Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1818-01-22

A ANilN'il tttdt NOuil SO Ear
forget itself as at all times to resist the
strong alurement This will apply not
only 10 the trustees but 10 all the profess
sorsoE the university. colleges and acade
mics; because. although the trustees of
each college and academy may recon-
mend The professors of each, yet the APP
! pOintment must depend upon the appro-
baton oil the board of pablo Instruction..
| Besides, The trustees themselves are made
| dependent Tor their own appointments up
| OH thai board.
And If the trustees themselves should be
| indebted 10 the principle of conformity
for their appointments, Is not likely they
would require the same conformity from
| others or is II supposed that mankind
is really regenerated, and i'll his new PHI
| losophical birth is entirely Invested of all
| his sectariam feelings and propensities
| If this should be the supposiiioD, it will
be found 10 be most woful uIistake. -.
The seeiaran feelings and propensities OF
man are not changed they are only dis
armed other powers by the declaration
ofreligious freedom, and by denying them
the aid of temporal power TO effect their
objects. They are only lulled TO sleep,
but may be easily awakened ; and what
more likely TO disturb their slumbers, and
10 awake them into dangerous activity,
than the temptations held out 10 the do
minant sect by the provisions of ihis billy
For, il will be observed, that the power of
appointments not the only seductivepOw-
er given to the beard ofpublc instruc-
ton. 1t is also empowered TO prescribe
the course Of instruction aud discipline Of tie
university, colleges, academies and primary
schools; and, ' in fine, 10 enact, repeal,
alter or amend such bylaws, rules and
regulations relative to the various OBJ
jects committed To their trust, as to
them may seem eNpedieni: provided
the same be not inconsistent with the
I" constitution and laws of Virginia" -.
1t would be extremely difficult TO set Inn
its to the powers contained in the forego-
ing clauses. Where would be the limita-
ton upon the power TO prescribe tue course
Of instruction and discipline? Here is seen
the importance Of the word instruction."
when used as term for defining power;
and the necessity of afhXing to IL Il precise
and definite meaning. Ii II is to include
within il, amongst other powers, accord
ing to the letters Of MIR. Jefferson and
Doctor Mitchill, before quoted, the sub
jeci of religion what may not be done by
corporation III perpetual succession, III
prescribing the course of religion 10 be
studied and observed i'll all the UNIVERSE
ties, colleges, academies and primary
schools within tie commonwealth go.
Would the act of religious freedom inn
pose any restraint, or set any limit to the
exercise of this pow or? 1t certainly would
not; because, in the bill itself, there is
no saving provision 10 that effect, and the
existing law would be rendered more in
operative by the limitation prescribed up
on the power, than if such limitation had
been altogether omitted, becauseit recog-
niZes the validity of The bylaws, rules
and regulations of the board, relntice to
the rariOuS objects committed to their trust,
unless they be moons stent both with the
constitution and the law; and II Is presu-
med that the constitution is silent upon
the great principles of the act establishing
religious freedom, or that act would have
been altogether unnecessary hence, II
would result, that all the provisions of
that act are rendered subservient to the
discretion of the board of public instruc-
ton. What security, then, is afforded "a
gainst the exercise of this power by the
board, provided ii is invested, as is here
seen, with the Legitimate power for lis
| exercise! Ii is already shown, there is no
such security by any limitations in tile
bill. Can it be expected from the pres
ent state of religion, and the supposed
dormancy of the spirit of religious perse-
cEiion What indications do tile present
times exhibit, TO justify this reliance e..
Look FIRST 10 our own country. Are they
TO be found IN The recent zeal and active
eXertlOns made by the various sectarics
TO increase the numbers of their respect
I've proselytes, and the spirit which vaunts
OF their respective sacrifices III the pub
lac newspapers Are they to he seen in
the active competitions amongst the sec
tarans, for sending missionaries 10 pro-
pagate the gospel amongst the heaihen,
and TO gain proselytes IN remote countries
and amongst barbarous nations Are
they TO be seen in the zeal for the estab-
llshment of bible societies Are they 10
be seen IN the establishment of the peace
society AT Boston, orIn IFS correspondence
with the Emperor Alexander celebrated
at once as the polished philosopher, and
the bigoted champion ofthe holy alli-
aDce Are they 10 be seen IN the camp
meetings which are now extended from
one end of the United States 10 the other
Can they be found in tile wild plIren2y
which is often offered up as the worship
OF God, Ill preference TO the pure and Ta-
tlOnal alteration of rational beings On
the contrary, do not all these Indications
Tend to demonstrate that the edge of per-
secutlOn is now as kcenly whet;ed UP as
ever. and that nothing but temporal pow
er Is wanted, to cause it TO be applied
with as much severity and devastation
Can't be wise, then, 10 place within the
reach.oi this spirit the strong temptations
and allurements contained in these unllm
tied and underlined powers Aud ought
not each separate sect 10 be equally zeal
Gus in its efforts and its prayers, TO avoid
being thus led intothe way ofiempiation 4!
For whilst, i'll the dreaded struggle for SUI
premacy, bui one sect can become predo-