Presbyterianism. By Rev. John Moore [pp. 383-396]

394 Presbyterianism. [JULY,
of our principles in moulding and establishing our free institutions.
Presbyterians have never been wanting in fidelity to any of
the true interests of man: here they were true to the instincts
of their religious principles and convictions. They fought
shoulder to shoulder with the patriots of'76. The ministers
and pastors urged upon their people the importance of standing up manfully for their God-given rights. Many of them
set their people the noble example of mustering theIn to the
field, and sharing with them in the privations and sufferings
of the camp, the fatigues of the march and the carnage and
conflicts of the field of battle. They did not waver when the
fearful issue was forced upon them, but cheerfully responded
to the cry of the patriot, "Give me liberty, or give me death!"
Whatever may be said of others, not one foul blot of toryism
has stained the Presbyterian name during that long and fearful struggle of humanity for its rightful inheritance. The
grave conceals the bodies of many of these immortal heroes;
but their names and their deeds shall live in everlasting remiembrance.
In that august convention of revered patriots who subscribed
their names to the immortal "Declaration of Independence,"
was a Presbyterian minister, Dr. John Witherspoon, President
of Nassau Hall, at Princeton, whose patriotism of heart, whose
wisdom of counsel, whose power of eloquence gave him no
mean place among the sages of that assembly, mingled in the
deliberations of that memorable day.
It is, moreover, a well-authenticated fact that the " Declaration" which has made the name of Thomas Jefferson immortal, was not original with him, but was in all its essential
features a transcript of the " Mecklenberg Declaration " issued
just one year before, in Mecklenberg, North Carolina, and
written by a Presbyterian minister, a graduate of Princeton
College.
But what is the nature and form of our civil constitution?
In all its main features it closely resembles the constitution of
the Presbyterian church, viz.: the legislative departments car ried on by the representatives of the people; the judicial,
recognizing the right of appeal and reference; the executive,