Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1816-02-13
TO the Editor efMe En4une,.

AS soon as II was aScertained that a
petition was presented to the Legislature,
praying for the incorporation ofthe Iheo-
logical Seminary OF Nirg. the most active
opposition was excited against it. Time
W IS not taken to examine the obe- is had
In view by the petitioners, nor the propos-
ed means of attaining them but by the
use OF certain talismanic phrases, tie Elf
cacy OF which is well understood, in mo-
ment spirit was raised, which not the
potent charm of eloqucnce itself could Ian.
The death blow was thus given to a scheme
not merely harmless, but i'll the Ii CHEST de
gree laudab!e.
After all this, and after execution was
had upon the poor petition, there comes
out in your paper of the 9th inst defence
of the vote Of the majority, under the guise
OF :" An extract of letter from a member
of the House of Delegates. to his friend in
H county" Who this writer may be, |
neither know, nor am L anxious to discov-
cr. AS he exhibits himself through the
medium OF your paper, he has the hort g
BEARING Of u gentlemen, and as such shall
regard him. 1t is regretted that all who
have written on this subject, have not cho-
sen to adopt the polite and gentlenanly
manner of the author of this letter. can
not but lament too, that this worthy writer
has not, it is presumed, through multiple
city of business, examined with greater
accuracy subject on which he has voted
and written otherw sc, | am sure that the
statements & reasonings of man ofnis ia
tents, would have been very different from
those with which he has favored the pub
lie.
And here, permit me to ask, sir, why
was this letter published9 Was it appre-
hended that the citizens of H county
would be dissatisfied with the vote of the
majority? Did the wor ny gentleman wish
to hush the clamors of his constituents, by
volunteering for the combat after the yicto-
ry was gained Or was he dissatisfied
that the question should be decided by
votes against arguments do NOT at all
complain, sir, of this new method of argu--
nS point, after it has been decided. On
the contrary, / tn INK the gentleman for
not permitting the subject to so to rest af-
ter the manner of ordinary rejected petit
tons. My enquiries are entirely prompt
ed by habit, perhaps an unlucky one, of
wishing to know the true reason of things.
In marking on the letter under consid-
Grafton, | must first notice an inaccuracy
in the use of words in relation to the The
illogical Institution, which seems to me to
evince the total mis- conception of its true
nature. The worthy writer terms it a
7Aeo!ogicaL SociefV," where is it is real
w and bona file, a School and nothing else.
He apprehends that the petitioners asked
for the establishment of corporation adj
hitting of an infinite increase of members
but they simply prayed for the incorpora-
ton of fifteen Trustees and President, for
the better management of the concerns Of
l--, fl,,a
institution NAV be illustrated by a very
plain case-Suppose that Drs. Foushee,
McClurg, MsCaw, and other worthy gen
tlemen of the faculty., should conceive the
benevolent project of ducating poor & inge
NOUS youth tx am sure that if there were
scarcity of physicians they would do so,)
for the practice of physic--Suppose that
they should call upon their friends and the
public, and raise fund for this purpose
and for the better management Of this
fund, and to promote more extensively
the objects had in view-Suppose that
Messrsp Buchanan, Blair, Pollard, Green
how, Richie, Selde0, and others, to the
number of fifteen, should be elected Tr5s-
tees, with DIR. Fousbee as their President,
here would be precisely such an institution
as that on behalf of which the petition was
presented TO the Legislature.
Now, should these gentlemen he directed
to apply for charter for this Medical Sc
minary, we will imagine that they would
reason in this way in support of their petit
ton
We have the right, which we have never
surrendered, and viii h no man may take
from us, Of associatirg for any purpose,
not forbidden by the law Of the land
We have the right of contributing our
money, and receiving that which may be
committed to us in trust for this laudable
purpose
Should, this money, destined to objects
Of benevolcnce and utility, be taken from
us by force or fraud,a grievous wrong would
| be done
But we have. as trustees, no iegGi, tho
| an equitable title to this properly, and ar.
] considerably embarrassed in the manage
| ment Of il, and inpedeh in the execution
| Of The trust committed tous:
We, therefore, for ourselves and FOR
those who appointed US, approach the lie
islatWe, the constitutional guardians ant
protectors Of our rights praying them t.
incorporate US rs board oftFJstees for tn
! PURPOSES specified