The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1874-09-16
ministerial Disqualification. y

Our good peghbor Of the Religious
Herald, who finds time and space to yenti-
ate his opinions upon some topics that are
usually discussed only in secular papers, last
week bad long and (if he will allow us to
say SOY querulous article upon the subject of
that proposed change in the Constitution Of
Virginia which would, if made, disqHalify
ministers of the Gospel for membership 10
the Legislature, and at the same time restore
that instrument to its old form in this re-
spect. This week he recurs to the subject in
the following paragraph, which, it is evi.
dent, was intended 10 be bitingly sarcastic !:
tn" OsrRACIsM.-The Constitution OF Vir-
. glnia, ms It Is proposed to amend it, will
exclude from seat in the Legislature idiots,
convicted telons, and ministers of the gospel
idiots, because they are too ignorant for le-
gislators; ielons, because they are TOO cor
rupt for legislators and ministers, for we
know not precisely what cause.' RI
The UNDERWOOD Constitution is the only
constitution Virginia ever had that did
not disqualify "miniSters Of the gospel
and priests Of every denomination" for
membership in the Legislature. Look
at the old Code of Virginia, and you
will see that the proposed change will re-
store to our State Constitution time-hon-
ored feature. There are many reasons why
"ministers of the gospel and priests Of every
religious denomination should not be le-
gislators. Especially should such q provi-
vision be in our constitution now
when ignorant negro preachers lead
their still more ignorant focks into all man
ner OF political excuses. But the best Of
reasons for this exclusion is that preachers
ought to be nothing but preachers. If, as
some contend, they ought not ever to engage
ia trade, how much stronger the reasons
why they should not engage in politics. The
nnion of Church and State can he just as
thoroughly effected by allowing preachers to
be lawmakers as by formally uniting Church
and State by law. Let the same band hold the
reins of both Church and State, as that great
divine the late WILLIAM A. SMITH used to say,
and the union is effected. Doubtless the diff.
fculty OF getting rid Of the church establish
ment in Virginia and the fear that preachers
might wish to reestablish the same, had much
to do with the presence Of this disqualifyipg
clause in the Constitution of Virginia
as it formerly existed. Virginians were
always jealous OF their liberties, and clergy
men are too many Of them disposed to have
their own way even If 1t leads to an inquisi'
ton. The Herald's objection to this single
provision in a constitution which does not
allow any city officer of any sort to be q
member of the Legislature shows that it has
not looked very deeply into the subject
which it undertakes to discuss, or else that it
deems it its duty to uphold the rights Of none
but its own class.
It will exclude from seats in the Legisla.
ture, "idiots, convicted felons, and ministers
OF the gospel" quoth the Herald. This
weapon is borrowed from the arsenal of the
Women's-Rights advocates. Over and over
again have we seen this argument used in
articles written by THEODORE TILToN, SUSAN
b. ANTHONY, ELIZABETH CADY STANTON, and
others. "Idiots, felons, and women, cannot
vote" say they. Negroes can vote but
women cannot" say they. Negroes can be
members of the Legislature, but women can
not" say they. "rhe most consummate
fool and unmitigated male scoundrel that
lives may hold Office, but women cannot"
say they. The reader will see that the ar
gnment is as good for intelligent, refined,
lovely women, as for the clergy. If preach
ers ought TO be eligible to the Legislature
because felons are not-then surely women
pnght 10 be eligible for the same reason.
snd also for the reason, which is impledly
given, that TO exclude these two classes in
connection is to cast imputa.lons upon inno-
cent people. 81
Bnt IL the editor Of the Herald were to use
such an argument in the Legislature, he