I cannot believe that any nation, reasoning on its own rights, would have thought of calling these things a constitution, if the cry of constitution had not been set up by the government.
In "Rights of Man," Paine expresses skepticism that a nation, reasoning independently, would label certain governmental structures a constitution without governmental influence.
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Discussion and the general will arbitrates the question, and to this, private opinion yields with a good grace, and order is preserved uninterrupted.
As to what are called national religions, we may, with as much propriety, talk of national Gods.
I have carefully avoided to enlarge upon the subject, because I am inclined to believe that what is called the present ministry, wish to see contentions about religion kept up, to prevent the nation turning its attention to subjects of…