Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1873-01-28
Dr.. Taylor 8 Discourse.

I
| Editor Spectator:
| In your report of recent lecture
by the Rev DR.. g. 3. Taylor, the following sen
terces occur:
In Oct. l776, the first independent Lesis
lature in Virginia met. This body received
many petitions on the subject of religion Thai
of the Baprsts has already been mentioned =
| Of those from the Presbyterians, Mr. Foote
their own historian, says: They we're for az
i'll defined liberty OF conscience, X What
should be done was matter OF contention"
am satisfied that Dr. Taylor took his quo
tation from some other writer, and not directly
| to garble and pervert an author for any pur-
pose Certain it is, hat Dr.. Foote Ia bis history
saws no such thing of The Presby'erians.
| On page 323 of Foate's "Skeiches Of Virgin
10" the words quoted are found but they afe
| not used 10 reference to The Presbyterians The
historian is speaking of the public men Of the
State, especially of the members Of the State
Cor vantion which pet in May, l776. and of
the Legislature which met in O;tober, the
same year. will not take up your space by
coDy'ng the whole long paragraph, but give only
the two sentences, parts of which are quoted
by DR. T. After RI marking that the true pru-
cipes OF civil liberty we're settled 10 Virginia al
a comparatively early day. but that the proper
derstnod the historian says:
Nv uic abroad 10 b Colonies the con-
test was for the de!ence of civil liberty against
The mower of the mother country; at home"
in Virginia. 1T was ragiog for an ill-defned
liberty of conscience, and the disseverence OF
religion from the civil power That something
onght to be done for dissenters was evident !;
but what should actually be done was the matter
of contention.
have inserted in brackets few words to
iedicase more clearly the writer's meaniog-
DIR. Foote is not persplcuous writer. But
whatever the words mean. they are not used in
application to Preshyierians. The historian
immediately proceeds to show that theV held
the rue d3ctrioe of religious liberty. On the
same page he prints memoriai addressed to
the Legsla ure in October, l776, by the oply
Pfesbytery then ia the State. and Of course
representing all the P:eshyterians of Virginia.
in which they demanded the removal of ''ev-
cry species of religious as well as civil b9n-
dage" Dr. Taylor could not have failed to see
this memorial. if he had taken his quotaiion
directly from Foote. H has undoubtedly been
IMPOSED upon by some careless person.
Dr.. Taylor further quotes Mr.. Madison as
"eca hinply' rebuking The Presbyterian clergy
for expressing themselves by memorial as is al
legged in favor of general assessment for the
support ut TGISt1U. Nu EcttTcUC5 Is SLScUs
and, therefore, am not able to GDd the pas
sage in Mr. Madison works. Possibly. how
ever, DR.. t. has been imposed upon againl !
am sure that no considerable number Of Pres
byserian clergy or people if any, deserved such
rebuke. Although tolerably well acquainted
with the history OF he Presbyterian church in
Virginia, | never before heard of any memorial
by Presbyi eriaus in favor of the measure refer
red to. On the other tand. from LII to 1885.
inclusive, they several times memoriaiized the
| Legislature in opposi ion to the measure. At
| he session OF their ony Presby terry, in May,
| 1885, they adopted resolution unanimously,
declaring their opposition to ANY kind Ct as
sessment by tie General Assembly for the sup
port of religion" They also sent one of their
number. the Rev. John B Smith, of Hsmp-
den Sidney, to repre-, ent them before the Leg
siature, aud he spoke On three successive days
before that body in opposition to the assess
| ment bill. For NY authority in regard to these
matters, refer to the book quoted by Dr. Tsy-
| Tor, Foo,e's Sketches" PIP. S23 344. where
the various memorials, sc, are pIiated 10 full.
| 1t will be observe that have not sought to
de,ract from the credit justly due TO the Bsp-
t,sis of Virginia for their services in the cause
of religious hberty My only object is, in be-
half o. my own denomination, to Viudlcate the
Truth OF HISTORY.