Richmond daily Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1842-1861, 1845-01-07
To the Editors Of the Nag:
THE APPEAL TO TIE LEGISLATURE. AND THE
WISHES OF THE DAPTISTS.

Messrs. Ediors:-As a member Of the Committee 10
prepare the Appeal" the Legislature, for aw to
bic Scienufc. Benevolent aad Religious bodies
and hold beques consider my duty correct the m.
approximations Of some persons 10 the real object Of
Petitioners.
II has been assumed that the Petitioners ask Tor gene
raj Incorporation act, and on this assumption much
has been and said. On what authority evidence
this Is asserted do not know. 1t is not said
Appeal" nor IN the Memorial have never heard
az the Committee word in favor VI general
incorporation law Some have expressed the opinion that
unincOrporntej body could hold bequoss and have
therefore supposed, If the Legislature passes any law
will be such will enable al bodies that may wish toie
incorporated to sppy for special act ia IL should
IL ehoose.
The COMMITTEE that prepared the "a Appeal" did NJ, pre-
to dictate t, the Legislature what law it should pas
this would have been presuning mad they done twas
enough state the oeef which regarded by almost
serv msn who had thought upon the subject desirable To
obtain by slsw.
nave the utmost confidence the purity Of the mo.
uyes u the Committee with which have had the pleasure
10 labour in preparing the Appeal, and good ~
tention OF the denominations which have oned ~ the BE-
tiion before the Legislature. IL would be unknd
rs would be unjust, for 10 mpute them any wish
establish religion by laws, or 10 ask for any
law IN their favour which those. who oppose petition
have not asked and obtained IN other States. But they
need no defence from am requested either rep
resent defend their views A. very gave charge
been brought against the petitioners indscrmlnaiey
deem It my duty the precise position Of the Bup
fists in reg'rd To the petition The General Association Of
Va "a domestic State missionary society at IT. annual
meeting 10 June lei3. adopted the following resolution
Resolped That the Board be requested 10 unite with
other religious Denominations Of the State In preparing
memofs 90 the General Assembly, PRAYING some modi-
cation Of the Statute OF Wills deyises Religious
Charitable, and other unncorpoaied public bodies may be
rendered more certain and available 10 the devsocs lee
page 9TH II the Annual Repori) This oil the lspsts
have asked This is requesting Legislature 10 pas,
general law Of incorporation.
When lspeok 81 the Bopfsis in tiis case, do no, ~.
tend that all the Bnpsts In this State Joined
the resolution pissed by to General Association Ut Viz
gnia and referred 90 above. OF the 50 900 Bip-s In
than 10000 in favour Of the OF B.nevO
Ionce, and presented. with very few exec put ~ Tie
General Association OF Va. Some II the other rcgi,
10 say, not generally favourable to Bible Mission
Temperance and other Societies for advancing the cnus,
81 the RedeeneE Such do their properly io
Benevolent aud Religious purposes. and they not 10
favour Of the efforts made by their brethren Tor these
WINS not IN the least surprzcd TO hear that u On,
sRf Mission Associations had sent 10 Log aiuc a a.
nOnstrance eRsinst petucn
Bot some Of the ffiends ol Humanity and Religion
around wish 20 give c money Tor benevolent purp,s
es. which they have right ~ de-; and wish Ia fccciy
NIL that y thus voluntarily given that mey cid in %,
great work II evangeliEnR ne world II any wish IT, OPP
pose In this grestundeftakng the responsibility theirs
We are willing 10 be wstched by nll. but We shall nrye
smey consent TO be Judged and condemned m sdvance
The Bspusts well k0Own Nv the state a. iisrf
ihings thst have been said ia the opposition vhic
has shown itself TO Their petitions to the Legislature.
have much confidence ~ the integrity n other D.,
nominations who have Joiucd In this petition have
the Bspts. Although they have spoken ont quite
fully the Bspus have, have tho remost rhougl
that any Of them wish established religion any thin
else incompatible with the best OF 40
Respectfully, &C.,
ELI BALL.