or tried to say, a thousand times what is contained in the 
 above paragraph, always pressing it upon those to whom it was said, 
 that there is no belief in it, but knoudedgef eertaiUf positive knowltdge. 
 The effector consequent, being of necessity depended on, is always ab- 
 solute ; unquestionable proof^ of the cause or antecedent ; and a little 
 coiin investigation will show, that it is indeed only about attributes 
 that men can dispute. 
 
 I for one am perfectly satisfied that each man should have just such 
 a God as pleases his own taste, if he can imagine such a one and be^ 
 lieve in it, the only reservation I would make is, that he should not have 
 attributes requiring or permitting his devotees so to act, that unhappi- 
 ntss to their fellows must result from their actions ; or ^ey may suit 
 ^lllimselves with attributes, if they will allow him quantum sujfficit of 
 jtultice and impartiality. I trust I shall not soon quarrel with my neigh- 
 bor about his religion, if his equal God requires Kim to do to others as 
 he would wish them to do to him, though I may f&ult his morality,, if his 
 practice is not in accor ^ance with this requisi^on. 
 
 I have as little apprehension of a rupture with my neighbor on the 
 other hand, for his scepticism ; if his nature; or whatever he pleases to 
 call it leads him to the same just practice, ht> must of necessity have 
 my approbation ; it is as in the oUier case, invciuntarv. If on the con-^ 
 trary it permits him to be unjust, the blame must flill on himsolf ;~'^I 
 liowever see no alternative. If it would not be thought obtrusive f t 
 would recommend to both, that the morality of th^r systems jihould ^ot^ 
 nmell too strong of that which has obtained currency in this our VfmVSi 
 
 
 of civilixation and refinement. 
 
 JSTeW'Yifrk Ftet 
 
 . 0.: 
 
 I llave selected the foregoing article partly for 1^ pi 
 ducing some remnrks upon the extract it contaica AfO^A: 
 vestigator, which were crowded out when we iii^dli^d'ji 
 John Ryan*s case. 
 
 Abner Kneeland, the author of the extract, in eoiiS0qti«iic«i 
 merly being a prominent member of a religious soctety', and tM 
 up,h]u9 own eonvietions, which led him out of the nturrow eonfin^ 
 ta^uusm-^j^Dbor^ lor adhering with inflexible integrity to W| 
 BiSoto l!!!tlil!|.''y*W^ .lift' tbi'^ in opposition to his pecuniai^ 
 i^ib his vi^Uirable head the anathemas aB#1 
 hUBKin degradation "rora one end of^^^i 
 
 
 'fc- 
 
 Li 
 
 w w\ ■ 
 
 
 ft?;V 
 
 
 Hk'^ 
 
 ■ --^'r^. 
 
 ./7^«F^ 
 
 55'?t,' 
 

 9 
 
 Let his brethren, who m the lans;uage of the pious crusadors have 
 iaid to him "stand off, I uin liolier than thou;' let thcin r«^ad this ex 
 tract, and enquire after its int;aniiio[, htihetnask, what is Athci.srn? and 
 ■why is Abner Kneeland an Atheist ? Is it 'locause he disbelieves in a 
 spirit or power in nature ''ihtt.*. is the cause of life m all living^ beings;" 
 certainly not ; for here is his own strong lan-,nja;^'C to show, that no man 
 was ever so much of an Atheist as to douot tlie existence of such a 
 cause or spirit. Then what is it tliat his brethren persecute him for ? 
 Is it because he disbelieves in the authenticity of the Bible ? No — for 
 all sects construe the bible differently, to suit their own prejudices; and 
 of course are unbelievers and heretics with one another. 
 
 The first Protestant martyr was Agnes Morton, who was ordered in- 
 to the flames by Bishop Shaxton for not believincr that the bread and 
 wine administered at the altar, were the identical flesh and blood of Je- 
 sus Christ. She was led into this heresy by discovering that the bread 
 v/aa liable to decay, and would mould like other bread. But the lan- 
 guage of scriptnre was imperative, according tojthe bishop. He said the 
 words of the Saviour were plain, and could not be misunderstood ; that 
 such a perverse and obstinate disposition ought to meet an examplary 
 punishment, and ordered the flame to the faggot. 
 
 Such now is about the difference between Abner Kneeland and hii5 
 brethren. An Atheist is one who rejects the popular creeds and opin- 
 ions of the Church, and Abner Kneeland does not believe as the church 
 believes. He has discovered that the bread and wine administered at 
 the altar are liable to grow mouldy and sour ; or in other words^ that 
 the idol of sectarianism is not " the cause of life in all living beings ;" 
 and therefore he must be thrown into the fire. But as they dare not 
 burn his body, they heat the firey furnace of bigotry and intolerance ''se- 
 ven times hotter than it is wont to be heated," then cast his reputation, 
 iiis good name, and all that is dear in life into it. Such is the character 
 of professing christians, and such will ever be the melancholy consequen- 
 ces of persecution for opinions. The religion of the Bible is a tradi- 
 tional religion, and all traditional religionists will persecute. Its fol- 
 lowers stray away from the living principle within them ; they build up 
 physical and intellectual images, made up of the whimsical effusions of 
 th«# pjm strange conceits — images of something "eitlier in heaven or 
 earti^ ;^— >and then, like Nebuchadnezzar, require all sects and classes, 
 |||Qd UQ^J^nee, to fall <1owti and worship them. All those who refuse to 
 which they have set up; all those whose minds are 
 «rio5gh to make an idol of that which is "the cause of life in 
 'Wih^l»''are Infidels, Deists, Atiieists, disbelievers in the ex- 
 a ^^V^hen the whole offence, carried out and explained, 
 ^iiriore than a disbelief in the ima^e or idol that sectarianism 
 ' Lted : thus showing, what the history of all former ages has 
 ithe infidels, so called, are the true believers ; that they are 
 ^forming to the law which Moses gave to the children of Is- 
 iding them " to form no image of God, of any thing, either 
 fv^ii earth ;" while Christian professors are not i^l^ in the 
 Hating this law, but of making a breach of t%i|^'pretexfc 
 llfjtterest persecution upon thone who ftdhew to it Iroio 
 
 ■>&<!- ■ ■ 'V,. 
 
 ^m^-: 
 
 ,/'\-^%^, 
 
10 
 
 How like the Pagan worship, that required all to make obeisance to 
 their idols, or forfeit their lives, is this traditional system of Christiani- 
 ty. But how unlike that gentle spirit which christians profess to follow 
 — that, steady in its course, as the sun in the firmament, goes on to con- 
 quer and subdue all that is uncharitable, harsh and severe in the hu- 
 man character. 
 
 This order or law, in the piritual or intellectual world, is what chris- 
 tians acklfowledge in that precept which requires them to return "good 
 for evil," but is better understood by considering it a spiritual feeling, 
 or state of mind, in which the individual who lives under its govern- 
 ment feels a perpetual tendency to good, without reference to evil ; 
 or in other words, constantly aims at increasing his own happiness, by 
 promoting that of others, without adverting to the actions of those which 
 tend to counteract this spirit. Like the laws that govern the universe: 
 —we sec it rains upon the just and the unjust ; there is no partiality or 
 distinction shown in the distribution of those outward blessings, so in 
 the spiritual or intellectual world, there is a spirit or stale of tnind, — 
 which, without any variableness or shadow of turning, aims at the same 
 point; its constant tendency is to subdue all bitterness of feeling, strife 
 and contention, by its own mild but irresistible power. It is the spirit 
 of wisdom and goodnesss, and is the " cause of life" or happiness in 
 the intellectual Avorld. It is the possession of this spirit that constitutes 
 heaven, a kingdom, which, as Jesus said, " is within you ;" a state of ex- 
 istence ; not a place of abode. It cannot be obtained by believing or 
 disbelieving in the existence of either God or Devil. It can only 
 be acquired by getting into an unchangeable state or spirit of benevo- 
 lence and goodness, and practiisng that which we know by experience 
 will give enjoyment to ourselves and others. 
 
 This is the only true religion, if religion it may be called, which is 
 built upon works and not upon faith. It is the religion of righteous- 
 ness, of honesty and truth, and will eventually prevail over all the mum- 
 mery and phantasmagoria of holy crafts, with their wonder-working 
 witchery, or miracles and traditional systems of belief. This coming 
 out of the feverish excitement of dreams and visions into the enjoy- 
 ment of the sober realities of life, is the natural state of man; and if 
 c'arried out and practised upon in our daily transaction, would turn 
 earth into a heaven and hell into a fable. 
 
 Upon this rock may all nations, kindreds, tongues and !»e< 
 their church, and in such an asylum will they find reat anap^ 
 in creeds, opinions, and systems of belief they never can. 
 
 Docs not the history of all religions show us that the bcaHl.J 
 been those who believed the least in their own day ? and 
 char>ge their character now ? Has not the march of impi 
 ways been arrested by the fear of unbelief? and do we 
 limit to human knowledge, or abatement in the superstitious^ 
 G^ ? Is not this dread of unbelief the same it ever was f 
 teirmintidfmd implacable foe human to happiness. And "^ 
 vfiij^ Ajfi<Mp^^pti disputes about belief already 
 
 ^jiff:if iii^#(SiJmes making miserable ten times thi 
 
 ':■/.. 
 
11 
 
 \ce to 
 
 jtiani- 
 
 foUow 
 
 10 con- 
 
 \e hu- 
 
 ;* 
 
 in^ friends and relatives ; and are they not now retardin<y all our im- 
 provements, poisoning our social enjoyments, and in short filling the 
 patii of life with thorns. 
 
 The religion of ffood works will lead us out of all this, and turn us to 
 the cultivation of our faculties, and the rational enjoyment of the present 
 time ; and would eventually be found to satisfy all our craving for ethe- 
 rial joys, in distant and unknown regions. 
 
 Are not the cruelties, the strife, the desolation, that the speculations 
 upon unknown subjects have brought upon the world sufficient to teacjj 
 us moderation and modesty in our demands ; and make us suspect that 
 we are not only ignorant of the future, but that our happiness consists 
 in being .satisfied with our present condition. 
 
 Whatever the future may be, either in time or eternity, can never be 
 realized, and therefore is nothing to us. The present is only ours, and 
 that we have the means of enjoying if we are rightly disposed. The 
 confidence we ought to have, (and would have if we were in a proper 
 state of submission to the existing order of things) that the power that 
 gave us life, can best dispose of ur? after death, would be ample com- 
 pensation for the loss of all the anxious hopes and fears of a future state. 
 
 Delaware Free Press. 
 
 Most of the Constitutions of the several states, as well as the Consti- 
 tution of the United States, leaves the people perfectly free as to reli- 
 gious opinions. Nevertheless it is not so with all. The third article 
 of the Declaration of Rights, in the Massachusetts Constitution, not on- 
 ly authorized, but required, "the public worship of God, and the sup- 
 port and maintenance of public Protestant teachers of piety," &lc. and 
 also "to enjoin an attendance," &c. Yet liberty was granted to towns, 
 parishes, &c. "the right of electing their public teachers and contract- 
 ing with them for their support and maintenance." 
 
 This article is now altered and made much more liberal, though, still, 
 it is not so liberal as it should be. 
 
 The Constitution of New York provides, art. 28, "that the free exer- 
 cise an4 enjoyment of religious profession and worship, without discriru- 
 ination or preference, shall forever hereafter be alloAvcd within this 
 state to all mankind." 
 
 }$ alilQ excludes "ministers of the Gospel, under any pmtonce or de- 
 «fei*'!pUc^%lib'»tever, from holding any civil or military office or place 
 "*'"'''*' 'itate." 
 
 Itution of New Jersey, art 18, says, "that no person shall 
 
 this colony be deprived of the inestimable privilege of wor- 
 
 ighty God in a manner agreeable to the dictates of his 
 
 " Alc. But in art. U), tiie liberty, as expressed, seems 
 
 iO protestants ; whicii is implied in these words ; "and that 
 
 inhabitant of this colony shall be denied the enjoyment 
 
 ht, merely on account of his religious principles." The 
 
 k^ro, would seem to he, ara Free E.iquirers, in any pro- 
 
 ^word, "protestants r" Why are they not ? They 
 
 lies, and no one protests more againi^ all l^super- 
 
 g pjwer of the Pope than Uie^ii* ^ B*Jt whether 
 
^'.^ 
 
 4 
 
 I'-i- 
 
 I i 
 
 12 
 
 they can be said to be "professing a belief in the faith of any protestant 
 sect," is porhaps anothor question ; and hence, altho;>p'h all such per- 
 sons *'shall bo capable of beiuij elected into any office of profit or 
 trust," &c. "and shall fully and freely enjoy every privilege and immu- 
 nity enjoyed by others of their foUovv suhjects," yet it does not per- 
 haps, necessarily follow, that, Free Enquirers are to have this priv- 
 ilecje. 
 
 In the Constitution of Pennsylvania, Declaration, art. 2d, after de- 
 claring; "'that all men have a natural and unalienable right to worship 
 Almighty God dccording to the dictates of their own conscience and 
 understanding," declares, "nor can any man who acknowledges the be- 
 ing of a God, be justly deprived or abridged of any civil right as a cit- 
 izen, on account of his religious sentiments, or peculiar mode of religi- 
 ous worship :" Sic. 
 
 Yet, rather inconsistent with the above, in the Plan or Frame of 
 Government, art. 10, « ach member of tlio Lejrislature, before he takes 
 his seat, is made to acknowledge not only his belief in God, "the Cre- 
 ator and Governorof the Universe," but also he must subscribe to the 
 following, "I do acknowledge the scriptures of the Old and New Testa- 
 ment to be given by divine inspiration." 
 
 This is the only "religious test;" but even here, "each Member" is 
 made to acknowledge what no one knows, or can know to be true, and 
 Virhat reason and common sense show to be false, in any other sense 
 than that every book is given by inspiration ; for "there is a spirit in 
 man. and the inspiration of the Almighty giveth him understanding." 
 Job, xxxii. a. 
 
 In the Constitution of the Stat/^ of Delaware the same "unalienable 
 right" is recognized ; and, in the Declaration, it says, — 
 
 %/lrt. 3. "That all persons professing the Christian religion, ought 
 forever to enjoy equal rights and privileges in this state, unless under 
 rolor of religion any man disturb the peace, the happiness, or safety of 
 society." 
 
 The Constitution of that state, like the present Constitution of the 
 .State of New York, precludes clergymen of any denomination from 
 "holdinof anv civil office in the stale." 
 
 The Constitution of North Carolina guarantees, art. 19, "That aU 
 men have a natural and unalienable right to worship Almighty God ac- 
 cording to the dictates of their own consicence." Here Sie imibieet ul 
 left without any restrictions whatever. 
 
 The Constitution of South Carolina, art. 13, says, "The qU 
 of electors shall be, that every free white man, and no othof^ ' 
 acknowledges the being of a God, and believes in a futui 
 wards ant] punishments," &c. &c. (many other qualifiC' 
 be deemed a person qualified to vote," &c. And "no p« 
 eligible to ait in the House of Representatives, unless ho bii^ 
 tcstant religion," &c. What an excellent mode of makj 
 This state aleo excludes clergymen from holding any 
 vil offic0s» of state. 
 
 Article -3^, aftw tolerating, "nil aersona and reU 
 
 .'hML 
 
 I 
 
 .♦^'ilrt-»- 
 
 
I 
 
 testant 
 |h per- 
 rofit or 
 iinmu- 
 kot per- 
 ls priv- 
 
 tcr de- 
 
 |worship 
 
 ice and 
 
 the be- 
 
 is a cit- 
 
 )freligi- 
 
 irame of 
 le takes 
 he Cre- 
 e to the 
 w Testa- 
 
 mber" is 
 
 true, and 
 
 icr sense 
 
 spirit in 
 
 tanding." 
 
 lalienable 
 
 ion, ought 
 
 3SS under 
 
 safety of 
 
 on of the 
 ion from 
 
 That all 
 f God acr 
 subject iA 
 
 u 
 
 13 
 
 uokriowledgc that Urtg ts one God," «fcc. says, "The* Ciiristian Protes- 
 tant relinfion .-hall be deemed, and is hereby constituted and declared to' 
 be the cstablibhcd religion of this state." 
 
 Art. 72. ''No clergyman, of any denomination t-uall be allowed a 
 seat in the legislature." 
 
 The above extracts arc all taken from a London edition, by the Rev 
 William Jackson, 1783. 
 
 As to the row Constitution which have been aboi)ted(for .some ofthf; 
 states had no Constitutions at that period) or the revision, amendment. 
 or alterations which liave taken place m the old ones, we have at this 
 moment no means of knowing ; we only know that the change, so far 
 as there has been any, is in favour of the free exercise of religious, or 
 even what may be thought by some, irreligious opinions, and the re- 
 moval of all supposed disability, or disqualification, for the full en 
 joyment of any civil right and privilege on that account. 
 
 But this question does not, or at least it should not depend on any au- 
 thority constituted by men ; but on the unalienable right of each and 
 every individual of the human race, consequent on his existence, and 
 growing out of the plain simple truth and nature of things. Man eith- 
 er can help his opinions or he cannot. If he cannot, as is evidently the 
 fact, to punish him for holding any opinion whatever, and what is dis- 
 franchizing man, the taking away of any civil right, but a punishment ? 
 It is punishing man either for what is right in itself,or else for what is 
 his misfortune, not his fault. If a man has been so unfortunate, there- 
 fore, as to come to an erroneous conclusion on any given subject,should 
 not that, in itself, be considered a misfortune sufficiently great, with- 
 out taking away any civil privilege on that accouut ? — a civil 
 privilege which as an honest man, he ought to enjoy, and has still 
 a right to enjoy, notwithstanding his supposed mi.^fortune ; why 
 should this privilege also be taken away in addition to what 
 he has already suffered if his conclusion be erroneous. But if his con- 
 clusion should turn out, after all, to be the truth, though he might differ 
 from all the world besides, would it not be hard, would not the publicf 
 on the wholo be the loser, as well as the individual be the sufferer, to 
 punish a man for holding to the truth, and fur having the moral courage 
 to avow it ? 
 
 ExtriKtofahtter to Mr. Rijan, da{ed ,Vau For/t, June 26f/i 1833. 
 
 ''I j^y^ 0ympatlu6ed with you, my friend in your privations and per- 
 
 ;a8 an individual you suffer ; as a constitutnt part of the great 
 
 '"lip the advancement of a common cause. Believers say that 
 
 lot to be attained but by suffering in every successive 
 
 jrience shows that victim afler victim has to be offered 
 
 the ignorance of nan. Ti you can find any consolation 
 
 m that your trials siiall prove a public benefit,! hope you 
 
 jelfofit. We had beiler be conscientious, and truafc 
 
 I for one however wish that this were the eituatiion 
 
 fellow feeling as I am susceptible <^, I subscribe 
 
 .^os Gilbert. 
 
 .«« 
 
14 
 
 i 
 
 ii 
 
 The following extract from a late English work w)ll fully corrobor- 
 ate the doctrine contained in the above statements. 
 
 '* The fundamental error, of imputing guilt to a man on account of his 
 opinions, has shrunk within narrower bounds ; but still it is far from be- 
 ing exterminated. Men have extended their sphere of liberality, tliey 
 have expanded their system of toleration, but it is not yet without limits. 
 There is still a boundary in speculation, beyond which no one is allowed 
 to proceed ; at which innocence terminates and guilt commenceH! ; a 
 boundary not fixed and determinate, but varying with the creed of every 
 parly. 
 
 ** Although the advanced civilization of the age rejects the palpably 
 absurd application of torture and death, it is not to be concealed, that, 
 amongst a numerous clas.-?, there is an analogous, though less barbarous 
 persecution, of all who depart from received doctrines — the persecution 
 of private antipathy and public odium. They are looked upon as a spe- 
 cies of criminals, and their deviations from established opinions, or, if 
 uny one prefers the pliraso, their speculative errors, are regarded by 
 many with as much horror as flagrant violations of morality. In tlie or- 
 dinary ranks of men, wiiare exploded prejudices often linger for ages, 
 this is scarcely to be wondered at ; but it is painful, and on lirst view un- 
 accountable, to witness the prevalence of the same spirit in the republic 
 of letters :— to see mistakes in speculation pursued with all the 
 warmth of moral indignation and reproach. He who believes an opin- 
 ion on the authority of others — wlio has taken no pains to investigate 
 Its claims to credibility, nor weighed the objections to the evidence on 
 ■which it rests, is lauded for his acquieser.ee, while obliquy from every 
 side is too often heaped on the man who has nnnutely searched into the 
 subject, and been led to the oppo.site conclusion. There are few things 
 more disgusting to an onliohtunod mind than to see a number of men, a 
 mob, wiietber learned or illiterate, who have never scrutinized the foun- 
 dation of their oi)ir.ioiis, assailing with contumely an individual, who, 
 after the labour ot reseurcii and reflection, has adopted different sen- 
 timents from theirs, and pluming themselves on the notion of superior 
 Virtue, because their understandings have been tenacious of preju- 
 tiice. 
 
 "This conduct is the more remarkable, as on every side we meet 
 with the admission, that belief is not dependent on the will; and 
 yet the same men, by whom this admission is readily made, will a^gue 
 and inveigh on the virtual assumj)tionof the contrary. >, 
 
 "Tiiis is a dtri!<iiig proof, amongst a multitude of others, of wh%4be 
 thinking mind must have frequently observed, that a principle W.-^^l^^&v 
 retained in its applicutions, long after it has been discarded? *^' 
 stract proposition. In a subject of so mucli importance, hoWji 
 hoves intelligent men to be rigidly consistent. If our opini 
 voluntary, but independent, of the will, tiie contrary doctH 
 ita consequences ought to be practically abandoned ; they 
 b0 weeded from the sentiments, habits, and instituta<)ij 
 ty. We m*y venture to assert, that neither the virtj, 
 pineas of man 'will ever be placed on a pe^ " 
 till thia fui:i*flieAl«l ^xtoi has been extirpate 
 «aind»'* 
 
 I 
 
J 
 
 )or- 
 
 le* ; a 
 bverv 
 
 [pably 
 that, 
 
 ;ution 
 ja spe- 
 lt or, if 
 jed by? 
 :he or- 
 ir ag-ei*. 
 
 ■5: I-