The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1804-06-09

feveral n ,ct;nr-houfes fcvera, rrliniifc-s and
Ieveral fuSdivihons ofthe Allotment may e>:iA in
each FINAL psriih. The quota 20 which any one
preacher will be thus entitled, a.terit hes fuller
ed deduction of one fourth for the building of
fchool-houits ard places OF public worihip, may
certainly be too dimiRutive either 70 invite any
learned men from any other puriut to this ex-
cluhve occupation; or to enable any man, af-
ter he enters the riniitry, to devote his time s;
lahour 10 this iinSle puuiiit. srd (: But the
preient iyitem OF voluntary contribution does
not prevent the remuneration of the niniiters
, by their respective congregations. When able
mini!ters poGlis no other means Of fupport, the
ieetS TO which they 5>ionS poatf5 the power, s.
Will frequently find it 20 be their iutele 10 con-
tribute TO their iupport- Intelligent miniilers
| have been frequently PAID in our own Rate BY
Their respective congregations. NeiSi.bouring
churches, under the dire ttion Of more wealthy
| iectarians, have frequently invited Il c>lebra-
| ted miniher TO undertake the care of
thsir ipritual affairs. As the fate improves
| III population and wealth, thcit contributions
may perhaps become more frequent, & eniight-
ered miniaers may mutlplyw;thin the pale of
the ieveral Churches. The deiire of add M .fiipe-
r1or lUttre TO their own feet, of eclipng their
own fpiritual brethren, may frequently iniDire
them with additional motives 70 improve their
talents and extend their information Iwoulli
! appeal 20 the hiitory the Virginia feSts, for
numoerleis indances of this increafing improve
| ment.
! Let us then br;nrtogether the 1noG important
points Of companion, between the characters
on the miai6ers, as they arife under the prcitnt
| iyiteln, andas they would probably appear IN
derthe influence Of fudge fuckers plan I'M
der the preicnt fytteIn, they might probably pof-
ieis more religious ardour, more ambition, and
greater command of the arts OF eloquence,
more Cancellation towards each other, more to-
| ieration to oppohte fees, and more enlighten-
ed ipiIit ofreligious morality. Judge fuckers
! iyftem would probably produce men Of more
exteniive learning. Should Judge Tucker be will
ling 10 prefer the latter picture to the fcrIner |
inuit confeis ihould not envy him the propri-
ETY. ofhis choice.
Other considerations however arife, which
contribute to bring forward rev arguments a.
gainit it. Let us turn from The character, oftb.
mfnjfer, who is to receive the afeiimcnt, 60 the
| htuation of the PEOPLE who TO pay il. If this
eitablifhment be intended for the public benefit,
! how does it happen that we perceive in it
tuch ftrong features Of public oppreilion
| Why are 70 many claIes of Individuals
fubiected TO its partial operation ?
| /. Why is the delft or the man who has no
chriitian faith, fubie6ted TO the payment of
tax for the fupport of chriGian minifter >
Judge Tucker will not deny that there may be
many men ofthis character, who arc eminently
worthy of the public favour.
| Q. Why is this tax to fall upon the man who
has adopted the precepts of chriaianity, but
Whole independent judgment has not been able
to acquiefct in the compleat for1nulary Of any
one feet Judge fuckers certainly acquainted
with men ofthis character.
| 5. Why is it to fall upon feet of chrifians,
Whole cuitomS forbid the employment of mi
nffers Did Judge Tucker forget that the
induftrious and virtuous feet of Quakers, which
! the ce!tts admit has been the only perfuaiion
on chr1ttIanS who have not aipired 10 national
eitablihment, is now the only feet who would
! experience fundamental injury from this in
| ftitution?
4. Would it not fall with peculiar iniufice
F, upon all thoie tcatte,ed fe6tarians, who, being
! too few in number TO fupp0rt an eftdbiilhed mi
niffer in any one place, would he obliged 10
contribute to the iupport OF miniaers who pre-
| tetS different creedGe
from the a,i'ijfsrJ who receive. and the beoble
who pay the tax, let lis turn to the Legj,2z!ivc
PozVeT, which authorifes the Allotment.
We may eafly demontrate from the volumes
OF experience, that the interval between liberty
and defpotiiIn is wide, and efficiently percepti-
bic to the mott ordinary mind but that it is
! filled up byinnumerable gradations 70 extremely
delicate, that the mott accurate understanding
| IS tcarcely able to dftinguiihthem. Experience
has demonstrated that the firft fep being once
paled, each fucceeding deviation is fcarcely
perceived by the people, or is eaiily Untitled by
the Pretext Of fate policy. Our religion is at
pretent free; who will pretend to let limits TO
the Legislative power, if it once aifumes fuper-
attendance over the liberty of confidence? In
itead ola contribution of one-tenth of the fate
tax, what ihali prevent the legislature from adj
yancing the ratio of Allotment? Intead Of per-
nlittng the dcif to express his mott fccptical o.
pinion on religious fubie6ts, may not Gone law
be paitcd, which ihall inRict penalty upon the
unfortunate hereto May not tef-law be
thus gradually introduced, winch llall adopt
particular fornulary offaith, & elevate one feet
OF Chrlitians upon the ruins OF others? Ifthe
egilature can efablifh any one iyfteIn OF rciigi-
on, becaufr they believe it to be ns,fm, may
they not adopt any other fyGtem which is they
iuPPote to be ianetioned b. the fame princi-
| pie
| Whether then confider Judge fuckers ff-
TEN Ola religious Establishment as far as it relates
to the fupport Of " feacbeyJ ofrrIigion only," on
the principle OF eo1RifUiioaaiify, or on the max
inns OF exPfd'sncr, can find few Arguments 10
recommend it 70 cur favour. | can difcoyer no
extraordinary benefits in it, which may perfua1c
us to relirquiih our prefent voluntary fyftem.
TO leave each man free in the Election of his
| religious creed, and 20 refpe6t each mans prin-
cipies until they 90 break out into o4syt ni55 4
rllnit peace q croOd c-irr ~; aDDel-s 70 he ths