Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1844-01-30
MANY VOTERS
The vote the passage Of the Tax Bill in the S
nate last Thursday was, ayes IS, noes 3.
COUNTY.


AT meeting of the people of Gloucester county,
held the house. the 25ih day of November,
1913, for the purpose of taking into consideration the
claim set up by The Episcopal Society to the exclusive
use of the old Parish Churches of the county, Mr. Ca
rs Jones called to the Chair, and Mr. C. w.
Montague appointed Secretary.
After some discussion, the meeting was adjourned to
the third Saturday IN January, 1874 in order to have a
more full expression of public opinion the subject
According to The ad urnment, very large assem-
bage OF persons composed Of members of the different
religious denominations IN the county, and number
of attached to religious society," convened in
the court house, to take into consideration the subject
submitted to The former meeting After explana-
tory address from the Chairman, Mr.. Boswell Sea-
well proposed The following Preamble and Resolutions,
as expressive Of the sense Of The meeting, and uc-
companed the same with few remarks
PREAMBLE.
| WhereaS in the opinion Of this meeting, the old
Parish Churches, built previous to the Revolution,
erected and maintained by tax levied by autho-
rlty Of law, The whole people of the respective
Parishes, in which they situated end since the
Revolution, the General Assembly have annned all
former laws upon the subject Of the Episcopal Church.
and declared true exposition Of the Bill OF Rights 10
b. contained in an &C! entitled act for establishing
Religious Freedom, thereby recogniz ng the principle,
that all property formerly belonging to the said Church,
Of every description, devoved upon the good people
of this Common wealth and by the act concerning
the Glebe Lands and Churches within this Common
the Legislature have the right authorize the sale of
all sach property, Unfortunately and whereas, the
Church known as Abingdon, in the Parish of Abing
don, in ths county, is of those old Parish Churches,
and as such, has become the property OF the whole
people, without stinctnn of religious sects demo-
mnaons and since the Revoiuton hath heen kept in
repar, and used for purposes OF Divine Worship, by
al denominations Of Christians, up to recent period,
whsn few individuals, in the name OF the Episcopal
Society, have assumed TO themselves the sole use OF
| Il roe pYatl
and in the assertion Of such claim to exclusive pro.
perty, have proceeded u exercise acts OF ownership
over said Church, altering II, and putting lock npon
the door, for the purpose of debarrng all other demo-
limitations Of Christians, than the EpscoPal'ans, rnm
using said Church for Divine Worship, and have d's-
posed of the rubbish and SO from the Grave Yard,
and in these and other acts shown total disregard OF
the feelings and wishes OF the people of the county
and whereas, the silence Of the people at THIS time
might be construed acquiescence on their part
in The claim Of said persons, 10 the exclusive property
in said Church of Abingdon:
Be Il Resored, therefore, That III the opinion oil TINS
meeting all the old Parish Churches belong not t. any
one denomination Of Christians, but to the people ge
nera!ly and that all religious Societies have an equal
right TO use them for purposes os Divine Worship.
Resolred That in asserting the right of all religious
tons 10 the Of said Caurches, this meet
ing does not intend u deny to the Episcopal Society
the equal right 10 use the same.
Rcsoiped, That while this meeting strongly dsap-
proves Of the of those individuals who have taken
posse sion Of said church in the Of the Episcopal
Society, yet no reflection is intended upon the motives
which may have actua,ed them
Mr.. John w. c. Catett supported the resolutions in
an eloquent manner
Messrs. Warner T. Taiaferro, John K. Bryan and
George f. Tabb, with much ability and earnes,ness
opposed their adoption-and Mr. Taiaferrc, moved the
indefinite postponement of the meeting
| The motion 10 postpone, was opposed by Mr. John
| T. Seawell, who, in able and lacld argument, in
support OF the resolutions went into full and impair
tial examination of the several legislative enactments
and judicial decisions The subject Of the Glebe Lands
and Churches, in the State of Vrgna; and in an i'm.
pressive manner, recommended TO the meeting a COO
and unf nchiug support OF wha. they deemed their IN
doubted rights.
| When Mr. Seawe closed his remarks the motion
Of Mr. Talaferro adjourn sine die, lost by an al
most unanimous vote.
The question was then taken as TO the adoption Of
the preamble and resolutions, and they were passed
wlhou, dissenting voice.
| On motion,
Reso'ped, That the Secretary be directed TO transmit
copy Of the proceedings of the meeting the Editors
Of the Richmond Enquirer and Wing, of the Norfolk
Heruld and the Old Dominion, with reques, 10 nser
the same in their papers.
| On motion, the meeting adjourned.
C w MONTAGUE, See'y.