Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1818-01-22
FOR THE ENQUIR Err.
No &


Doubts concerning the merits Of the proposed
system Of pubic education, most respect
fully addressed to tie General Assembly of
Hirgina-BY A CONSTITUENT.
"But with this, (the Virgnian government)
though man might he happy, he will not al
ways, nor indeed long be satisfied. He will
g reach at perfection absolute and unqualified
81 He forgets, thai theoretical perfection in gov
: ernment, and practical oppression, closely
.'allied. He will be more than man, aud he be-
comes less" Pursuits Of Literature.
In endeavoring 10 ascertain the proba-
Bile consequences of the proposed system
of public education with all its concomi-
rant machinery for its support, upon the
existing governmental Virginia, the mind
Is forcIbly impelled 10 consideration of
its probable effects upon the state of re-
liglon, III It's present relations to the gov
eriimept; and it is naturally first led 10
enquire, what those relations now are.
These will be fully and clearly seen in an
act of the General Assembly, passed the
10th day OF December, 1895, III the fol-
lowing words: "That no man shall be
s. compelled TO frequent or support any
religious worship, place, or ministry
whatsoever, nor shall be enforced, re-
" strained, m0lesied, OF burtheued in his
body Oh goods, nor shall otherwise suf-
s' fer OH account of his religious opinions
I" or belief; but that all men shall he free
s. TO profess, aud by argument TO mdii-
" tam, their opinion Ill matters OF reli-
:" glon, and that the same shall in no wise
=" diminish, enlarge, or affect their civil
capacities" Ii cannot escape ObseTva-
ton, that this act establishes not only
perfect liberation, but perfect freedom
oil religion and II asserts and prociaims
an entire separation of church and State
This is perhaps the first, and boldest e.
fort ever made by men, to liberate the
mind entirely and completely from the thraj-
dom ofrcligious preiudices and although
at the time of lis passage, it was deemed
by all devotees, whose minds were not
then uniettered, TO be AN act Of impiety
towards God, of Reorganization towards
the government, aud OF abonllnation to-
wards man it has i'll its practical opera
flons, been foundio produce precisely the
opposite effects. The pure aud unadul-
terated worship Of God; an affectionate
confidence III and support Ut the govern
meut, and the most perfect liberality and
harmony amongst all the various sects
and denominations Of religion; so that
God is now worshipped in The purity Of
conscientious spirit and Of truth; the
government is firmly bottomed upon the
ed from the impious persecution and de-
struction of his fellow man For since
the passage of that law, what scafiold has
been raised in Virginia by blind ianati-
cism, to tie mistaken honor of God, and
been impiously stained by the blood OF
human sacrifices? What prison has been
profancd by the presence of suffering man
for conscience sdket What tribunal has
dared to say to any human being under the
protection of tina. act, " how stands il be-
tween ihy conscience and thy God IN
what way dosi thou worship thy CreatOrY
II the effects of this celebrated law in re-
laiioD to religion, have been thus super
intended and blessed by the will of an all.
wise providence, its effects upon govern
Incnt have not been less so. In all OTTER
countries, in all former times, whether
during the reigns Of Theism, or Polytbe.
ISM, church aud state have been united
and IT has been only fron this combina.
ton OF spiritual and temporal power, thai
wau could be degraded below the dignity
OF lis nature, and made the blind anC
ibuagilless Instrument in the ianis o