Daily Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1840-1842, 1842-01-12

ter OF tie Caespon aud North Branch Turnpike
Company.
BY MIR Baldwin, That the Committee for Courts
inquire whether the law in regard to sales OF pro-
perry dis'rained for ren, rtQniIes amendment.
By Me- Lcyburn. That leave be granted to tn
Committee ON Agriculture and Manufactures 10 sit
during the session of the House on this day.
BY MIR Toler, That the Committee Banks
have authority TO send for persons and papers dn
ring the investigation of the subjects committed to
said committee, and that they have the power to
direct such documents 10 be printed, relating 10 sa,d
subjects as to them may seem eXpedient.
The bill to incorporate tho Society for the relief
Of superarnuatrd Ministers Of the Methodist,
Episcopal Church, on motion Of MIR Smith OF
Northumberland, taken up.
MIR Scott Of FduIuier, stated that n difficulty
arising ont Of the Constitution, was added to his
other objections to the bil-snd referred to tina, in
strumen'. lie snid il the Legislature should in
corporate this society giving them the privilege Of
holding property to the value of $4,000 they
could not hereafter reasonably refuse to any other
society similar grant: and the number OF sects
being large it would follow, that many Religious
Societies IN the State would hc endowed with large
pecuniary means. This state Of things he denrc-
Gated for many reasons, and could not think Reli-
sion itself would be benefited by it. He referred
TO the ncis Of this nature formerly PASSED, aud
Showed that the Legislature had afterwards re.
peaed them MI. II this hill were intended To bcnc-
fit the Me holds, Society particularly, tnnd if not,
what was its descn1l he thought II expressly in.
terdicted in the Cons,i;u,ion-and f it were pissed
he s1id precedent would bc established. under
cover OF which another society would gradually
advance ITSELF until IL not tho whole foot mint a:
least the great toe OF the Pope would be plainly
visible After other remarks against the bill,
MIR Baldwin rose in its support, and unclaimed
the attention Of the House in long and mos, co
quent speech. The bill under discussion was. he
snld. IN his opron perfectly harmless, and he asked
If the House would refuse the incorporation of this
society fur benevolent purposes, when they were
ready nj all times Ia listen iavorahy TO the petitions
Tor the advancement of the coXcomtry ri science
YES. even FOR the laudib'o purpose of embalmng
liz irds and preserving butterflies He thought his
friend from Fduquier would probably find in ofier
wears that there was philosophy, which genius
alone could never acquire. though aided i'm its
search by all the lights of science and the learnn,
OF the schools-a philosophy, the frs; principles OF
winch would require the un'edsnins of all the lore
he knew. BE did not think the spiri, OF the
Constitution opposed 10 this b-the powers asked
could not be diverted TO improper uses-ihe society
was wholly for charitable purposes. |; was true he
said, we should not do evil that good NAV come of
II; but we were not interlicied from doing good
lest by possibility, evil might como of t-for If
this last idea were acted on. we might us well dash
out the brains Of inr ocent children lest perad
venture. they might become wicked or immoral mer
The Legislature The said) could At any time by the
use ct the pruning knife Of amendment, which they
held in their hands, lop off any c1crescences which
might threaten to bc detrimental 10 tho good of So
ce;v-Or, If his infant society should become wick
cd or refractory, the power uf repeal was suilIo-
tine nv one stroke o; which they might at anv time
op oil us head. lie asserted that civil and religion,
liberty were twins, that their likelihood was COM
mon 10 the veins OF both, and that an injury 10 ono
was injury 10 both, and benefit TO one benefit
to both Gentlemen might TAX they pleased OF
the bcotrY OF Christians, but II could not hs COM
pared with the bso;ry Of Politicians, with their
nartowmInded HrejDdices and subim1,ed ideas Of
political and religious freedom. Blu; the gentleman
from Fauqulef fears that this bill viii egiabsh
precedent, under cover of which large amounts of
property will get into the hand. OF osious soeie-
ties. Must, then, charitable institutions bs dis.
courased because. forsooih. some benefits may dow
IN religious societies. TO particular sccietyl
These arguments were, however, all thrown away, |
u the senieman's argunsn; h7d convinced the |
House that the bill was unconS tiiuiion,'. But he
you'd refer Ia the bill Of rights What could be |
found there opposed the PRINCIPLES OF this bill
II he recolec.ed argh', It intended to inhibi;
any forced AID 10 religious societies, bu; It did not
prevent the Legislature from extending the omen
hand of kindness to MD any sociey for Charitable
purposes like thls-no,i it merely opposed taxation
m aid Of such societies. IL thought ne safcru,rd
OF religion freedom would be found in the spin, Of
society but not IN the snactmrD;s oi the Legislature
VIZ Baldwin here INDUCED in two or three poetic
nights 81 touching be lu;iiu'. that they would toe
considerably damaged by any attempt TO sketch
them. Many IN eye gistcned with the tears Of
soft emotion
Mr. Scott ihen rel1inod. He fully agreed 10 all
the arguments IT. favor Of rel sior; but he had Ms
tened in vain f,r any solid reasoning agsins, the
obstacle 'n'epnsei hv Inc constitution The small
proportion cithe gon'eman's remarks appropriated
TO the M under discussion, md the urge amour,
IN favor Of religion generally, startled him. he sad
INTO ienr that be had uuconscousy said something
that might have been interpreted into an argument
against religion. lie said he would retreat before
the c'ntemnd's attacks upon him, and lake shelter
oehlnd me constitution, thnt rampant built by the
hands Of those very 'oreiathers whom the gentleman
himself had SO highly and so coquontv laut,d;
and that rampaf; mus, be broken down. before he
could be got AZ. He then Proceeded to for,ify his
deienccs, by chain OF close ard solid reasoning.
occasionally sallyins forth to admire some ore Of
the pictures so beautifully drawn by Mr. Baldwin,
bn. always returning TO his constitutional defsnc.s
When Mr Scott concluded
On motion Of MIR Stto:her,
The House adjourned.