nown could not deny it. And thus the altar and throne stand
side by side. And republicanism was a thing unknown.

It has been said that the pilgrim fathers came to this country to
establish religious liberty. They did no such thing. They were not in
favor of it. They came with the Testament in their hands, and with it
they could have no idea of religious liberty. When they had
established thirteen colonies here, and had struggled for and obtained
their independence, they established federal government, but did they
seek after religious liberty? No! When they formed a federal
government each church and each colony was jealous of the other. They
said to the general government, "You can't have any religion in the
constitution," but each state could make its own religion, and they
made them.

Here the speaker read copious extracts from the statutes of the
different states in reference to the qualifications for the exercise of
citizenship--the religious belief necessary; and, on concluding, asked,
"Had they (the members who drew up these state constitutions) any idea
of religious liberty."

Continuing, he said: "Now, my friends, there's a party started in this
country with the object of giving every man, woman and child the rights
they are entitled to. Now every one of us has the same rights. I have
the right to labor and to have the products of my labor. I have the
right to think, and furthermore, to express my thoughts, because
expression is the reward of my intellectual labor. And yet in the
United States there are states where men of my ideas would not be
allowed to testify in a court of justice. Is that right? There are
states in this country where, if the law had been enforced, I would
have been sent to the penitentiary for lecturing. All such laws are
enacted by barbarians, and our country will not be free until they are
wiped from the statute books of every state.

Does an infinite being need to be protected by a State Legislature? If
the bible is inspired, does the author of it need the support of the
law to command respect? We don't need any law to make mankind respect
Shakespeare. We come to the altar of that great man and cover it with
our gratitude without a statute. Think of a law to govern tastes!
Think of a law to govern mind, or any question whatever! Think of the
way in which they have supported the bible! They've terrorized the old
with laws, and captured the dear, little innocent