“but to exclude all rivalry among Christian sects, and to
prevent any national ecclesiastical establishment, which should
give to a hierarchy the exclusive patronage of the National
Government.”[227]
How plain and simple! The real object was to exclude all rivalry
among Christian sects, and to prevent any national ecclesiastical
establishment. Such was the real object.
But the Senator says, if Congress decrees that the Declaration of
Independence in its fundamental principles is applicable to a church
organization incorporated by State or National authority, we violate
this provision of the Constitution! You heard him, Sir; I do no
injustice to his argument.