Christ as their Saviour, and having drunk at this
pure, unadulterated fountain of true happiness,
they have ventured to point their fellow men to
the same chrystal fountain. In other words, they
have ventured to teach the way of life and sal-
vation. And for this offence they must be strick-
en from the political firmament and consigned to
eternal oblivion, so far as all preferment is con-
cerned, in the civil government.
Mr. President, a little more than eighteen hun-
dred years ago, the lawyers and doctors assumed
the responsibility of casting reflections upon the
Saviour of the world. They charged him with
being a wine bibber and a glutton, the friend of
publicans and sinners. The Saviour himself said,
" If they do these in the green tree, (meaning
himself,) what will they not do in the dry ?" (re-
ferring to his followers.) " As they have de-
spised me, so will they also despise you."
Sir, the lawyers, doctors, scribes and Pharisees
did not cease to exist with that age; but to the
present time they say to Christ's ministers,
" Stand aside, we are more holy than thou," or
at any rate, beyond all controversy, we are more
worthy to fill all civil offices; you are not to be
trusted, that is a settled point.
But, Mr. President, perhaps you may think
that I am under the impression that honorable
members upon this floor, who favor this oppres-
sive measure, and who wish, by constitutional
provision, to disfranchise a large portion of our
fellow citizens, are wholly destitute of principle.
No, sir ! In the language of one of Virginia's
distinguished statesmen, John Randolph, they
have seven principles at least, the five loaves and
two fishes; nor are they destitute of generosity;
they divide, with a good grace, the five loaves
and two fishes amongst themselves, and then write
in large capitals the words, equal rights and priv-
ileges to all; and this inscription, when written, is
nailed up to every sign post along the road that
leads to higher office and and a greater division
of the spoils. And these words, equal rights and
previleges to all, are trumpeted forth, to deceive
that class of our fellow citizens who are not even
permitted to gather up the fragments or partake
of the crumbs that fall from the lordly tables of
those who consider themselves worthy to rule.
Sir, this prescribed class of our citizens, are
not so stupid as not to see through such decep-
tion. They know their rights, and if they do
not maintain them, it is because they love peace,
and had rather suffer loss than engage in conten-
tion and strife.
But I may be told that ministers are engaged
in a higher and more noble calling, and that they
should not leave their profession to make laws.
Very welll But is this any reason why you
should say in your Constitution that they are un-
worthy of a lower calling? that they have no
right to participate in the affairs of government?
Why, the thing is absurd, perfectly absurd!
You might tell me with the same propriety
that the man who has no knowledge of letters,
though he have other qualifications, ought not to
be elected President, and therefore some provi-
sion should be introduced in the Constitution of |
the United States to render such an one ineligi-
ble.
Sir, I ask if this would not be a direct reflec-
tion upon the sovereign people themselves. Are
the people not capable of being their own guar-
dians? Why then say to them, you shall never elect
apresident who cannot write his name? Why
say to them you shall not do that which they
never intended to do. In proscribing ministers
of the gospels you are in effect saying to the
people, you are not capable of choosing for your-
selves; we have the matter in hand; we will
choose for you.
But why single out this particular profession ?
Why not as well proscribe lawyers? Do they
not leave their profession and their clients to
suffer? while they come to the Legislature to en-
gage in law making ? Why not proscribe doc-
tors? Do they not leave their patients to linger
and die while they are in the Legislative Halls ?
Why not proscribe the farmer ? But for the far-
mer all professions would languish and die. And
is he to be taken from his lawful pursuit to en-
gage in the work of Legislation ? Why sir, this
eternal hatred to ministers or teachers of reli-
gion ? Why should they be proscribed and crush-
ed to the earth more than any other profession?
Why, Mr. President, according to the hypothesis
contended for on the other side, that every man
should stick to his profession, then, sir, you ought
not to occupy the honorable position you do, as
the presiding officer of this body, nor should you
ever think of coming to the Legislature, howev-
er much your constituents might desire it. But
as a General, sir, you should be training soldiers
for the war, which we may expect in a few years with
Great Britain. The language used playfully by
the honorable gentleman over the way, (Gover-
nor Grason,) on yesterday may yet be prophetic.
Sir, the fact cannot be disguised that the Stars
and Stripes must soon wave over Cuba! Then
we shall have war with England, Prance, Russia,
Prussia, Austria, all the world and the rest of man-
kind, and the Eastern Shore of Maryland.
Mr. President, let us look for a few moments
calmly at this subject. As you pass along your
streets you see a poor unfortunate man in the
gutter, beastly intoxicated. That man is eligible
to the office of Governor! On the other side
you see another equally intoxicated, who feels
called upon, by every consideration to defend his
most sacred honor; and for this purpose measures
off the proper distance, and fights a duel with the
lamp-post for flying around the corner and knocking
him down, when he was passing peaceably by. That
man is eligible to a seat in the General Assembly !
But walking on a little farther, we meet two
gentlemen passing along accompanied by a little
army of bright eyes and happy faces. They
interfere with no one, but quietly proceed towards
the house of God. Their mission is one of peace
and good will to men. Let us inquire who they
are. They are the minister and the Sabbath
school teacher, both proscribed as unworthy to
participate in the affairs of civil government.
In conclusion, Mr. President, permit me to say
that I have not offered this amendment, or these
remarks from any ambitious motives. I am here |
