We are right to take alarm at the first experiment upon our liberties.

Are not the daily devotions conducted by these legal ecclesiastics already degenerating into a scanty attendance, and a tiresome formality?

If the public homage of a people can ever be worthy of the favorable regard of the Holy and Omniscient Being to Whom it is addressed, it must be that in which those who join in it are guided only be their free choice-by the impulse of their hearts and the dictates of their consciences.

I have ever regarded the freedom of religious opinions and worship as equally belonging to every sect.

But cool and candid people will at once reflect, that the purest of human blessings must have a portion of alloy in them, that the choice must always be made, if not of the lesser evil, at least of the GREATER, not the PERFECT good; and that in every political institution, a power to advance the public happiness, involves a discretion which may be misapplied and abused.

The rights of persons, and the rights of property, are the objects, for the protection of which Government was instituted.

Liberty may be endangered by the abuse of liberty, but also by the abuse of power.