RETURN FROM PITTSBURG 333 



the Order itself has been abolished the priests of this 

 society are still in possession of their excellent and 

 lucrative lands. 



All of the United States, on the establishment of 

 their new form of government, have made tolerance a 

 fundamental law, solemnly declaring that every in- 

 habitant has complete liberty to serve his Creator in 

 any manner to him seeming good, in so far as his re- 

 ligious principles are no disturbance to the public peace 

 nor detrimental to his fellow-citizens. Properly, there- 

 fore, in none of the states, particularly in none of the 

 more southern states, may any religion whatever be 

 called dominant, even if one or the other through the 

 majority of its adherents might so regard itself. Free- 

 dom is guaranteed to all alike. But before this revo- 

 lution the Episcopal or English established church en- 

 joyed the greatest advantage, its clergy (consecrated 

 by English Bishops) being supplied by the British 

 government with a constant and often very consider- 

 able support. This maintenance was furnished in part 

 by the publick treasury ; but also raised here and there 

 by special imposts, to which those of other beliefs were 

 obliged to contribute as well as members of the estab- 

 lished church. This was the case in Maryland, where 

 the Catholics in like proportion as the Protestants must 

 pay taxes for the support of the Protestant clergy ; a 

 circumstance which occasioned no little secret bitter- 

 ness. Then the Revolution put a stop to these allow- 

 ances on the part of the magistracy, and the ministers 

 of the established church had, under the new govern- 

 ment, no income except from their perquisites and 

 the voluntary contributions of their congregations. In 

 divers places, but not universally, it had long been a 



