"Infidelity"
[From the
Herald of Freedom of Oct. 31, 1845; Miscellaneous Writings, 340-41.]
A good friend writes me,
that apprehensions are entertained and surmised uttered, of my
"infidelity," among some who are readers of our paper - and he wishes
to know explicitly of me whether I am "infidel" or not - with a view,
it seems, of continuing or not, to take the Herald of Freedom. Before saying
anything on that question, I will just reprove the dear friend, gently, of the
bigotry which prompted him to write the request. I call it bigotry - for I have
myself been a bigot, and know what it is. It is bigotry, I think to make any
one's religious belief or disbelief a criterion of character, or a condition of
fellowship. If my friend doesn't like the Herald of Freedom - for what is in
it,, let him discontinue it. If my principles, as declared in it, do not please
him, and he, desires of the paper any thing more than a free and full
opportunity to combat them in it, he wants a paper I cannot furnish. He is well
disposed, I am sure, but the requisition he makes on me, is, I think, a wrong
one, and unfriendly to freedom.
Whether I am
"infidel" or not, the technical sense of the word, I don't know as I
could tell. I certainly should decline to tell, if asked, as I am here. I will
say this - I am free, and mean to think of them as I may, and to speak of them
as I think. Any thing I disbelieve or believe in regard to them, and have
occasion to speak in the Herald of
Freedom, I will speak it - and so explicitly, as not to be mistaken. If my
friend is not thus free, I think him bigoted. He will on second thought,
perhaps, agree with me. And here I will say, that I think nothing is worthier
of severe condemnation, than the priestly fashion of intimidating honest, truthful
inquiry by the bug-bear of "infidelity." It is death to human freedom
and happiness.