Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1826-11-03

asylum 10 the prosecuted, it is itself, signal @!
persecution. 1t desrades from the equal rank o
ci'izens all those whose opinions in religion do moi
bend to those of the Legislative authority Dis
ant as 1t may be, IN IFS present FORM from the In
quishon' II differs from it only in degree. The one
'he hrst step, the other the last in the career
Intolerance. The magnanimous suffer r under th,
) e.uei scourge In foreign regions, must view the
OIL as beacon on our coast, warning him to seek
some other haven. where liberty and philanthropy
IN their due extent, may offer more certain repos,
f!om his troubles
because, 1t will have like tendency to Danish
our ci'izens. The allurements presented by other
situations are every day thinning their number.
10 superadd fresh motive to emigration. bv re-
vokinS the liberty which they now enjoy, would
oe the same species of folly, which has dishonour-
Ell and dePopulated furnishing Kingdoms
because, 1t will destroy that moderation and
harmony which the forbearance of our laws to in
'ermeddle with Religion, has produced amongst its
several sects Torrents OF blood Have been split
IN the Old world, by vain attempts of the secular
arm 70 extinguish religious discord by prescribing
all Inference In religious opinions. Time has at
length revealed the true remedy. Every relaxa-
,ion OF narrow and rigorous policy, wherever it
mas oeen tried, has been found TO assuage the dis
ease. The American theatre has exhibited proofs,
,Aat equal and complete liberty, fitdoes not who'll
~ eradicate it, sufficiently destroys its malignant
influence on the health and prosperity of the state
ii Win the saluary effects of this system under
| our own eyes, we begin to contract the bonds of
| religious freedom, we know no name that will ton
severely reFroach our folly. AT least let warning
be taken at the frs, fruits of the threatened innoo
vauon. The very appearance of the bill has trans
formed Z" that Christian forbearance, love and
| Charity" which of late mutually prevailed. into
animosues and jealousies. which may not soon be
appeased What mischiefs may not be dreaded, .
should this enemy TO the public quiet be armed
with the force Of law.
Because, The policy of the bill is adverse IN
the diffusion of the light OF Christianity. The first
wish oil those who enjoy this precious gift, ought
70 De, that II may be impaired the whole race of
mankind. Compare the number of those who
nave as yet received il, with the number still re-
naming under the dominion of false religions:
ard now small is the former? Does the policy
OF me Dill tend TO lessen the disproportion, No:
i, at once dlscourages those who are strangers to
'ne light oil revelation from coming into the region
oi ~ ana countenances, by example, the nations
VINO continue In darkness, in shutting out those
VINO might convey it 10 them. Instead of leyelling
as Tar As possible, every obstacle 10 the victorious
progsess cStruth, the bin with an ignoble and I'M
chrlst'apCi tmidty, would tircumscribe il. with a
wan OF science, against t5s encroachmen,s of er
.ror. ~
Because, A,s-mptsto enforce by legal sanctions,
acts OBNOXIOUS TO SO great proportion of citizens
tend to enervae the laws in general and IN
siacKen the bands of society If it be difficult 10
execute any law which ~ RIOS generally deemed
necessary or salutary, ,sLsE must he the case
where II Is deemed invalid and dangerous, And
what may be the effect of SO STRIKING an ex.mnle
oil imPotency In the government, on its general
authority.
bcranse, measure of such singular magnitude
4 Yfrhf
ciearest evidence that it is called for by majority
OF citizens: And no satisfactory method = w.,
proposed, by which the voice of the majority in
this case may be determined, or its influence GO :
cured " Inc people of the respective counties
are Indeed requested signify their opinion req
pectrs the adoption of the bill to the next session
OF Assembly. But the representation must be
made equal, before the voice either of the repre-
seh'atVes, or OF the counties, will be that of the
people, our nope Is, that neither Of the former
VIII, alter due consideration, espouse the dancer
Gus principle of the bill. Should the event disan-
point US, II will sill leave us in full confidence
That tar appeal to the latter will reverse the eu
ience against our Liberties
Because, Finally, " The equal right OF every
citizen to the free exercise of his religion. accod.
ing 10 the dictates OF conscience is held by the
same tenure win all our other rights. IF we re-
cur 10 It's origin, II is equally the gift of naure II
we weigh its Importance, il cannot he less de., ~
Us; we consult the {" declaration of those rights
which pertain TO the good people of Virginia, as the
basis and foundation Of government, rs il is emu
Fneraied with equal solemnity, or rather studied
emphasis Either then we must say, that the will
OF the Legislature is the only measure of their au
thorIty, and that in the pentude of this authorize
'hey may sweep away all our fundamental rights.
or that they are bound leave this particular rob
untouched and sacred: Either we must saw. ,6a,
they may control the freedom, of the nress. ma :,
abolish the trial by jury; may swallow up the sr.
! ecu'Ive and judiciary powers of the state: nav
that they may despoil US of our very rgh, of SUI
irase, and erect themselves into an iodenendsr,
and hereditary Assembly; or we must saw. tba,
they nave no authority TO enact into law the hill
under consideration. We, the Subscribers sov
that the General Assembly Of this Common W eai,b
nave no such authority: And that no effort ma .
De omitted on our part against so dangerous an
usurPation, we oppose to it this remembrance
earnestly praying are in duty bound. tia, ,bs
supreme Aawgiver of the Universe, by iiluminat-
ing those TO whom it is addressed, NAV. ON the On
hand turn their councils from every act which
would ahront his holy preroga.ive, or violate the
uuSt committed to them: And on the other. ouids
mem 'hto every measure which may be WORTHY ri
MS blessing, may rebound TO their own prs.e and
may establish more firmly the liberties. the mo-
perity anu the happiness of the Commonwealth.
| 9 preamble to the Declaration of Rights.
------.zEEs> @ CITE ID