Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1847-08-27
TO THE CITIZENS OF VIRGINIA.

TO The CITIZENS Ot fIh1lNlh.
No. l.
Alta session of the Baptist General Associa-
tions of Virginia, held the 7Ih OF June last, the
following resolutions were adopted:
/. Resolved, That a committee be appointed TO
address the public, through The newspapers, re-
ligious and secular, in favor OF granting by the
Legislature, acts of incorporation 10 Religious
and Benevolent Associations.
.. Resolred, That the editors of newspapers in
The Stale be requested 10 give publicity 10 The
communications Of The Committee.
The undersigned, committee appointed in
conformity with The foregoing resolutions, beg
leave 10 state briefly The considerations which
induced The Association 10 make an appeal 10
the public The Association is Domestic Mis-
.ionary Society. Il is limited by It's constitution
TO the single object OF Supplying vacan! church.
e. with the preached word, and sending preach
ers into destitute regions ui The State For more
Than twenty years The Association has steadily
and with encouraging success pursued this Im.
poIlant object. From time 10 lime, small sums
have been bequea,hed TO the Association by cha
rtabe and pous persons. The body being un-
incorporated these sums were, in most instances,
diverted from the purpose 10 which they were de-
voted, by the Interference OF The heiIs al law
The cours Of the State have decided that chart.
table requests 10 trustees Tor unincorporaed So
cie,ies, are null and void. Whether this decision
is sound or unsound, ii is no part OF our purpose
10 enquire. II is the settled law OF the common.
wealth. The loss OF these bequesls was telt by
the Association 10 be serious grievance. For
iis removal. The aid OF The Legislature was ear
ne.,ly and repeatedly invoked, but invoked with
~, -.seoss.
The policy OF the Virginia Legislature, rom
the period OF the Revolution has been generally
adverse 10 The Incorporation OF religious socie-
ties. This policy, doubtless, had its origin in the
peculiar circumstances Of The colony. The
Episcopal Church was established by law. The
laws against dissenlers were most rigidly en-
forced Many OF them were arrested, impri>on-
ed fined, and in various ways distressed. 10 in
crease The odium, and complete The overthrow of
the established church, lis friends generally es-
poussd The interests oil The crown, while It's ofpo.
nens, as much from policy as principle, enlisted
in The cause OF The Revolution. As nigh. Teadi-
Is be supposed, our fathers conceived strong
adherence, not only 10 a religious establishment,
bur 10 every thing which bore resemblance 10
il, either real or iancied IL would have been
wonderful il The evils OF one extreme had not
driven an exciiable and excited people 10 The op-
poste one. The denomination 10 which we be-
long was foremost, as having suffered most deep
~ from Inc establishment, il might well be, in FL
forts 10 obIi,sra,e every vestige Of the established
church, and 10 place every church al the Creates
possible distance from all legal authority and pr-
vilcses. II was under such circumstances that
the policy Of the Stale in regard 10 The incorpo-
ration Of religious bodies, was adopted.
The time has arrived wben in The opinion OF
the body we represent, the policy Of The Slate,
adopted under circumstances obviously un'ayor.
able 10 calm and impartial legislation, should re-
ceiYe thorough and candid investigation. Inc
Legislature is but The means oi embodyins, and
giving authoritative ullerance 10 public opinion.
/, cannot be reasonably expected that The Legs
lalure. whatever may be The views Of lis men,
bers, will, without some cea! indication that
public sentiment demands il, change policy In
which the Stale has so long acqulesced Strong
in The conviction that their demand Is equitable,
and its concession is required by sound and en-
lightened policy, The members OF the Association
desire 10 appear, through their committee, al the
bar oil the public. The subject has not, in their
Judgment, received The consideration which lis
influence on the moral and religious welfare oil
The State fairly demands. To such consldera-
lion they earnestly invite The public, feeling as
sured that il mus, result in verdict favorable 10
The objec, Tor which they plead.
No. III.
To prevent misconception, we will state more
definitely. the object Tor which we plead. The
lion, with peculiar privileges we should depre-
cate as terrible curse The principles OF our
church poly are radically adverse 10 such an
establishment. The history Of our denomination
is identified with religious liberty, and freedom OF
conscience. We are convinced that all proies.
tant denominations within The Stale would yea
lousy oppose any approach 10 religious esiab-
lishment. or union Of Church and Stale. We
demand no State patronage. We wish merelyto
be permitted 10 use our own properly, honestly
acquired, in such manner as our understandings
and consciences may dictate, 10 promote the mo-
raj and religious improvement OF our race. we
solicit no peculiar privileges. The aid which
we seek from the Legislature, we would cheer
fully accord, as an unquestionabe right, TO Inc
members OF every religious denomination ~ IS
not simply The absence Of legislation OF Whleh
we complain. The decision oil our courts, maj
a trustee, created by will, iii behalf oil an un-
Incorporated body, cannot execute the trust IN
contraycnlion of The wishes OF the heirs al law,
has The foIce oi prohibitory statute. The trustee
NAV have perfect knowledge OF The wishes oi lhe
,cs,alor. be abe 10 identity with certainty the devil
see and be DESTROYS 10 fulfil thu trust; but our laws
do not rcrmi, him 10 do il. To escape from this
disability, we appeal 10 The Legislature for cor
pora;e privileges; and we are met by The assn.
rance that such grant is contrary to the settled
policy OF the State. Accommodating ourselves
10 The necessity of the case, we unIie with The
friends of liberal legislation, in peiiionins for
The passage OF general law, to enable nu'neor.
poratcd bodies TO hold property, 10 limited eI
tent, and receive requests, hoping that The WIS
dom OF the Legislature may devise some scneme
10 give Us relief and save Ihe cherished pohcy Of
The State; and 10 our moillhcauoh we nnu 'na'
This application meets with less favor than The
other
From the most mature consideration OF the
,uhect. we are convinced thai The least objection
able mode OF attaining our object, will be by an
Ac, Of incorporation. This, if adopted on libe.
raj PRINCIPLES, would secure 10 the Association
every necessary right and privilege; and BY this
system OF legislation, the General Assembly may
iud.e OF every application for corporate privi-
leees ON its own merits, and impose such imiIa-
lions on lis grants as sound policy may require.
On behalf oil the General Association, VIC pro.
pose 10 Offer few plain and candid arguments,
10 show that sound policy, as yell as just re-
gard 10 the rights Of The citizens Of the Common
wealth, demands that the Legislature shall grant
10 religious bodies, as freely as 10 secular associ-
atoms, corporate rights.
No. iii.
We maintain, 10 the first place, That associa'
tons for charitable aud pious puf poses nave es0'
r,gh 10 legal protection. The right 10 acquire pro.
perry is undi'pued and inalienable. The right
tpoemnloy il in lie, or beqneah it al death, for
am nurpose not conflicting with The pubic in
ieresi IS eaually obvious, and equally dear 10
The hear, OF every freeman. The conservation
Of nroperty TO charitable and religious uses, is
Su,y plainly enloined 10 The scriptures, and
acknowledged and respected among every
Christian people under Heaven-a duty, The per-
formance Of which secures double blessings
blessing on those who receive, and richer eles'