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disseminate such works and to support such a moral education as would enable the people to combat those principles . He entirely denied . the truth of the argument which the Honourable Member had drawn from the employment of missionaries abroad . Those individuals never proceeded to insult the prejudices of the natives of other countries by any gross
and indecent reflections . They adduced nothing but fair and sober argument to effect their purpose . The Honourable Member said that there was no drawing a precise line in arguments on this subject . His answer was , that it was not intended to ^ draw a precise line . Let truth go to its fullest and fairest extent ,
but let ribaldry and indecency be avoided . Did Christianity ever insult the country where it was attempted to be planted ? No : it was distinguished by decorum , respect , and obedience to the powers that be . Even the government of the Emperor Nero , one of the most cruel
tyrants that ever lived , was not abused by the Christians . With respect to those who had voluntarily taken upon them to prosecute publications of this nature , he must observe that there were many wrongs by which society in general suffered , but which were likewise so
offensive to individuals , that they hesitated not to visit them with the penalties of the law . There were also , it should be observed , certain other crimes , more injurious to society than even robbery or murder , but which , as they did not
affect the particular interests of private individuals , they did not stand forward to punish . Therefore the formation of societies for the purpose of visiting such crimes with severity , was a praiseworthy act . It had been stated over and over
again by the judges , that persons who associated together to carry the law into execution , where offences of this kiud , which were mischievous to society , were perpetrated , were acting in a perfectly legal manner . The introduction of obscene pictures and improper books into schools had been effectually checked by that means . When individuals combined
together for this purpose , and were only actuated by public principles , and where the over-zealous disposition of some was tempered by the moderation and prudence of others , it could not be doubted that great good was likely to be the result .
Mr . IUcardo said that he had heard with pleasure a great part of the speech of his honourable friend who had just sat down , and the remainder certaiuly with some concern . The greater part qf that speech was in support of the opinion which he ( Mr . Ricardo ) held in common with hid honourable friend who had
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introduced the motion—namely , that no man had a right to dictate . his own opinions upon abstract opinions to another , upon peril of punishment for a refusal to adopt them ( hear , from Mv . Wilberforce ) ; and his honourable friend had further admitted , that so long as
the controversy upon such topics were conducted with decency , it ought not to be prevented by force of law . Now , he lamented that when his honourable frieud had thought proper to quote the sentiments of Dr . Paley , he had not given
them more at length , for he would , in the writings of that eminent individual find a more large and liberal spirit of toleration , than he was disposed to admit practically in other parts of his speech .
Mr . Wilberforce . —Dr . Paley distinctly excepts to the treatment of such subjects with levity and ribaldry . " Mr . Ricardo resumed—that , certainly , was Dr . Paley ' s only exception ; and he ,
as well as the other chief ornaments of the church , for instance , Dr . Tillotson and Dr . . Porteus , had asserted in the largest sense , the right of unfettered opinion . If the validity of such opinions were admitted , who could advocate the
operation of the law of thjs country in such matters ? Who could sustain those impolitic and unjust prosecutions ? What was the prosecution of Carlile for republishing the Age of Reason 1 That
was not a work written in a style of levity and ribaldry , but a serious argument upon the truths of the Christian religion . Look again at the impending prosecution for eighteen weeks of the same man for Mr . Horn ' s Parodies , which
was not abandoned until Hone had himself secured an acquittal on the charge . But , said his honourable frieud ( Mr . Wilberforce ) , iu justification of these public prosecutions , there were some offences which did not directly affect private interest although they injured the community , and which might go
unpunished , were it not for general associations which took cognizance of such matters ; and he talked Qf obscene writings in illustration of his op inion . Was there really any comparison between such writings and those upon speculative points of religion , which were the only topics to which this motion app lied ? that
( Hear , hear . ) They were all agreed obscene writings ought to be punished , and why ?—because they were obviously pernicious to the moral interests of society , and constituted a general ana ^ disgusting species of offence . ( Hear , . hear , ) . But . not so abstract religious subjects , upou which it was quijte impost ble to obtain ; universal assent . ^ ° ' ^ ^ W " had a right to say to another ,
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190 Intelligence \>—Christians * Petition against the Prosecution of Unbeliever *
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Citation
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Monthly Repository (1806-1838) and Unitarian Chronicle (1832-1833), Aug. 2, 1823, page 490, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse.ac.uk/periodicals/mruc/issues/vm2-ncseproduct1787/page/58/
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