1. religion has always exerted so much influence on men that it has been customary for governments to assume more or less control over it; and, as the leaders of religious systems have commonly been glad to get the support of governments, there has usually existed what is called a “union of church and state,” the government endorsing the views of some special religious system, and giving more or less support to its officials; sometimes, even refusing to tolerate any other; or, if tolerated, reserving its special recognition and favors, and whatever material support it chose to give to religious establishments to that termed national, alone; that church returning the favor by using its great influence with the people to support the measures of the government.
it is very distasteful to many men who differ from the views of the favored system to be required to support it, and to be frowned upon by the government if they do not feel inclined to connect themselves with it.
2. the founders of our government were wise enough to leave the people to arrange religious questions according to their pleasure. they were not unbelievers in religion, but thought, as most of our citizens now think, that entire liberty should be left to all to act in religious matters as they felt able and inclined. all religious systems are equally tolerated—no government support is given specially to any. some people[595] do not approve of religious oaths (an affirmation in the name of god, or calling god to witness that what is said is true,) and from such persons a solemn affirmation or statement, answers the purposes of the law.
although neither the constitution, nor congress in its laws, prescribe a religious profession of any kind, and the constitution prohibits congress from making laws respecting the establishment of a state religion, or interfering with the free exercise of it, and declares that “no religious test shall ever be required, as a qualification to any office or public trust, under the united states,” neither do they discourage religion. respect is shown, in many ways, to religion. congress usually appoints a chaplain, now of one denomination, and now of another; it allows chaplains in the army and navy, and provides them a salary; and, of late years, the president recommends a day of national thanksgiving to god once a year, for the blessings we enjoy, and sometimes proclaims a day of fasting and prayer. it shows all due respect to the religious beliefs among the people, but leaves all free to practice any form of it, or to reject them all.
3. entire religious liberty is a rarity in the world, and is much more favorable to the purity and weighty influence of religious teachings than a state religion. many of the colonies that afterwards became states, were founded by persons who fled from religious persecution in the countries of the old world, and multitudes have emigrated here to secure freedom in the enjoyment of their religious views and practices, or even entire freedom to reject all religion if they could not believe in any, though that is seldom the case.
our example has been much approved and is having much influence on other nations.
toleration of opinions,
4. is characteristic of the american government. liberty of the press, or freedom to state any views a man may entertain, is as complete as liberty in religious matters. very severe things are sometimes written and published of the government,[596] and sometimes things that would do much harm if they were generally believed, and no notice is taken of it, unless some one sees fit to contradict it or prove it to be incorrect.
if a man injures another’s character by writing things that are false, he can be tried, and, if convicted, punished by the courts. vile and indecent writings are prohibited; but otherwise there is entire freedom. falsehood and error are left to be destroyed in a natural way by the truth.
this is a great gain to the truth since error has often been protected, in other countries, by government authority, on the conviction that it was the truth, to the great prejudice of truth itself.
5. although, during the civil war, there was some restraint put upon the freedom of publishing things that might be hurtful to the government, the instances were not very numerous, and, at the close of the war the spirit of toleration was shown in a way very creditable to our people, and very praiseworthy in our government, which left the way open to a speedier reunion of sentiment and sympathy in the sections that had fought each other so bravely.
the brave and resolute can afford to be just to each other, and to allow entire freedom of opinion to all. in this respect we have fairly earned the right to call ourselves a nation of freemen.
