The Northern star, and farmers' and mechanics' advocate. [volume] (Warren, R.I.) 1830-1834, 1834-02-01
wHOLE'No.x

and the same men are otDen q. eho hea1
Of several Of them. They have ~ con-
troll OF the printing Of the books and pa-
pers which are 10 be pseronissd BY 11oaes.
sdciation, and have ~ lhis menns @ ~
most despoiic infiuepce over pubIie opin-
ion, aud the sentiments and rsligious en-
cation Of the risipg generation. Y % cam
mittee are Of opinion that the pgevalssce
Of this fashion is q matter Of scrions con-
cern to aITwho fell an interest tor the fu-
ture welfare Of the country ; and thaa, ~
though the ends proposed by many &c
these bodies may be laudabls, the meano
are dangerous and liable 20 great ahnae. Z
People who are often brought togeshof -
the meetings Of these bodies, sad fhcro
act in friendly concert, are very - = IS
carry this union Of feeling into poIIflpe
and there also to- sxpport aud ict Nh
those with whom they are in the habit of
meeting SO often.
The influence of the clergy, a. bedv.
added to the control which they exert ov-
or these association, appears to be ~ I
ready great enough for the proper sup
port OF religion, without Sdding any more
power or privileges by charters or legal
enacNnents. Their influence il Rresfer
than that Of any other profession, Tor tbis
reason, that while the professors oflaw
and incidence, are generally from rlvalsy
and opposition Of private interest, pre-
vented from acting inconcert, the clerical
profession mainain most constant and
intimate union, and the exertioas Of each
member are contributed 70 in
crease the influence Of his ORDER
Our land is called a land of freedom. -
Political liberty to the utmost extent we \
have, but there are many coun-
tries now groaning under heavy political
despotism, where we believe religious
freedom is enjoyed to q much greater ex-
tent than in ours, where religious lopin- I
ions. are published without any rsstssins.
and are fairly oanvassed without pcs6onsl
or sectarian repgoach, where man doss
not love his brUthsr man the less fsr te,n9
Of a different religious bslief, providsd !.
that belief be hsnest, and 20 evidenced by
an honest life. Such POUR sCommittes
believe to be nearly the present seuee q
practical intellectual freedom IN Gesunss
ny. ~ %t -,
In the ceprse ef the examination, whish
the Cosuni.tee have given TO this suhisct,
they havs bees led % consiaes tho pgopvE
oty ofPcrmitting cerPosatio@ sf any sorts
to hold reai estate to any large ameunt.
1t has been the policy Of the law IN lmose
of these United States to dissossaae -
much as possible all entsiIments and re.
straints upon the freedom Of alienation Of,
landed property which would have the
effect Of keeping it locked up ia The pos.
OF any particular line Of individuA.
ais. ~ ea3 ..lisss !
The same reasons which led lawRiy.
ers to discourage and restrain the power
Of entailment IN private individuals apply,
with teniold force to corporations which
in contemplation ofiaw never die. Land-'
ed estate when given 10 them may remain
locked up in their possession forever. and
much OF II is given to them with the condi-s
tion express or implied that they shall not
ALLEVIATE it. ~
An many Of the charters which have
been granted to-religious corporations ia
Rhode Island, there is no limiiation what
ever Of the quantity or value Of the real
estate they are empowered to hold, and ~
almost all the cases where the chartsr
does contain limitation, your COMMITTEES
are of opinion thut the limit is set too hish.
so high in many cases ss to be in effect no
limitation at all.
In our mother country the Danger Of
the real estate Of the kingdom by getting
all into the possession Of religious and
charitable corporations was at one time 80
great as to occasion the enactment oflsws
generally denomnated the Statutes OF
mortmain, curtaiiing the power Of these
corporations to take and hold property.
and to prevent them from receiving de-
vices by will II has generJly been con!
sidered as On established principle that
such English Statutes az were passed b
fore the settlement Of this country and az
applicable TO our circumstance, form \
part OF our common law, and these Stst--
utes were passed at very early period
of EnglisI, history. Yet AZ the hiehest
Court in ncighDoring State have expyes-
sed their opiuon that these statutes have
never been re-enacted or adopted in this
country, and as the question may there
fore be considered doubtful, your commit
tee would recommend the attention ofths
Legislature TO this subject.
Tho subject OF devices to corporatioss,
and especially to religious corposaiions
deserves serious deliberstion II 10 Z,
matter. OF common experience thss mea
who show the greatest strength Of mind Ia
all the ordinary aasirs of life; oAsn en-
hibit most lamentable instances Of the
weakness ofhuman nature whcn reduced
by sickness and brought near to desth.---
These are the favorable times Cor psstsils