Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1851-07-15


peace Are you afraid they would engage in the log
rolling monolnana as it is described of our past legisia
ture, Or do you fear that few mixed with them WIG
honestly entertained conscientious scrupes might sP,
anI lnflse commendable spirit into that oody.
think might be raugh. with be happlest
o't YOU tell Us you are opposed to Gesrauns 'he w
functions Of their divine mission. We shall have enough
to do TO regulate and for our own m"conahc
without assuming the hurthen Of theirs fon efA u
that you opposed to Seeing them draooe ther lh-
lsterla robes in the dust and filth Of the political arena
3 his comes with bad grace from those Wno o''h III
profession and practice disregard religion nut ihl-
assumes what think, no gentleman in tins House l.
prepared to concede it takes for granted that man
cinhut be an honest politician, conclusion To wheh
nm not vet prepared to come though must confess
have long been disposed suspect the honesty Of
very many; nevertheless must be permitted to con
nue to believe that honest politician Is neither
miracle nor an impossibilitv, until shall have NJ
least. some sembance Of reason for so violent coz
clusion. 1t is not conclusion that am prepared to
;ump 1T on the contrary, fear that it would take
very strong proof satisfy my mind that being mem
Der Of any legislative body in this country necessarily
involves degradation. dshonor corruption shorld
be very 10th IL believe any such doctrine. But let lis
net consistent ii the minister is liable to be seducrd by
the corruptins and communicating tendency of cgsla
tive bodies what is likely be the result upon the
members: And if the the purity Of religion is what
gentlemen aim Mt how much more ccssity, in order u
preserve it uncorrptcd holy, and unde1ie, keepthe
humble members out OF temptation Ii the strons can
not rcsIst this all conquerng temptation OF course the
Weak must tnl before its desolatinS and desrovin.
march To be consistent you must keep them out.
clsun which every member OF this Convention would
stare. But if you really do intend to impose const
tutina restrictions tor the preservation OF the purity
of religion is there not even greater necessity ny rt
tutionnl prohibitions exclude the members and thus
Danish christianity, morality, and purity from your leg
islativo hall by your excluding policy! Make virtue
constitutional barrier to promotion: give christian.
ty and morality all the side ;hrusts you can, and
when you account for vor conduct tell your
people that YOU have added another chaplet to the
crown OF nhdelitv. Eat the aye OF superstiioS fear
has passed away; the priest longer controls tho
thoughts of his hearers: mankind have commenced To
think for themselves the rude ages OF brbarity super
stltlon and prestcratt now enumerated amongst the
things that were; Intelligence and civation have made
their WAY into this land have, therefore, moth
ing 10 fear about the union of Church and State. But
will your restrictions prevent the most objectionable and
obnoxious Of them from PARTICIPATING Let us LOOK
little into the matter The minister who Is honestly aiiu
enscientioisv engaged in performing his ministerial!
duties would look upon his situation Of high and
holy nature called cxpound the colnsels Of rtcrl-
IT, ordained minister of God holy revelation, drec'
ted by his master proclaim the great principles 9"
gospel reformation. he would not for one moment OK
change the privilege of warning the young. and adm"n
ng the old of administering the spiritual comfort
to some nrsakcn and abandoned sufferer pouring the
many lessons of inspiration, hope and consolation
leh THE staggering, mind Of departing christian
Would he exchange the gratrcution OF standing by the
death bed of nrcpentng pr"dsal and pointing Out
of only source, OF hope ali this WORLD! Does ANY man
in this ace of c7tion believe that nm honest CHRISTIAN
minister could for far forget the sssuaty
of his calling be seduced from procaimns the su-
perority OF virtue by all the vain and lluslVe
ockrrv aud nselled phantoms of worl ~ pre"rELrntf
No sir he would not exchange ole hour OF honest 'hr
to persuade his fcl" creatures TO abandon vice AiI
purs, virtue for all the splendid a!lurements ever
placed in mans path hy political prefermen Sli.
honest and good men are not SO easy tempted nave no
fears on that score But do NOT believe gentleman Wish
TO exclude those good meu their intention Is ~ strike
tire blow hvprocrtes mere wolves IN sneeps cloth'
ing and ready to jon, them will most cheeriutiy
90 with vo exclude that class ot processing CHRISTIANS
il YOU will coutrivc method BY which that oho1
can be tanned But the restriction sought be made
onrt of our does reach their Case for the
painest reasons in the world ALI the hynocrite has to
~, IT, secure his qualification Is Ia give up his mlnis.
teral credentials, and lie is eligible Thus. the dong
the ta.,s act he could DC guilty OF Is 10 lH made the
MEANS of his quacor for one OF the most important
a: honorable trusts in the power OF free people 10
cunile I cannot sanction 20 heterodnx uoll"n; IL
i. III war with every principle Of morals n d oi chris
tiaui;y In the name common has II cpie To THIS
that in this land OF liberty, this aye Of civilization u'
n diligence we are told in Convention OF the People
cieates III the metropolis of Virginia that pure !"i,
and un,i, lied religion ulsqlales man "r legislation
Such idea should De srurned WI Il Indignation >
y vile ISLANDER upon ch:i:aiity il should re re'l'd
with feelings OF bitterness and etestaton ~ an le-
ccssarv attack upon tn" glorious Gospel r"lormt ton.
/ Are gentlemen willing 10 exempt this most exemplary
class of our fellow citizens On the brhcra OF govern
mont rs we'll as exclude them from partic patton in ts
! TI.cres: hunblv OPP not. ion will do oil 10
add to their bur,hcps. but nothing to alleviate them.
Tn, Corauittec | think, would do We'll to reflect
bcs you to consider iou arc called on to pass
provision which. when inserted III your constitution
will operate as exclusion I" large portion oil y"u
fellow citizens from pivilese5 without accuse
You NAV stamp the evidence of Your enmty 70 tl'
crry o the country upon the constitution, by unie
ce.sarv forbdding them to perform the responsible d'l
lies of representatives; IN word, you may NJ j '.
evurc your opposition the good The honest ana 't'
n,;re ou NAV say the world that integrity inter
i,cnce and higll-;,ei morality ought to be driver
from the legislative halls must confess haze Deel
not little surprised 1t the anxiety lnameetea'h not ~"
t,.yclc the ministers but the lnpatencr shown toEc
i donr ouickly This class of citizens should he entie
to nil the mm,nilics and privileges of other classes
unless some good cause is shown for their exclusion.
mast nave rood reasons for aiding participating i
excluding auy Of the citizens of this c"nmonweaIl!
from the common benefits OF the government III,
not vet prepared believe That religion s1nai
flies II man for ,lischarglng important trusts aux
duties in civ. government. But have perha p
already ob,rlled to long upon the patience oil .t
committee will. therefore, condenSr anu "fNt Hi"ni
remarks which, under other circumstances, WOMB
hare made, and close IL appealing To the GOO
sense of this committee not To peIstrate so uheieo
for wrong upon innocen: and offending eiass OF "u
ff!ov citizens. Reflect before you 90 ms "se" "'f
Yourselves what has this innocent and unotending por'
lion of our people done to merit this blow Mt ON
hands. and should wcinhct it am not at al srprs
ed at the cry Of gentlemen who are very nervous
md excited 4: the idea of temptation They think NJ
one able TO resist temptation Temptation is to thrii
religion Ike the summers TO snow 1t destroyS 1t q
snti as thcy come in contact But there's some pure
gold that stands the efnera are. and Is 2nt plrifeh '
the crucibe OF temptation, and which becomes eyer
brighter and precious amidst the very welding
heats of persecution. ....a. 3.
/ would like 10 form constitution that "oui'
not ony be tolerated, be-; that would I've approve
b. the people. | cannot even hope for s'cn
result Il We persist in This systematic course "i re
s.,ictns every boly but ourselves and form c'nSn
tuition hearing evidence upon its face that no on" nI
us eau he trusted really greatly fear that our enc
reforms will consist in restrictions P"t
tie people. whch is just the opposite Kind OF reform
was sent here euleavor to obtain.
: Mr. STROTHER. desire to say nreplg to The 5LS
rcstinn OF the gentleman from Jackson CIR. SMITH
that ii we obtain nothing by the exclusion except to
prevent the robes Of the ministry from being IN
the ire Of politics have gained great deal VT Il
man 20 ! forge.s tie high and holy calling OF " MN
ister ~ t. seek to b. :.ite, n'" III; arena OF p"!i't
cal STRIFE. We have ;,ie mach ii reqalrlS Inn TO res'g
his c,mr :icn and mae hn-cl! upon the same staad