The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1842-03-05
From the Baltimore Amer lean.
THE CLERGY.

Messrs Edilors:-A Bill to raise addi-
llona revenue to aid i'll paying The debt
OF Mary land &C., was uIder discussion
III the House Of Delegates d few days
since. Amo.g other clauses OF this bill
there is one which imposes Il lax upon
all profits, arising from the pracllce OF all
professions, faculties and employmenls,
excepting the income or profits of Cler-
gymen, acc rulng TO Them as such, 49,
I a motlon wal made 10 strike out this eX-
cepllon from the Bill, Oh which motion
The following debate occurred, as contain
ed in the Annapolis Correspondence Of
the Baltimore Republican OF The 26Ih OF
February as follows:
"Mr. Forw God mo, ed 10 strike out
that part of The bill mat excepted the IN
comes of CIergymen. lie conlended
that Clergymen should be taxed as well
as lawyers and doctors. That they " ere
generally mean and penulous set of be-
lngs. That the lawyers were liberal and
knd--lhal they had done more towards
the support of government than any other
professionalism they are the most useful
But Clergymen were lazy, good Tor nolh-
Ing, and many ot them enur'ly useless
TnBt they were not more deserving OF ell
couragenenl than lawyers. tie was for
Their being taxed.
Mr.. Johnson said he hoped the motion
ol tie gentleman from Cecll Nj. For
wood) may be carried lie thought as
Tie gen.leman, that the Cl"rgymen snoulu
MOI We eXcepleu-.naL laAa,lon snuLlu be
unllorm-llial Tie Constitution required
it-lnal There was no more reason !or
excepting lnaL Than any other profession.
~ was no.llng but right. / he Speaker
Was about To put this question, wiith
Mr.. DAsHIELL rose aud said that he was
sorry ~ Sc Tie Ignls.ol The Cleigy 50
neg lccled. That lItie were none IL ap-
peaieu 10 advocate lnem. Inc Law had
nele her auvocates-Pnyslc her auvo-
cales-Dlylnity appears 10 be entirely
destitute. Truly TIE Constitution pronl-
Ulls Tie Clergy seat IN TINS Douy-u
presulnes lnelr lights ana privileges never
VIII he lfanpelieu upun-cvery ciyllIzeu
(aud lie expected Tor Tie hrsL time III THIS
liall) me Clergy have been unlu,Iy and
sndLlieiuIly assdiIcu-LoL satisfied WIN the
power vi reason " eject Il FAX upon Their
poor plLtance, ABUSE, loul abuses have
oeen sought ~ c.ea.e prtJuul agalns,
them, wn,cn may Insure this end. lie
hoped THIS House OF Delegates would nol
become SO uegenelaldu Us " MAINTAIN lhi,
mullun. Wna,!-ldX The guspel!-God
forbid! Why, Sill, SHE Is now a pauper -
WllI you roo her OF what charity has
gwen herr VIII you lh,ow an additional
our.nen upon herl She is always groan-
my under oppresslon. say, sir, rather
lnan impede her progress by lessenng
her means, we should do every thing N
our power to enhance ll-every civilized
nalion protects aud encourages her.
Shall we be The first TO lrannei here =
Sir, this feeble attempt will show us as on
The relrograde. | shall be ashamed to see
1t spread out on our journal. The Cos
pei Is the ground work Of civi!ization.-
Upon her The superslruclure of all civil
institutions is bulll-touch her as with
an earthquake aud your superslructure
tails into chaos. lie denied the right to
TAX her-ils expediency has been nlanlles-
ted by all na,lons-Whal! tax the very
Ille-spring Of your government? The yer,
sine qua NM Why, sir, i. is unreasona-
BILE. The constitution never contempla-
ted such thing. That constitution ex-
pressly exempls all churches from taxa
.ion-it is implied, by that, that she never
intended to ,rammel' the gospel in the
slightest degree. Why sir, you would
be drawing blood to Strengthen physical
power. hope, sir. the House will reject