909. BOOKS, Censorship of.—[continued].
I have been just reading
the new constitution of Spain. One of its
fundamental bases is expressed in these
words: “The Roman Catholic religion, the
only true one, is, and always shall be, that
of the Spanish nation. The government protects
it by wise and just laws, and prohibits
the exercise of any other whatever.” Now I
wish this presented to those who question
what you may sell, [55]
or we may buy with a request
to strike out the words, “Roman Catholic,
” and to insert the denomination of
their own religion. This would ascertain the
code of dogmas which each wishes should
domineer over the opinions of all others, and
be taken, like the Spanish religion, under
the “protection of wise and just laws.” It
would show to what they wish to reduce the
liberty for which one generation has sacrificed
life and happiness. It would present
our boasted freedom of religion as a thing of
theory only, and not of practice, as what
would be a poor exchange for the theoretic
thraldom, but practical freedom of Europe.—
To M. Dufief. Washington ed. vi, 340.
(M.
1814)
