The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1810-10-19

ny 0PVcaElIISc III the
bill has transformed that {" christian f,r.
loearance. love, and chariv."S which of late
mutually prevailed. into animositics and lea
iousies which may not soon be appeased.
what mischicts may not be dreaded should
tils enemy to the public qaiet, be armed With
the force Of law 2
Because the policy of the bill is adverse
20 the diffusion OF the light of christiainty--
| Inc hrst wish ct those who ought 20 eniov
this precious gift ought to be. tina, !, NAV
ne impaired to the whole race OF mankind
Compare the humber Of those who have "A
vet received It. with the number still re-
naming under the slomin,on Cf false religi-
| ons, and how small is the former Does
the policy of the b II lend to lessen the dis.
proportion: NO; it at once dscourages
those whoare Strangers To the light of truth.
from coming Into the regions of il and coun.
tenances by Example. the nations who con-
t'nue in darkness, in shutting out those who
| might Convey 1t to them Instead of level
ling as faras possible every obstacle to the
victorious progress oftru'h, the bill! with an
isnoble and unchris.ian timicity, would cir.
cumscribe it with wall of defence against
the encroachments Of error.
7 Because attempts to enforce by legal sane
tons, acts, obnoxious to so great proper
ton OF Citizens, tend to enervate the laws
IN general. and to slacken The bands of So
c'ctyf Hit be difficult to execute any law.
which is not generally deemed necessary or
salu,ary, what must be the case where il is
ldeemed1nSalid and dangerous! And what
| may be the effect of SO striking an example
!" i"Po'ency IN the government on its gene
raj authority!
:. Because measure Of such singular mag
nltude anddelicacy, ought not TO be imposed.
without the clearest evidence that it is cal:
led tor by nidfnrity of citizens and no sa-
tisiactory method is yet proposed by which
the voice OF the majority in this case may
be determined, or its influence secured
The people of the respective counties are
| indeed requested to signify their opinion
respecting the adoption of the bill, to the.
next session of assembly," But the repre-
| sentaiion must be made equal. before the
voice either OF the representatives or of the
Counties, will be that Of the people. Our
| hope is that neither of the former. will af
Ter due consideration. espouse the dangerou,
principle ofthe bill Should the event dis
| appoint US, will sti1 leave us in full conf;
dence, that fair appeal to the latter will
reverse the sentence against our Iberti-
cs.
| Because finally, ''the equal right of every
citizen to the free exercise of his religion
according tn the dictates of conscience" ia
held by the, same tenure with all our other
rights. Ii we recur to its origin it is equal
ly the gift of nature if we weigh its inn
| Poi'"'SS, ~ SdilHOt DC ieSS GEAR to III
consult the g Declaration of those rights
which pertain to the good people of Virgil
MA, as the basis and Foundation of govern :
ment )" 1t is enumerated with equal so
| iemnity, or rather With studied emphasis.-
! Either then we must say, that the will OF
the legislature is the only measure OF their
authority land that. in the plenitude ofthis
aathority,th they may sweep away all cur fun,
damental rights; or that they are bound tc,
I icrhf ~
! Crea either we must say that they may
controul the freedom Of the press may a.
ooiiSh the trial by jury may swallow up the
executive; and Judiciary powers of the state,
! nay, that they may annihilate our very
right OF suffrage, and erect themselves int
an independent and hereditary assembly or
we must say that thoy have no authority IN
enact into law, the bill under considerati-
on. we, the subscribers, say, that the Ge-
Reral Assembly of this Comm on W ealth have
no such authority and that no effort NAV be,
omiSIed ON our part against so dangerous a
usurPafion, ss oppose toit this remonstrance.
earnestly praying, as We are in duty bound ;,
tnatthe supreme Lawgiyer of the Universe .by.
Illuminating those. To whom it is addressed.
may on one hand, turn their councils from
every act, which would affront his holy pre-.
rogatiye. or violate the trust committed to-
them 1; and, on the other, guide them into c.
very measure which may be worthy of his
blessing, may rebound to their own praise.
and may establish more firmly the iberties'
the property. and the. happiness of this
com monwealth.
| Declaration ofRights, article Is.
rs the Official Despatches per the SaHy from
Gen drnisroug 10 tie Debaytntrn. of State do nor
contain the Note Of Chaanbagny, relatve to ne
tr'Pe6 Of The Eeykin ard AiiIan Deyees-it -
6ef'evea that he gentleman who BROUGHT them,
mag zoe miitatea an Ea;yacf from tHe note or
0ricf sfatemeat Of rte contents to Mr.. Pinkney,
for the note ifsey
Geore'a Gong, eSsionM Eiectiot--R eturns from
y Counts s-Blbb 2306-T coup 2357--CIarke
1920 F'rsyth 1573-Cobb 1+5S-Hall 1l61-.
Ellio,i 1077
! MAxIM'-Lick. dust though It be Fold dust,
ana you are GsSrGaea--1he church may thrive
by persecution bat patriotism thriLrs by pro
lection THERE'S nothing. that can g;ta thr dis.
grace oi nst'on.--Thosa, who adhere to the
enemies OF the country, = giving them aid and
comfort, are Traitors by the Constitution
Shun those, who shun the truth
BEFORE my late illness. Ind prebpeS NV
4 SeD, at the instance of sever III genfle,zen T.,