under pains and penalties the performance of
an act which is believed offensive to the divine being.

Human authority cannot like the Great
searcher of hearts try the Spirits of men respecting
truth and error, it cannot remit the penalties
of sin or controll the convictions of the heart and
therefore in this country at least the liberty of
conscience is wisely plac'd beyond the Sphere of
legislation, and protected from the encroachments
of any power in the government.

It may be recollected too that in every nation
of the civilized world, where this society is found they
profess and maintain the same principals, that no
hope of reward no dread of punishment, not confis-
cations imprisonment or death, would induce them to
bear arms against this Country, as in any other
cause whatever and that every attempt to coerce
them would result on the one side in the Triumph
of principal however severely tested, and with un-
availing persecution on the other. While it is there
fore evident that the ostensible object of the Law
or training them to arms - cannot be effective
and it is presumed from the general notori\e/ty of their
principals that it is not even expected to be attain
-ed- while your memoriallists believe that the
principals they hold can in no sence prove
injurious to the community, and are persua
-ded that this Legislature would disclaim the
Idea of raising revenue by laws inflicting fines
on the free exercise of conscience they trust that
a privilege conferred by the Supreme being and