Constitutional Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1824-1832, 1829-11-28

sufficient interest IL the welfare OF Tie comin:ity,
or because they have some separate Interests ,bat
renders IT Unsafe to admit them to the Legislature,
DO they not love hclr WIVES and children as w,H as
other men, AMI ac not oodlaws, equttIlv adm MS
tired, as irnportaii, 10 ,hein to Others! BeiuIe
they are ordained to the ministry; they have the
same rights as their fellow citizens. Why are any
of these rights taken away when they assume the
sacIe6ofhce! Is 1t asa penalty Does the crime
Of being Gospel Minister, rank along with that of
duellng. IN the estimation of onr wise men, Or if
the cNsilision is not penalty, for an offence commit
ted; have they by their own act disqual;Gsd them
selves from serving their country in the Legislature
Il their fellow citizens choose To call them to 40 So
Have they become vicious or irnorapt or sinpd nv
the course they have taken? Let me state case
at late meeting OF a religious body in this city
three grnfeRen We're received by it, as candidates
ior the ministry They were all men who have fami-
hes, freehoders and men of education One ofth,m
Is respectable lawer, another farmer and planter
on a pretty large scale: the third farmer and the
teacher of a school. For some years they have all
been eligible TO TIE Legislature They will con,in-
ue to be So suppose until they are admitted to the
Ministry Of tie Gospel. WHY should they then
be sgmatized as unfit for this ma ri ofthe confidence
OF their fellow citizens? What will they have dunr
TO forfeit this privilege? Does their "mant aiming BIZ
argument their orinons in matters OF religion, dnin-
sh, chanse or affect in any wise, their civil carac-
ties?'
Someit seems "af1aid Gf the ta'er,erence . the
clergy IN poiiticaf maners." But Will It permit rherr
interference To forbid the people TO vote for them at
an eection' Are they less likely to Interfere be-
cause excluded from part of ti.r rights as citi-
zens of the Commonwealth Is ii only in the Hall
OF the Legislature that they are To be feared But
uhy fear them, Have they any influence but what
IS derived from their intelligence and virtue! And
is this tn be feared? And ifthey become protne or
incorporate, OF lcwd; and they are dcposed from
the Ministry, are they then longer dangerous
may they then come into the legislature
Others would exclude them, ITO keep them pure"
and 10 promote the prosperity IF religion Are
we then to conclude, That there is much danger
OF corruption to their principles, or habits from
the good of the Church, they to be shut ont; bv
proviso in the Constitution Surely they ouuht
then, t" pray very ferVently for their fellow citizens
who ere exposed To such formidable temptations
The religious part of the Community, will certainly
Tee! greatly Indebted TO the Convention, for this tender
guardianship? of their interests. If,hey would end
IT 81 tar as to enabl" them 10 hold house for ,rorsp
rhtni tey may caHheir oicn, and to permit them to
enJoyth same facilities for EDUCATING their Minis
| ty States of this Union; they would have more
confidence IN the sincerity, as well rs in the en-
lgh'ened characts of this profession of friendship
! --Even then, they might perhaps say If Minis
trrs ought not. for the sake of the purify of thei
characer and the prosperity of religion 10 90 10 the
IL gIslaturc, you G better leave it TO the rood
OF the people MT to elect them-or ecclesiastical
bodies 10 adopt regulations. for guarding the purity
Sof their own nen,:,crs.-On the whole, when tho
Convention come to incorporate this provso into the
ution, it is hhped. they will distinctly define
whom they mean, by Ministers of the Gospci: what
Is their offence disqualifca'ion and whether, if
deposed from the ministry, for vnlating the Laws of
God, they may then be chosen, to ,uakc laws for the
country. A LOOEER- on