I have heretofore argued to show that the Christian religion, its general principles, must ever be regarded among us as the foundation of civil society; and I have thus far confined my remarks to the tendency and effect of the scheme of Mr. Girard (if carried out) upon the Christian religion.  But I will go farther, and say that this school, this scheme or system, in its tendencies and effects, is opposed to all religions, of every kind.  I will not now enter into a controversy with my learned friend about the word “tenets,” whether it signify opinions or dogmas, or whatever you please.  Religious tenets, I take it, and I suppose it will be generally conceded, mean religious opinions; and if a youth has arrived at the age of eighteen, and has no religious tenets, it is very plain that he has no religion.  I do not care whether you call them dogmas, tenets, or opinions.  If the youth does not entertain dogmas, tenets, or opinions, or opinions, tenets, or dogmas, on religious subjects, then he has no religion at all.  And this strikes at a broader principle than when you merely look at this school in its effect upon Christianity alone.  We will suppose the case of a youth of eighteen, who has just left this school, and has gone through an education of philosophical morality, precisely in accordance with the views and expressed wishes of the donor.  He comes then into the world to choose his religious tenets.  The very next day, perhaps, after leaving school, he comes into a court of law to give testimony as a witness.  Sir, I protest that by such a system he would be disfranchised.  He is asked, “What is your religion?” His reply is, “O, I have not yet chosen any; I am going to look round, and see which suits me best.”  He is asked, “Are you a Christian?” He replies, “That involves religious tenets, and as yet I have not been allowed to entertain any.”  Again, “Do you believe in a future state of rewards and punishments?” And he answers, “That involves sectarian controversies, which have carefully been kept from me.”  “Do you believe in the existence of a God?” He answers, that there are clashing doctrines involved in these things, which he has been taught to have nothing to do with; that the belief in the existence of a God, being one of the first questions in religion, he is shortly about to think of that proposition.  Why, Sir, it is vain to talk about the destructive tendency of such a system; to argue upon it is to insult the understanding of every man; it is mere, sheer, low, ribald, vulgar deism and infidelity![2] It opposes all that is in heaven, and all on earth that is worth being on earth.  It destroys the connecting link between the creature and the Creator; it opposes that great system of universal benevolence and goodness that binds man to his Maker. No religion till he is eighteen! What would be the condition of all our families, of all our children, if religious fathers and religious mothers were to teach their sons and