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\ TRIBUTE TO COL. RICHARD M. JOHNSON. AUTHOR OF THE SUNDAY MAIL REPORTS ADOPTED BY CONGRESS IN 1829 AND 1830.

BY MR. ELY MOORE.'

Heroic soldier and profound

statesman.

Sunday

Mail

Reports.

Colonel Johnson not only proved himself a heroic soldier, but a profound and honest statesman. He has not only won the bloodstained laurel, but the civic wreath. He not only merits our esteem and admiration for breasting the battle storm for risking his life in the deadly breach; but, also, for the firm, patriotic, and undeviating course that has marked his political life; and especially is he entitled to our love and gratitude, and to the love and gratitude of all good men, of all who love their country,- for his able, patriotic, and luminous report on the Sunday mail question. . . I will hazard the declaration that Colonel Johnson has done more for liberal principles, for freedom of opinion, and for pure and unadulterated democracy, than any [other] man in our country — by arresting the schemes of an ambitious, irreligious priesthood. Charge him not with hostility to the principles of religion, because he opposed the wishes and thwarted the designs of the clergy rather say that he has proved himself the friend of pure religion, by guarding it against a contam- of pure inating alliance with politics. His strong and discriminating mind religion. detected and weighed the consequences that would result from such a measure. He sifted the projectors of this insidious and dangerous scheme, and resolved to meet them full in the face, and by means of reason and argument to convince the honest and silence the designing. The honest he did convince the designing he did defeat, though, strange to tell, did not silence: their obstinacy can only be equaled by their depravity. Their perseverance, however, can accomplish nothing, so long as the people prize their liberties, and can have access to the Constitution and Johnson's Reports.

That man who can contemplate the misery and degradation that have ever resulted to the many from a union of the ecclesiastical and secular powers, must be a stranger to every patriotic feeling, callous to every noble impulse, and dumb to all the emotions of gratitude, not to admire and revere, honor and support, the man who had the honesty and moral heroism to risk his popularity by stemming the current of public prejudice; by exciting the bigot's wrath, and provoking the vigilant and eternal hostility of a powerful sect, whose influence is felt, and whose toils are spread, from Maine to California,

1 From speech at Masonic Hall, New York, March 13, 1833, recommending Mr. Johnson as a candidate for the Vice-Presidency, published in Authentic Biography of Col. Richard M. Johnson," by William Emmons (Henry Mason, New York, 1833), pages 64-68.

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A friend

Had cour

age to face public prejudice.

Influence of Sunday Mail Reports.

Knew results of union of church and state.

A student of history.

and from Oregon to the Atlantic. But the same determined spirit, the same sacred love of country, that prompted Colonel Johnson to face the country's open foe on the battle-field, urged him with equal ardor to grapple with its secret enemies in the Senate chamber.

He who considers the influence which those reports are calculated to exert over the destinies of this republic as trifling or of small importance, is but little acquainted with the history of the past, and consequently but ill qualified to judge of the future.

Colonel Johnson had been instructed by the philosopher and faithful historian, as well as by the teachings of his own mighty mind, that human nature is never so debased as when superstitious ignorance is armed with power."

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He knew full well that whenever the ecclesiastical and secular powers were leagued together, the fountains of justice were polluted that the streams of righteousness were choked up, and that the eternal principles of truth and equity were banished the land — that the people were degraded their understandings enthralled, and all their energies crushed and exhausted. He knew full well that all-the evils combined, which convulse the natural world, were not so fatal to the prosperity of a nation as religious intolerance; for even after pestilence has slain its thousands, the earthquake swallowed up its victims, and the desolating whirlwind swept the land,— yet may a new and better world spring from the desolation; but when religion grasps the sword, and superstition rears her haggard form, hope has fallen forever. Do you call for the evidence? The histories of Spain, of Italy, and of Portugal are before you. They tell you these states were powerful once. What are they now? "Infants in the cradle, after years of nonentity."

Colonel Johnson had not only a regard for the political, but also for the religious, welfare of his country, when he drafted these reports. He had been instructed, by the history of the past, that in proportion as a sect becomes powerful, from whatever cause, it retrogrades in piety, and advances in corruption and ambition. He was aware that the Christian religion no longer partook of the character of its Founder, after the civil arm was wielded in its behalf. After it was taken into keeping by Constantine, that royal cut-throat - that anointed parricide that baptized murderer from that time to the present, with but few intervals, it has been wielded as a political engine, prostrating the fiberties and paralyzing the energies of the nations.

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We hazard but little in predicting that the Reports of the Kentucky statesman, calculated as they are to guard us from a like curse, I will survive the flourish will be read and admired - honored and

revered by the freemen of America, when the edicts of kings and emperors, and the creeds of councils, shall have been swept from the memory of man.

21ST CONGRESS]

MEMORIAL

[ 1ST SESSION

Feb. 15, 1830.

OF THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF INDIANA.'

EXECUTIVE DEPARTMENT, INDIANA,
INDIANAPOLIS, February 15, 1830.

The memorial of the General Assembly of the State of Indiana, respectfully represents:

Memorial.

Sectarian influence in

constitutional.

Also danger

ous to our

That we view all attempts to introduce sectarian influence into the councils of the nation as a violation Congress unof both the letter and the spirit of the Constitution of the United States and of this State, and at the same time dangerous to our civil and religious liberties, inasmuch as those charters secure to every man the liberties. free exercise of his religion and the right to worship the Almighty God according to the dictates of his own conscience, and inasmuch as any legislative interference in matters of religion would be an infrac- ence in religtion of those rights;

Any legisla tive interfer

ion an infraction of rights.

Remonstrance against or combination of sects to

ious duties.

We, therefore, most respectfully remonstrate against any attempt, by a combination of one more sects, to alter the laws providing for the trans- enforce religportation of the mail, and against the passage of a law to regulate or enforce the observance of religious duties, or which may interfere with what belongs to the conscience of each individual;2

i "American State Papers," Class VII, page 240.

*"There ought to be room in this world," says Samuel T. Spear, in "Religion and the State," "for all the consciences in it, without any encroachment upon the rights of each other; and there would be if all men, in their relations to each other, would be content to exercise their own rights of conscience in a reasonable manner. This would leave every man to determine the religious question for himself, and, as the necessary consequence, relieve every man from all impositions, burdens, taxes, or disabilities arising from the determination of the question by others. Though the rule is a simple one, it is, nevertheless, one of the most difficult things for bigotry to learn. The only way to learn it effectually is not to be a bigot."

Rights do not conflict.

All religious legislation contrary to Christianity. No observ. ance of Christianity needs the state's aid.

Every

connection between

That all legislative interference in matters of religion is contrary to the genius of Christianity; and that there are no doctrines or observances inculcated by the Christian religion which require the arm of civil power either to enforce or sustain them;

That we consider every connection between church and state at all times dangerous to civil and religious state danger liberty;1 and further,

church and

ous to liberty.

A cordial approval of

Senate report.

That we cordially agree to and approve of the Mr. Johnson's able report of the Hon. R. M. Johnson, adopted by the Senate of the United States at its last session, upon the petitions for prohibiting the transportation of the mail on Sunday; and while we protest in the most solemn manner against every attempt to enforce, by legislative interference, the observance of any particular day, yet believe that both the spiritual and temporal interest of mankind is promoted by setting apart one day in the week for the purpose of rest, religious instruction, and the worship of God.

A solemn protest against the enforced observance of any day. Yet voluntary observ ance beneficial.

Resolution.

Value of first amendment.

Jefferson's popularity.

Resolved, That his Excellency the Governor be requested to transmit a copy of the foregoing memorial to each of our Senators and Representatives in Congress, and to the President of the Senate and Speaker of the House of Representatives.

1 Jefferson, February 4, 1809, replying to an address of the society of the Methodist Episcopal Church, at New London, Connecticut, said : "No provision in our Constitution ought to be dearer to man than that which protects the rights of conscience against the enterprises of the civil authority. It has not left the religion of its citizens under the power of its public functionaries, were it possible that any of thes should consider a conquest over the consciences of men either attainable or applicable to any desirable purpose."

Although Jefferson was not a church member, no president ever received more commendations in public addresses from religious denominations than did he. His jealousy for the rights of every denomination, and for the rights of every individual of every denomination, made him extremely popular among all lovers of religious liberty; and many were the addresses which he received, especially from the Baptists and Methodists, approbative of his course in carrying out American principles.

21ST CONGRESS ]

[ 2D SESSION

Dec. 31, 1830

JOINT RESOLUTION

OF THE SENATE AND HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
OF THE STATE OF ALABAMA IN GENERAL

ASSEMBLY CONVENED.

COMMUNICATED TO THE SENATE, JANUARY 22, 1831.

Whereas, Much excitement exists, and deep interest is felt in many parts of the United States, in consequence of the powerful exertions which have been made, and are still making, to prevent the transportation of the mail on Sunday; and whereas, also, the rights and opinions of every religious sect, whether they observe the Christian Sabbath or not, are equally entitled to the respect and protection of the government; and whereas, also, it is thought proper and expedient that the Legislature of this State should express their opinion on this important and interesting subject, as it is confidently anticipated this measure will again be brought by its friends before the present Congress of the United States; therefore,

Equality of religious sects.

Sunday legislation repug. nant to princi

Be it resolved by the Senate and House of Representatives of the State of Alabama in General Assembly convened, That the transportation of the mail on Sunday is of vital importance to the welfare and pros-ples of free perity of the Union; and that its suspension on that government. day would be a violation of the spirit of the Constitution, and be repugnant to the principles of a free government.

Be it further resolved, That the sentiment expressed in the report of the committee at the last session of Congress, in opposition to the suspension of the mail on Sunday, is entitled to the highest consideration of the friends of the Constitution, and every lover of civil and political freedom.

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