The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1809-01-27
FOR ii EN9UIRER

FOR TIE ENSCIkER
address IF the Baptiss Cenerai Meeting efCerr.-
ponaenee svirsinis. to abe P,e.i4ess ssfshe U.
States.
S1l.
Actuated from pure motives, a. we believe
You are about to retire from public life, the APP
plause Of his constituents. in their different rela-
tiops, must he q pleasing reward to a retiring
statesman. We, as a religious society, offer you,
Dir, our applause. We do it cordially. You may
receive appreciation from sources that arc more
conspicuous but from none, we believe, that
are more sincere. Attached to a church govern,
ment ofthe frcest kind we must be friends to
him. whois 4 friend to IT, lights OF conscience:
Many say they are friends to these rights we
believe them, because they say it. But from you
we have better proofs, The whole tenor ofyour
public life exhibits undeniabie evidence of your
unwavering friendship to religious liberty. Your
enemies admit it. and some ofthem, We fear, are
enemies tor that very reason. The heterogene-
GUS union of church and state, was never congo
NAL 10 our principles. But when we remember,
that, from that source. the persecution and i'm
prisonmentof many of our MINISTERS arose we
must declare that this union is a. %repugnant to our
feelings as to our principles. Your exertions We
ry much contributed to its final dissolution. Since
you have assembled the presidential chair, we
know ofnomeasures Of yours, which do not COM
pletely quadrate with your former line ofdeport-
nent. Oft the whole, then, of your public life,
we desire to express our appreciation. Your enc.
mics charge yeu with holding unfriendly senti-
ments to the Christian religion. We do not be-
heve it. Your conduct, IN our judgement, has
evinced the contrary. And we think it was bet
.erto answer them by actions. than by declara-
tions. Situated SIS you have been for a conside.
fable time, any declarations upon that head
would have been ascribed to popular vie VS.. So
amiabie does the Christian system appear to us,
that we can scarcely imagine, how any man who
II willing to restrain his unlawful appettes, can
be unfriendly to its doctrines.
OfOur political state, though not Immediately
within our province as a religious body, we wish
as citizens, to express our sentiments. We are
Persuaded, that nothing on your part has been
wanting, either as it respects wisdom, integrity
Or %exertion, to have placed us in the most eligi-
bic condition. 'Tis true we suffer evils, but we
bear them cheerfuiiy, hoping that they may final
ly operate, as remedies, to other and worse evils
If we are disappointed in this we are ready to
support the government ofour choice, in strong
er and more efficient measures. Some nations,
like some individuals, do justice only when coer-
cedto il; Trusting in 2 God of Justice, we do
not fear the. issue We once struggled fer Cur
rights, and we gained thena-
We are almost to q mar, favorable ts that sic.
,cessor who is most likely TO preserve the spirit
ofthe present administration We hone he NAV
fall on more propitioHs times than hia predeces.
VI vi tiftt aug may DC SluiiiS CaDapif TO avoid
their evils. In your retirement from the bustles
ofpublic life, we devoutiy wish you every bles.
sing the smiles of Heaven, the appreciation of a
vlftueus mind, the affection OF a grateful peopie .
and that after many years of health and happi-
mes, your grey hairs my so down. in peace to the
grave,
Signed by order oFtihe Baptist General Meet.
ing of Correspondence of Virginia, in which Sin
Associations were represented by their dele
'gates.
R. q. sEMPLE, Moderator.
Els ExceNeney Thomas !5eSeyesn,
President Of the y. StGfes.
:. n, b. The above address was sent on imms-
diately after its date. The Presidents reply was
also, without delay committed to the mail. but
.thro' inattention in the post.ofice, it did not come
60 hand until the 9Th inst. This explains the
season why they have not been published ,oouer.
X. z. SEMPLE.
King Queen. Jan. 10, 1909.
TIRE PREsrpRETss Reply.
10 the Genera! Meeting Of Correspons.Sec Of the
Six Baptist AssoefGtienS, rrpresented at CfesteY-
field, in Virginia.
] thank you, fellow-citizens for your affe ction-
ate address, and receive with satisfaction your
appreciation of my motives for retirement. IN re-
viewing the history of the times through which
we have past, no portion of it gir.t greater salts
faction, on reflection, than that which present,
- AeC4OIif, hilu
the success with which they were crowned. We
have solved, by fair experiment, the great and in
teresting question, whether freedom of religion
is compatible with order in government, and obe-
dience TO the laws and we have Experienced
the quiet as well as the comfort which results
from leaving every one to profess freely and o.
pen!y those principles of religion which are the
Sndactions ofhis own reason, and the serious con-
victiehs of his own enquiries.
tits \ source of great contentment to me to
learn that the measures which have been pursu.
edin the administration of your affairs have met
your appreciation. Too often we have had but a
choice among difficulties and this situation cha.
ra~cterises remarkably the present moment. But,
fello%!citizens, if we are faithful to our country,
if we acquiesce with good will, in the. decisions
of tho majority, and the nation moves in mass in
the same direction, altho' IL may not be that
which every individual thinks best, we have no.
thing to fear from any quarter.
D. ] thank you sincerely for your kind wishes for
M welfare, and with equal sincerity implorc the
favor of q Protecting Providence for yourselves.
TIL JEFFERSON.
November 81, 1903.
FOR TIE ENQUIRER.