Constitutional Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1824-1832, 1831-05-13
90 The EprrnRs OF THE wu,c


herewith send you for publication the act of the
Legislature OF Rhode Island incorporating the yearly
meeting OF the Society of Friends. The object of
wishing this extraordinary and dangerous document
published is to expose to the People of the United
States the danger of such corporate bodies to the po,
zeal ana regous liberties of the ctZens that corpo-
rate oody OF this character should have existence
an age when mankind have become more generally
enlightened, and their minds expanded with liberal
and attachment to the republican
institutions OF this country, still more
mere something so and novel in this act
OF incorporation, cannot fan strike with astons
ment every person at all acquainted with the history
OF the people, called Quakers from their first existence
as Society, to the date of founding this empire of
gious wealth, under the spacious colourng of benevo
lent charitable religious and other purposes 1t is well
known, that of all the people in Chrisendon the Oua
kers have been the Jealous advocates for
the State and Church unconnected; and that regio5
should stand or fall upon its merits; that the Socie
" OF Friends should DO the first religious BODY to apply
for and obtain act of incorporation embracing vo
men and children in perpetual succession with all tho
powers usually granted corporate bodies to she and be
Sued' &c, Is to my mind, and be to the mind of
every rejecting man, conviction of the great degpne
racy from those pure, highly LIBERAL & sound republican
principles maintained by Fox, PENN and host of others
iof undred and forty years Religious communities las
Such) ceiling tho influence of wealth under liher,l
Evil government, becomes the most dangerous nstit,
'iTis; 10 The happiness and prosperity Of mankind of
all others existing in country whose government l.
founded upon equal rights. There is very remorko
bic tact In this act of incorporation and ono that cxb
nts much ingenious duPcity the part of the know,
md that
49, In guarding against alarming the more honest port F
the society, by not using the words tsuav
III charters, giving the incorporated the poers tn
dpc sued lmplead and be mpleaded BY this saracit
I";,, " me i,Iehoers' no doubt, were ignorant that
FRIENDS Yearly Meeting could sue and be sned
,hey were equally ignorant of the powers granted -;
III" ana equity to corporate bodies vet the kno,,;nr
ones were not disposed to dispense with having the
cRof DONG all matter and things not ~ tI
laws OF the United Statos the State of Rhode Isond
ana therefore use the tech1icaties of law, IN Loo ~
darkness those whose honesty would have reyolted ,
ucd vi oeng dragged before the civil authority Of the
~ Gmy .ieioer' that might think proper to do from
an imaginary or real Suppose for instance
thcTe should DO war, and some of the rnenbars sIJ
I up arms ID defence of the very property secured
ny S charter their Act would be in conformity vy;tb
Oh inc u states and the State Of Rhode Island
not The society," in maintaining their peacaeblo
Prlhoiplcs against War disown those thus v;o1otir
.,'e uiSc'Pnc! should suppose they certainly or,I2
men the Members so disownod would have real
Oh complaint by being disfranchisod from part,
Pdhg IN the advantages, of educating their ci,iId-e
upon Tree cost, we'll as other interest tbev NAV b
VIC uuoS ~ IS more than prcsumable that te, ,,od
ce INC Heary Meeting to appear before the civil at
NY, 70 shew cause why those disowned persons have
OTeH PIoJudlced IN their rights by the meeting for Co.
Plying with the laws of the land; thus in oyey,, ~ 80
Giso"hnent tor complying with the laws of Tie TI
OF the State Of Rhode Island the once
Eahels' always opposed to wars, law suits and ti
GutiOiis OF any kind would shew new, and novel o
exhibiting to the world another fact to the mar,
Gu III history, OF the ncompabilty of treat ,yeal. h.
"a" ihhuence, and vital religion, tremendously prorcs
E oge5heT' There are many other cases which mich,
10 stated, showing the evil likely To orovy ,t Sc
chartcr' to the body polite itself; but 1resnrnirg 49,
u enough TO salty every rejecting mind of tho dar
~ t'eIc is IN giving such power and opule1ce o an,
.onsiouS Sect or any power whatever beyond thai
1911 y 70 exist IN civil character only, have an
''''" my oDgect IN addressing YOU
IN "9rmy tn uniting Religious and
Thrill G0reTHE7cDt