In my judgment, while it is the duty of Congress to respect to the uttermost the conscientious convictions and religious scruples of every citizen. . . not any ecclesiastical organization can be safely permitted to usurp in the smallest degree the functions and powers of the national government.
Shall we then judge a country by the majority, or by the minority? By the minority, surely. 'Tis pedantry to estimate nations by the census, or by square miles of land, or other than by their importance to the mind of the time.