242 EQUALITY OF RELIGIOUS SECTS. 



of the State of New York upon the subject of slavery. 

 The growing tendency in this State is certainly in favour 

 of personal freedom all over the Union. 



An observant Briton, who resides for a sufficient time 

 in the State of New York and more especially if he 

 keep himself aloof from the bustle and excitement of New 

 York city will become acquainted with many things 

 which will arrest his attention and awaken thought ; 

 and in no more direct way will his attention be drawn 

 to the peculiarities of the country than by the topics 

 which day after day are brought under the consideration 

 of the Legislature of the State. 



The equality of all religious sects in the eye of the 

 law, the equal personal bearing of all denominations, and 

 their independence of each other in all respects, is a point 

 which early strikes the European. All have an equal 

 right to their religious opinions, whatever they may be ; 

 few hesitate to avow them ; and though I have often 

 heard people differ and argue on religious points, I do 

 not recollect to have anywhere observed a single expres 

 sion, either by word or feature, which seemed to imply 

 that one of the disputants thought himself superior to the 

 other because of the opinions he entertained, or that he 

 had a better right to entertain them. I was most struck 

 with this circumstance in the State of Massachusetts, where 

 the freedom of speech upon religious matters will often 

 startle the orthodox stranger. 



The education of the masses of the people is another 

 point in which New York State has recently taken a 

 forward step of much moment, which, if securely main 

 tained, cannot fail to influence as all the forward move 

 ments of our North American kindred, when tried and 

 secured, must influence in an important degree, our 

 proceedings at home. 



As early as 1795, an appropriation of 50,000 dollars 

 a-year, for five years, was made by the Legislature 



