The Northern star, and constitutionalist. [volume] (Warren, R.I.) 1834-1837, 1835-01-24


no difficulty in the management Of their
secular conrerns. Acts Of incorpot alton
are Of modern date, aud are asked for to
obtain more power over the members Of
the society. They are in direct hostility
to religious freedom and for the purpose
OF protecting particular creeds, and per-
pcluating property to the support Vi par
ucular doctrines. 1his bill allows every
one to support what he pIenses, but cofn-
pels no one to contribute towards the sup.
port of any.
MIR Uorr said, Notwithstanding the
House exhibited manifest indications Of
irnras,enrr for the question, he should 60
on. lie knew it was hard speaking "a
gainst the wind, but it was considered SAL
utary to the lungs. He said he did not
object to the first section OF the. bill, alfho'
he was not aware Of any necessity Tor its
passage, or beneficial result that would
follow lis enactment. He would not OBJ
ject TO The second section although he
thought il better TO legislate for each par
ticular case. What would be sufficient
fluids for n society in the country for eve
ry desirable purpose, would not be in
city. The congregations in the one case
are much larger, and their necessary ex-
penses many times greater. 1t would.
therefore, in his opinion, be much better
TO leave it to the General Assembly to fix
the amount of funds corporation should
hold whenever the application should be
made for an act Of incorporation.
To the third section he objected, and
he was unwilling it should be passed With
out being heard few moments. He
thought the conduct Of the gentlemen in
favor Of the bill manifested a conlradic-
,tion. They we're willing pews should 30
taxed to repair and insure houses Of pub
lie worship. Was not this taxing for the
support Of worship, and compelling tho
payment, If they would be consistant
thy should go for the whole, and say no
tax shall be assessed, either ior the sup
port Of the teacher or lOr the payment Of
repairs or insurance. lie should like to
SEQ gentlemen undertake to point out the
distinction. He for one could not dis
cover it, 1t was making a distinction
when none existed.
lie further con'ended that the voluntary
obligations into which person entered
and bound himself for the taxation OF his
pew, or the payment of money for the sup-
port of religious teaching was not inco,n-
patiDle with the platform of religious free
dom inculcated by Roger Williams. IL
was not, that religious teaching ought not
TO be paid for, that induced him to come
TO Rhode Island, but that the consciences
of men ought not to be interfered with, by
the authority OF any man or set of men,
1t was for the enjoyment Of perfect free-
dom in religious concernments. lie al
uded to what William Blackstone said
of religious freedom. He did not like
The dominion of the Lords bishops in Eng
land nor did he like the domtnion Of Liv
brethren any better in America.
Mr. D'Woy said he did not intend 10
have risen again upon the subject, but as
| he had been the first mover in this busi-
ness, he would make some explanalions.--
A petition was preferred TO amend a re-
ligious act of Incorporation two years last
juno, in which the petitioners asked to
have their charter 30 amended as to tax
pews 70 pay for the support Of the PASTOR
This struck him as being wrong-as cons
trary to the principles Of religious freedom
as maintained in this State, and repugnant
to our bill of rights. II was on this occa.
sion that committee was yaised, out Of
which this bill originated. He was fully
aware, that in principle, there was no dis.
tinc,lon in taxing for repairs and In taxing
TO pay the pastor but this bill, like all
others was framed in spirit OF compro-
mise. 1t seemed to be the opinion OF mo
House, that this distinction should be
made, and they have acted upon this dis
tine tiun, for the two last years in all tho
charters which have been grsnted. 1t il
bad enough, to be sure, to tax the poor
man because he owns pew, equallywith
the rich, but il is not 20 odious as TO tax
him in the same way for the support Of tho
minister. lie should be paid by the voi.
untary contributions of his heaisrs, in
such manner as they may choose TO a
dopi, without resort to law TO compel their
support. This act 10 genernl-will affect
vii alike--nnd will al once inform eveiy
one how far the General Assembly will
10 in authorizing religious interpretations
10 tax themselves. Ii will at once destroy
the evil which had Of late crept into prsc-
uce, Of taxing pews to support the minis
ter, and Which he considered IN innova-
ton upon our principles Of religious free
dom, and a violation Of our bill Of rights.
A epirted debate was continued ~
Messrs. Halle, Iill,nghas,, Dorr, and
others, against the bill, and by Messrs.
Hazard, D'Woh, Titus, and others, IN
favor when, about one o'clock, the main
question on the passage Of The bill was
taken, and decided in The Affirmative
yeas 80, usys So-so the bill WAS passed