THE REPORTER.
"'TIS PLEASANT, THROUGH THE LOOP-HOLES OF RETREAT, TO PEEP AT SUCH A WORLD-- TO SEE THE STIR OF THE GREAT BABEL, AND NOT FEEL THE CROWD."
[NEW SERIES----VOL. I.]	WASHINGTON, (PA.) MONDAY, OCTOBER 22d, 1821.	[NO. 22.

      Mr. T's 4th argument is substantially the same with his 2nd, but as he makes it numerically one of the mysterious number seven I will pay due regard to it. I will transcribe it every word: "The magistrate and the legislator, says he, are bound in their official characters to promote the principles of publick virtue, since they are the true sources of the dignity and prosperity of the community. Now these principles have their origin in religion. Therefore it is the duty of the legislator to enact and of the magistrate to execute such laws as are necessary to protect the publick forms of religion from contempt. He that openly profanes the Sabbath does treat religion with contempt and is therefore guilty of not only sin against God, but an offence against the state."¹ The established church of Rome, or any other established church, at no time, claimed the right of exterpating all its enemies upon grounds more dangerous to the community than the principle embraced in the above argument. The principle assumed by mr. T. is in fact the same as that plead by Romanists and some Protestants to justify them in burning, beheading and torturing heretics. This shall be evident in the detail. That I might escape the suspicion of perverting mr. T's argument I have transcribed the whole of it and I request the reader to compare my remarks upon it with the original before him.

      In the first instance then mr. T. asserts that the principles of publick virtue have their origins in religion. This we all confess. But the difference is, how are they to be deduced therefrom. My opinion has already been given on this subject. Let us now hear mr. T's opinion. It is this--"It is the duty of the legislator to enact and of the magistrate to execute such laws as are necessary to protect the publick forms of religion from contempt." This will lead to any extreme in persecution; and it necessarily requires an holy inquisition to explain and enforce it. Before the above principle can be acted upon, an inquisitorial tribunal must decree two important items. The one infallibly determining what are the public forms of religion; the other what it is, to "treat them with contempt." When it shall have infallibly determined these two particulars; two others will necessarily claim its attention. The first, with what penalties shall these laws be enforced, protecting the publick forms of religion from contempt. Whether by fines, imprisonment, torture, or death, &c. And, secondly, who shall be employed to bring the guilty to punishment. These four things are indispensibly necessary to carry mr. T's principle of coercion into effect.

      What are the publick forms of religion? mr. T. mentions but one, viz: The observance of a Sabbath. But having summoned A B C D E and F to deliberate on this question they agreed on the following as amongst the publick forms of religion, viz: The observance of a Sabbath, Baptism, the Holy Supper, standing in prayer in the congregation, singing aloud in church, fast days, tythes, or the paying of stipends to the clergy, going to meeting every Sabbath, fast day, and preparation, creeds, confessions, and public forms of sound words. To these A was for adding a dozen more and D five, but when put to vote only the above items carried. It was found that in order to unanimity a pope was necessary.

      To shew the correctness of the above remarks and to demonstrate that Timothy has had, and yet has the majority on his side I will add a few quotations, and reserve for another number the exposure of his 4th argument.

      "In the late amendments to the constitution of this state it was proposed, to repeal that part of the declaration of rights which invested the legislature with authority to enforce an attendance upon the instructors of publick worship. This amendment being rejected, the people determine that the old provisions on the subject of publick worship and religious freedom are sufficient, that people ought to be compelled to go to church." This is an excellent way to protect the publick forms of religion from contempt. Timothy in the majority and Candidus in the minority in this instance.

      Third article "The people of this commonwealth have a right to invest their legislature with power to authorize and require, and the legislature shall, from time to time, authorize and require, the several towns, parishes, precincts, and other bodies politic or religious societies to make suitable provisions at their own expence for the institution of the publick worship of God, and for the support and maintenance of publick protestant teachers, of piety, religion and morality in all cases where such provision shall not be made voluntarily." An excellent way to protect publick forms of religion from contempt. Timothy in the majority and Candidus in the minority again.

      "It is hardly credible, but it is nevertheless a melancholy fact, that an ordinance against blasphemy and herasy was passed in May, 1648 by the influence of the presbyterians then in parliament; in which it was decreed that all persons who shall willingly maintain, publish or defend by preaching or writing--that the Father is not God, that the Son is not God, that the Holy Ghost is not God; and that these three are not one eternal God; or that Christ is not God equal with the Father; shall upon complaint or proof, by oath, of two witnesses before the justice of the peace, be committed to prison, without bail, or mainprize, till the next jail delivery; and in case the indictment shall then be found, and the party upon his trial shall not abjure the said error, he shall suffer the pains of death, as in case of felony, without benefit of the clergy." An excellent way to protect the forms of religion from contempt. Timothy in the majority again, and where is poor

CANDIDUS      

[The Reporter, 22 October 1821, p. 4.]