Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1821-07-27
RICHMOND, july Of. 18eI.
ron THE ENQUIRER.
10 NE PUBIIc ofVIRGISIA, and especially to
NE EPISCOPAL CLERGY, and the risttors of
WILLIAM and MARY COLIrGr

WILLIAM and MARY COLLEGE.
am friend TO learning, and TO the profess
tant christian religion. Ii is therefore that
call the attention of the public to commune
cation made by some of the deputies TO the
late episcopal convention, which fear may
prove mischievous to both. mean the adj
vertsement, that candidates for the ministry
IN Tie protestant episcopal church, will be in
structed by the professors of William and Ma
ny College GRATIS that professorship of
theology will be opened at Williamsburg for the
education of gentlemen in that doctrine of re-
lision who will be accommodated with the
college library and other facilities, without any
charge.
Are the professors and visitors of William
and Mary aware ofthc consequences of such n
step do they know that every corporation
however constituted, is trust for specified
objects That the trustees in no case have a
riShtto use the means given them, for any 9TH
er purpose than the attainment ofthe original
declared end of the trust Have they consid-
cred, that no proiessorship of theology has ex-
isted in the College of William s. Mary since
the revolution? That the exclusive pat
ronage of any sect of religion in any public bo-
dy incorporated by law, is contrary to the 9TH
article of the bill of rights and repugnant to
the provisions of the celebrated statute nsurinr
religious federation and freedom to all men
The true spirit of that act demands that gov
ernmentin all its departments, shall abstain
from interfering with religious opinions. This
principle is as essentially violated, by giving
exclusive advantages to any particular sect, as
| ny prescribing and Furnishing all others The
Legislature of Virginia lately gave decisive
proof OF It's indisposition to allow any privile-
ges to sectarians, by refusing permission To tie
College of Hampden Sydney to erect a chair
Tor teaching theology. That the corporation
ri William o. Mary cmanatcd from the crown.
dpes not enlarge It's privileges or give it any
right, not possessed by Hampden Sydney
! On the abolition of the colonial government
The commonwealth succeeded To all the rights
oi lhe crown. The charter which was before
Eeid oi the crown, was then held ofthe state:
anu II IS absurd to suppose, that because it was
royal charter, ii mrl>t he converted INFO q
college for The instruction of negroes enIy. t.
| The exclusion Of ali white people and thai The
laws and tribunals of the country could not
reach such grievance, because the charter
was signed by William the third
IL Is III vain for the visitors tn lirge that the
Indt'l$encies given the episcopal clergy arc al
lowed by the professors in their individual
character, and not as public functonarics. The
halls OF the college, the library the apparatus,
are public property the visitors and profess
sors are hut trustees of the state, for its pre-
seryation. and proper use. They cannot sell
the house they cannot give perpetual ho-
DAY to the youth OF. Virginia, and rent out the
college for theatre or market; they can
not burn the library, or lock it, and the appa-
rat'is, and the lecture rooms up, to all but
those having particular tenets of religion
without sublecting their charter TO forfeiture.
1ney are to educate the free white youth OF
this country in the liberal and useful sciences.
without regard to religious, or political opin-
IONS; and without favor or oppression TO any
denomination of tnep entitled hv orr I.,,-.
equal privileges. What would be said OF the
Bank o. Virginia, should it publicly declare.
liiat IL would lend money only to the congre-
cations oil the episcopal church that prcsby-
teHans, methodists, baptists, quakels, sc.
shouid not have cent ON any security, or for
any interest or that the former should have
any sums ut Il lower rate OF interest, than the
latter The question is the same. Thee
subordinate Instruments OF government can
never lawfully become the means of cayorinr
any particular class Of men. Their operation
must be unfortunately equal or they de-
part from the cad of their original institution,
anu Their charters may be forfeited
These things are worthyeG being consider
ca, before the rights of an ancient and respect
aoie corporation be put in jeopardy, for pur
poses not within the scope of its Legitimate.
function
| do not like the expression band of anti
ci,fist'an philosophers" in the communication
Oh the Jealous, and no doubt well meaning
clergy, who have addressed their brethren on
tbls subject especially when connected with
public seminary. 1t has the appearance of
the common can't that philosophy and religion
are nj war. 1t 10 dangerous at once TO the
church and state. However pretcnders TO
wisdom have been enemies to religion, and
Pretenders to religion, enemies to philosophy.
maintain, that the great supporters both of.
learning and picty, have never been hostile
either to religion or philosophy. Who are
Ilifse " ant-christiah Philosophers? Diderot,
rom Paine, and such outlaws both TO the
church and state. Do they deserve the name
of philosophers, any more than the shallow
and mpertlnent fanatics, or lmpostors, who
have disgraced the pulpit by their foIies or
their crimes, deserve the name of Fathers of
the Church No; it is Bacon, and Newton,
and Boyle, and Bossuet, and Fenelon, and
Pascal, and Calico, who are philosophers
and have they been more " dnti-christian" than
the monks and friars of the inquisiton, who
prosecuted them, and made one of them the
martyr of science, because he asserted the re-
volution of the earth Let not religion be
arrayed against philosophical not this an
Gent seminary, once the nursery of piety and
learning, contribute TO the propagation of the
heterodoX ideas, which none but impostors
can nave any interest to promote, that there
IS any thing onti-cIriStidn" i'm phiIosophv
mean true philosophy; for false philosophy.
like false religion, may be in opposition TO ey-
cry thing honest and praseworthy advise
Inc public, therefore, to contribute nothing,
until the question of law be settled, whether
William Il Mary College can, consistently
With our institutions, lend itself TO any reli-
5lous sect. This question leave to be decid-
ed by lawyers, for ann only