Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1824-01-17

that the principle that iustif.s the existing
prov III our constitution un this subj III
would a. much JUSTIFY any particular sect ia
txe'uuinS all others ii"ai Offices of profit and
trust IN The state. To me il seems that moth
my Gw the greSsrst aud most palpali. :no-
rance 0t ,hr springs of human conduct could
Tor m"mcui rr;ain TIL, unchristian and i'm
polite prov Is0n in our state Cnnsiitution'
To fhc Honorable he Generui .4ssemJiy or ,,.a
ry'ap6, me .Nemoriat Of The subscribers, C:k-
atns thereof
RssrECrfuLLY REPRESENTS:
oar Memorlaiists are Of that class Of the
Citizens of Maryland, hung subjected tn IN.
pressure of political di-gr.fcaiions, hy thu
operation al a rrltyiors test in The Consiitu-
ION ct Tue State: aud they approach Your
Honorable Body with this their PRAYER. that
an Act passed the e9ih uf January 1873 To
extend to all the ci'izrns of MARYLAND the
same civil rights aud religious privileges tina,
aIe cnl"yrd under the Constitution of the
United States" may be confirmed at the pre-
sent session becoming thereby part of tn,
Constitution.
Your Mrmnrinlist., feeling il incumbent on
HEM at this stage of ihr proceeding. address,
themselves on the sub eci, To your Honurab.
no"y' IN the hontst confidence, which the
American is educated 10 entertain i'm his Eel
low ciilzrns, and in the Legislative guardians of
his rights. II is not their wish To obtain frum
your honorable body, grant ofrxc elusive phi
.legr brcausr such privilege would be-
hostiie, not onl! I" the principles of our in
su'u'ions, hut 10 the express provisions of that
Sharter which we have all alike, sworn Ia
support; hut IT Is equal rights which they nett
hon their voice Is not raised in favour bnt
IN ofposi.ion, To exclusive privilege they ask
an equality rights with their fellow citizens
III the disqualiicarions Under which tbrv a.,
sod fi,n,
civil drlinqnencirs, fnr habits of social intern
perance, or disregard of the obligations of
1e'lSl0n, they would blush To murmur ; but il
is, as 'hry hmmby apprehcnd, the rrtribution
Tor too honest perseverance in conscientious
faith, nnmndlul Of political dsoualifications
ot s"Cial Inconvenience, and ol individual con-
tumeiy and this same manly and yirtuous
consistency, Which, eXerted in the cause of their
Country, would enttIe them 10 he hnnor.d as
Pa'rin's, exposes them 10 prescription, when
exercised IN the service of the acknnvl.dg.d
Hod. they firmly hater Themselves, and
nave nj length sumo reason Ia believe. that
your enlightened CuunriiS will suffer no lon
ger, those stranSe anomalies Ia entiure-that
me period has arrived at last, when con-
scirncr aud reason, the peculiar gifts of an
Onh'potent benev"lencc, will be respect.d
ana prosecutions he abandoned 10 The Ingui-
sitor and the BigOf. Are their doctrines inn
y o.
neral ihiib. Are they dangerous It's mn
part OF them Ia work conversions. Are thew
new Ancient as the revelation Of Almighty
truth. four nemOrialists, with all humility
are ~ loss Ia understand what there is so
peculiarly exc"pii"nahle in these their tenets.
rs To have induced solitary, but perseverinr
drpa.lnre, from The sublime system of our
Rmrrlcan political Jurisprudence A.: WHY even
at ms moment, when the whole American
lal Il.
rer%ious prescriptions, renewed and asser ed
IN The old world. the good people of Mary
land alone, should find it necessary or exn.-
uieHi, 10 continue fora moment the disuuali-
hcaton OF any class of their frIIow-citizens
your Men.oiialIsis beg leave 10 remind your
HonorahI" Body, that the hunors of Office in
our py Republic, arr not assumed. bu,
co"i'Tr"o not usnrprd hy guilty ambition. hat
oest va directly ar indirectly, by popua,
confidence; That I" dis1uaiify any class of
your citizens, is for the people to dioualiC,
themseh es can il be necessary, can i, be wis,
or polite at this day, for the people To disonali
~ themselves on the score of opinion only.
from consulting merit in the selection nf nub
lie servants
Your irmorialists do not here pronosc \
Voium'nous discussion of the great principl.s
invn''ed III the question, which thew desire
TO BRING before you because ii is one, a. they
apprfhend, at this day, almost universally
understood. III IS the same which has agitaied
IKE tempest, the human family from its ear
.es' existence has armed the hands of men
IN vide and deso'atlng wars has stained ma
Mons ana lamiIlr: with intestine crime fran,
pied the Charities Of life ; and driven societie.
from ther natural homes, To seek an asylutn
more hospItablc, 90 the pillows of fine deem
or amid the recrsscs orthe desert n question
M.icn' us u manly contributed TO populate
Inls our common country, Was here first and
fully understood ard one, the liberal and y..,n.
Py results of wb"se true nature, our own Ma
ryiand, Though too long ms!ed-upon tbe snh-
leci, eyIDred az the last session of her r ..gis-
Iasnre, and as your Memorialsts trust. will -
gun prove to the world on the present occa-
ated. "FP''''
America, instructed in the school of odver-
slty and oppression, and warned by The Gala
mites ni nati0ns, has attained the haven nC
political happiness, by the gnidr of polincol
wisdom. elaborate in her nigh, she has me-
yer sought 10 hnd IN power, the foundation Of
new rights, but fnctPs Oni To The weak tb,
game measure with ih" Strong. Ii was r.serv
go loF h"r To discover, that true policy con
sisis IN lusiIcr, which, whilst il scenes the
confidence and dcvptioD nf her own sons on
titlrs hrF To the reciprocity nf the strangrr.-
Above aII, America has bern the FIRST I'm rcs
pect opinion and the human mind that rnystp-
nous and sacred relation ur subunarv MAJ,
10 Celestial Wisdom nor has thought io con-
trout the mcasureless elasticity If dat urirci
re, which created for exclusive allrciancp IN
the Omn'p"tcul ainnr, is bpyond the reach Of
n1oral restraints. America has WISELY re.
ina"isned ii {" thr insllious policy ofreral 20