ÿWPCCC \³¸åfüÆ„Ç+:øìcO£YHêô±(aT5NW–Çûžê×)tæåoL"P˜ÄûO¸ð"9Á›Ñ3˜ü¢¤!ç0Å'T˵#鋈`Л Äp†ŠÆûÒJ'ù 2õ—;àÙ¾óŸ˜âp†ÆS3Èõ5ýÔöI”—¢‡|"`÷çÉ0mŸ|{úåþ«HýQq-fÙpm6²E£Î3òøClŒær»»7'  Ðbelieve€that€they€either€covet€pre-Ô_ÔeminenciesÔ_Ô€over€their€fellow€citizens,€or€thatÐ °  Ðthey€will€be€seduced€by€them,€from€the€common€opposition€to€the€measure.Ð ’ Ðà $ à5.à P àBecause€the€bill€implies€either€that€the€Civil€Magistrate€is€a€competentÐ åU ÐJudge€of€Religious€truth;€or€that€he€may€employ€Religion€as€an€engine€of€CivilÐ Ç7 Ðpolicy.€€The€first€is€an€arrogant€pretension€falsified€by€the€contradictory€opinionsÐ © Ðof€Rulers€in€all€ages,€and€throughout€the€world:€€The€second€an€unhallowedÐ ‹û Ðperversion€of€the€means€of€salvation.Ð m Ý Ðà $ à6.à P àBecause€the€establishment€proposed€by€the€Bill€is€not€requisite€for€theÐ À!0 Ðsupport€of€the€Christian€Religion.€€To€say€that€it€is,€is€a€contradiction€to€theÐ ¢" ÐChristian€Religion€itself;€for€every€page€of€it€disavows€a€dependence€on€theÐ „#ô Ðpowers€of€this€world:€it€is€a€contradiction€to€fact;€for€it€is€known€that€this€ReligionÐ f$Ö Ðboth€existed€and€flourished,€not€only€without€the€support€of€human€laws,€but€inÐ H%¸ Ðspite€of€every€opposition€from€them;€and€not€only€during€the€period€of€miraculousÐ *&š Ðaid,€but€long€after€it€had€been€left€to€its€own€evidence,€and€the€ordinary€care€ofÐ  '| ÐProvidence:€€Nay,€it€is€a€contradiction€in€terms;€for€a€Religion€not€invented€byÐ î'^  Ðhuman€policy,€must€have€pre-existed€and€been€supported,€before€it€wasÐ Ð(@! Ðestablished€by€human€policy.€€It€is€moreover€to€weaken€in€those€who€profess€thisÐ ²)"" ÐReligion€a€pious€confidence€in€its€innate€excellence,€and€the€patronage€of€itsÐ   ÐAuthor;€and€to€foster€in€those€who€still€reject€it,€a€suspicion€that€its€friends€are€tooÐ r â Ðconscious€of€its€fallacies,€to€trust€it€to€its€own€merits.Ð TÄ Ðà $ à7.à P àBecause€experience€Ô_ÔwitnessethÔ_Ô€that€ecclesiastical€establishments,€insteadÐ § Ðof€maintaining€the€purity€and€efficacy€of€Religion,€have€had€a€contrary€operation.€Ð ‰ù ÐDuring€almost€fifteen€centuries,€has€the€legal€establishment€of€Christianity€beenÐ kÛ Ðon€trial.€€What€have€been€its€fruits?€€More€or€less€in€all€places,€pride€and€indolenceÐ M½ Ðin€the€Clergy;€ignorance€and€servility€in€the€laity;€in€both,€superstition,€bigotry€andÐ /Ÿ Ðpersecution.€€Enquire€of€the€Teachers€of€Christianity€for€the€ages€in€which€itÐ   Ðappeared€in€its€greatest€Ô_ÔlustreÔ_Ô;€those€of€every€sect,€point€to€the€ages€prior€to€itsÐ óc  Ðincorporation€with€Civil€policy.€€Propose€a€restoration€of€this€primitive€state€inÐ ÕE  Ðwhich€its€Teachers€depended€on€the€voluntary€rewards€of€their€flocks;€many€ofÐ ·'  Ðthem€predict€its€downfall.€€On€which€side€ought€their€testimony€to€have€greatestÐ ™  Ðweight,€when€for€or€when€against€their€interest?Ð {ë  Ðà $ à8.à P àBecause€the€establishment€in€question€is€not€necessary€for€the€support€ofÐ Î>  ÐCivil€Government.€€If€it€be€urged€as€necessary€for€the€support€of€Civil€GovernmentÐ °  Ðonly€as€it€is€a€means€of€supporting€Religion,€and€it€be€not€necessary€for€the€latterÐ ’ Ðpurpose,€it€cannot€be€necessary€for€the€former.€€If€Religion€be€not€within€[the]Ð tä Ðcognizance€of€Civil€Government,€how€can€its€legal€establishment€be€said€to€beÐ VÆ Ðnecessary€to€Civil€Government?€€What€influence€in€fact€have€ecclesiasticalÐ 8¨ Ðestablishments€had€on€Civil€Society?€€In€some€instances€they€have€been€seen€toÐ Š Ðerect€a€spiritual€tyranny€on€the€ruins€of€Civil€authority;€in€many€instances€theyÐ ül Ðhave€been€seen€upholding€the€thrones€of€political€tyranny;€in€no€instance€haveÐ Þ N Ðthey€been€seen€the€Ô_ÔguardansÔ_Ô€of€the€liberties€of€the€people.€€Rulers€who€wished€toÐ À!0 Ðsubvert€the€public€liberties,€may€have€found€an€established€clergy€convenientÐ ¢" Ðauxiliaries.€€A€just€government,€instituted€to€secure€&€perpetuate€it,€needs€themÐ „#ô Ðnot.€€Such€a€government€will€be€best€supported€by€protecting€every€citizen€in€theÐ f$Ö Ðenjoyment€of€his€Religion€with€the€same€equal€hand€which€protects€his€person€andÐ H%¸ Ðhis€property;€by€neither€invading€the€equal€rights€by€any€Sect,€nor€suffering€anyÐ *&š ÐSect€to€invade€those€of€another.Ð  '| Ðà $ à9.à P àBecause€the€proposed€establishment€is€a€departure€from€that€generousÐ _(Ï! Ðpolicy,€which,€offering€an€asylum€to€the€persecuted€and€oppressed€of€every€NationÐ A)±" Ðand€Religion,€promÔ_ÔisedÔ_Ô€a€Ô_ÔlustreÔ_Ô€to€our€country,€and€an€accession€to€the€number€ofÐ #*“# Ðits€citizens.€€What€a€melancholy€mark€is€the€Bill€of€sudden€degeneracy?€€InsteadÐ +u$ Ðof€holding€forth€an€asylum€to€the€persecuted,€it€is€itself€a€signal€of€persecution.€Ð ç+W% ÐIt€degrades€from€the€equal€rank€of€Citizens€all€those€whose€opinions€in€ReligionÐ É,9 & Ðdo€not€bend€to€those€of€the€Legislative€authority.€€Distant€as€it€may€be,€in€itsÐ «-!' Ðpresent€form,€from€the€Inquisition€it€differs€from€it€only€in€degree.€€The€one€is€theÐ   Ðfirst€step,€the€other€the€last€in€the€career€of€intolerance.€€The€magnanimousÐ r â Ðsufferer€under€this€cruel€scourge€in€foreign€Regions,€must€view€the€Bill€as€aÐ TÄ ÐBeacon€on€our€Coast,€warning€him€to€seek€some€other€haven,€where€liberty€andÐ 6¦ Ðphilanthropy€in€their€due€extent€may€offer€a€more€certain€repose€from€his€troubles.Ð ˆ Ðà $ à10.à P àBecause,€it€will€have€a€like€tendency€to€banish€our€Citizens.€€TheÐ kÛ Ðallurements€presented€by€other€situations€are€every€day€thinning€their€number.€€ToÐ M½ ÐÔ_ÔsuperaddÔ_Ô€a€fresh€motive€to€emigration,€by€revoking€the€liberty€which€they€nowÐ /Ÿ Ðenjoy,€would€be€the€same€species€of€folly€which€has€dishonoured€and€depopulatedÐ   Ðflourishing€kingdoms.Ð óc  Ðà $ à11.à P àBecause,€it€will€destroy€that€moderation€and€harmony€which€theÐ F¶  Ðforbearance€of€our€laws€to€intermeddle€with€Religion,€has€produced€amongst€itsÐ (˜  Ðseveral€sects.€€Torrents€of€blood€have€been€spilt€in€the€old€world,€by€vain€attemptsÐ  z  Ðof€the€secular€arm€to€extinguish€Religious€discord,€by€proscribing€all€differenceÐ ì\  Ðin€Religious€opinions.€€Time€has€at€length€revealed€the€true€remedy.€€EveryÐ Î>  Ðrelaxation€of€narrow€and€rigorous€policy,€wherever€it€has€been€tried,€has€beenÐ °  Ðfound€to€assuage€the€disease.€€The€American€Theatre€has€exhibited€proofs,€thatÐ ’ Ðequal€and€complete€liberty,€if€it€does€not€wholly€eradicate€it,€sufficiently€destroysÐ tä Ðits€malignant€influence€on€the€health€and€prosperity€of€the€State.€€If€with€theÐ VÆ Ðsalutary€effects€of€this€system€under€our€own€eyes,€we€begin€to€contract€the€bondsÐ 8¨ Ðof€Religious€freedom,€we€know€no€name€that€will€too€severely€reproach€our€folly.€Ð Š ÐAt€least€let€warning€be€taken€at€the€first€fruit€of€the€threatened€innovation.€€TheÐ ül Ðvery€appearance€of€the€Bill€has€transformed€that€ð ðChristian€forbearance,׃×Ý ƒÃÝòòÚ  Ú4Ú  ÚóóÝ  Ý×  ×€love€andÐ Þ N Ðcharity,ðð€which€of€late€mutually€prevailed,€into€animosities€and€jealousies,€whichÐ À!0 Ðmay€not€soon€be€appeased.€€What€mischiefs€may€not€be€dreaded€should€thisÐ ¢" Ðenemy€to€the€public€quiet€be€armed€with€the€force€of€a€law?Ð „#ô Ðà $ à12.à P àBecause,€the€policy€of€the€bill€is€adverse€to€the€diffusion€of€the€light€ofÐ ×$G ÐChristianity.€€The€first€wish€of€those€who€enjoy€this€precious€gift,€ought€to€be€thatÐ ¹%) Ðit€may€be€imparted€to€the€whole€race€of€mankind.€€Compare€the€number€of€thoseÐ ›&  Ðwho€have€as€yet€received€it€with€the€number€still€remaining€under€the€dominionÐ }'í  Ðof€false€Religions;€and€how€small€is€the€former!€€Does€the€policy€of€the€Bill€tendÐ _(Ï! Ðto€lessen€the€disproportion?€€No;€it€at€once€discourages€those€who€are€strangersÐ A)±" Ðto€the€light€of€[revelation]€from€coming€into€the€Region€of€it;€and€countenances,Ð #*“# Ðby€example€the€nations€who€continue€in€darkness,€in€shutting€out€those€who€mightÐ +u$ Ðconvey€it€to€them.€€Instead€of€levelling€as€far€as€possible,€every€obstacle€to€theÐ   Ðvictorious€progress€of€truth,€the€Bill€with€an€ignoble€and€unchristian€timidityÐ r â Ðwould€circumscribe€it,€with€a€wall€of€defence,€against€the€encroachments€of€error.Ð TÄ Ðà $ à13.à P àBecause€attempts€to€enforce€by€legal€sanctions,€acts€obnoxious€to€so€greatÐ § Ða€proportion€of€Citizens,€tend€to€enervate€the€laws€in€general,€and€to€slacken€theÐ ‰ù Ðbands€of€Society.€€If€it€be€difficult€to€execute€any€law€which€is€not€generallyÐ kÛ Ðdeemed€necessary€or€salutary,€what€must€be€the€case€where€it€is€deemed€invalidÐ M½ Ðand€dangerous?€€and€what€may€be€the€effect€of€so€striking€an€example€ofÐ /Ÿ Ðimpotency€in€the€Government,€on€its€general€authority?Ð   Ðà $ à14.à P àBecause€a€measure€of€such€singular€magnitude€and€delicacy€ought€not€toÐ dÔ  Ðbe€imposed,€without€the€clearest€evidence€that€it€is€called€for€by€a€majority€ofÐ F¶  Ðcitizens:€and€no€satisfactory€method€is€yet€proposed€by€which€the€voice€of€theÐ (˜  Ðmajority€in€this€case€may€be€determined,€or€its€influence€secured.€€ð ðThe€people€ofÐ  z  Ðthe€respective€counties€are€indeed€requested€to€signify€their€opinion€respecting€theÐ ì\  Ðadoption€of€the€Bill€to€the€next€Session€of€Assembly.ðð€€But€the€representationÐ Î>  Ðmust€be€made€equal,€before€the€voice€either€of€the€Representatives€or€of€theÐ °  ÐCounties,€will€be€that€of€the€people.€€Our€hope€is€that€neither€of€the€former€will,Ð ’ Ðafter€due€consideration,€espouse€the€dangerous€principle€of€the€Bill.€€Should€theÐ tä Ðevent€disappoint€us,€it€will€still€leave€us€in€full€confidence,€that€a€fair€appeal€to€theÐ VÆ Ðlatter€will€reverse€the€sentence€against€our€liberties.Ð 8¨ Ðà $ à15.à P àBecause,€finally,€ð ðthe€equal€right€of€every€citizen€to€the€free€exercise€ofÐ ‹û Ðhis€Religion€according€to€the€dictates€of€conscienceðð€is€held€by€the€same€tenureÐ m Ý Ðwith€all€our€other€rights.€€If€we€recur€to€its€origin,€it€is€equally€the€gift€of€nature;Ð O!¿ Ðif€we€weigh€its€importance,€it€cannot€be€less€dear€to€us;€if€we€consult€theÐ 1"¡ ÐDeclaration€of€those€rights€which€pertain€to€the€good€people€of€Virginia,€as€theÐ #ƒ Ðð ðbasis€and€foundation€of€Government,ðð׃×Ý ƒÃÝòòÚ  Ú5Ú  ÚóóÝ  Ý×  ×€it€is€enumerated€with€equal€solemnity,€orÐ õ#e Ðrather€studied€emphasis.€€Either€then,€we€must€say,€that€the€will€of€the€LegislatureÐ ×$G Ðis€the€only€measure€of€their€authority;€and€that€in€the€plentitude€of€this€authority,Ð ¹%) Ðthey€may€sweep€away€all€our€fundamental€rights;€or,€that€they€are€bound€to€leaveÐ ›&  Ðthis€particular€right€untouched€and€sacred:€€Either€we€must€say,€that€they€mayÐ }'í  Ðcontroul€the€freedom€of€the€press,€may€abolish€the€trial€by€jury,€may€swallow€upÐ _(Ï! Ðthe€Executive€and€Judiciary€Powers€of€the€State;€nay€that€they€may€despoil€us€ofÐ A)±" Ðour€very€right€of€suffrage,€and€erect€themselves€into€an€independent€and€hereditaryÐ #*“# Ðassembly:€or€we€must€say,€that€they€have€no€authority€to€enact€into€law€the€BillÐ +u$ Ðunder€consideration.€€We€the€subscribers€say,€that€the€General€Assembly€of€thisÐ   ÐCommonwealth€have€no€such€authority:€€And€that€no€effort€may€be€omitted€on€ourÐ r â Ðpart€against€so€dangerous€an€usurpation,€we€oppose€to€it,€this€remonstrance;Ð TÄ Ðearnestly€praying,€as€we€are€in€duty€bound,€that€the€Supreme€Lawgiver€of€theÐ 6¦ ÐUniverse,€by€illuminating€those€to€whom€it€is€addressed,€may€on€the€one€hand,Ð ˆ Ðturn€their€councils€from€every€act€which€would€affront€his€holy€prerogative,€orÐ új Ðviolate€the€trust€committed€to€them:€and€on€the€other,€guide€them€into€everyÐ ÜL Ðmeasure€which€may€be€worthy€of€his€[blessing,€may€re]dound€to€their€own€praise,Ð ¾. Ðand€may€establish€more€firmly€the€liberties,€the€prosperity,€and€the€Happiness€ofÐ   Ðthe€Commonwealth.Ð ‚ò  ÐÐ  ÕE  ÐÌà@á á ìàòòA€Bill€Establishing€A€Provision€forˆÐ ã S Ðà@Ø Ø ìàTeachers€of€the€Christian€Religion.óóˆÐ 6¦ Ðà $ àWhereas€the€general€diffusion€of€Christian€knowledge€hath€a€natural€tendencyÐ ‰ù Ðto€correct€the€morals€of€men,€restrain€their€vices,€and€preserve€the€peace€ofÐ kÛ Ðsociety;€which€cannot€be€effected€without€a€competent€provision€for€learnedÐ M½ Ðteachers,€who€may€be€thereby€enabled€to€devote€their€time€and€attention€to€theÐ /Ÿ  Ðduty€of€instructing€such€citizens,€as€from€their€circumstances€and€want€ofÐ   Ðeducation,€cannot€otherwise€attain€such€knowledge;€and€it€is€judged€that€suchÐ óc  Ðprovision€may€be€made€by€the€Legislature,€without€counteracting€the€liberalÐ ÕE  Ðprinciple€heretofore€adopted€and€intended€to€be€preserved€by€abolishing€allÐ ·'  Ðdistinctions€of€pre„eminence€amongst€the€different€societies€or€communities€ofÐ ™  ÐChristians;Ð {ë  Ðà $ àòòBe€it€therefore€enacted€by€the€General€Assembly,óó€That€for€the€support€ofÐ Î>  ÐChristian€teachers,€___€per€centum€on€the€amount,€or€___€in€the€pound€on€the€sumÐ °  Ðpayable€for€tax€on€the€property€within€this€Commonwealth,€is€hereby€assessed,Ð ’ Ðand€shall€be€paid€by€every€person€chargeable€with€the€said€tax€at€the€time€the€sameÐ tä Ðshall€become€due;€and€the€Sheriffs€of€the€several€Counties€shall€have€power€toÐ VÆ Ðlevy€and€collect€the€same€in€the€same€manner€and€under€the€like€restrictions€andÐ 8¨ Ðlimitations,€as€are€or€may€be€prescribed€by€the€laws€for€raising€the€Revenues€ofÐ Š Ðthis€State.Ð ül Ðà $ àòòAnd€be€it€enacted,óó€That€for€every€sum€so€paid,€the€Sheriff€or€Collector€shallÐ O!¿ Ðgive€a€receipt,€expressing€therein€to€what€society€of€Christians€the€person€fromÐ 1"¡ Ðwhom€he€may€receive€the€same€shall€direct€the€money€to€be€paid,€keeping€aÐ #ƒ Ðdistinct€account€thereof€in€his€books.€€The€Sheriff€of€every€County,€shall,€on€orÐ õ#e Ðbefore€the€___€day€of€___€in€every€year,€return€to€the€Court,€upon€oath,€twoÐ ×$G Ðalphabetical€lists€of€the€payments€to€him€made,€distinguishing€in€columns€oppositeÐ ¹%) Ðto€the€names€of€the€persons€who€shall€have€paid€the€same,€the€society€to€which€theÐ ›&   Ðmoney€so€paid€was€by€them€appropriated;€and€one€column€for€the€names€whereÐ }'í! Ðno€appropriation€shall€be€made.€€One€of€which€lists,€after€being€recorded€in€a€bookÐ _(Ï" Ðto€be€kept€for€that€purpose,€shall€be€filed€by€the€Clerk€in€his€office;€the€other€shallÐ A)±# Ðbe€the€Sheriff€be€fixed€up€in€the€Court-house,€there€to€remain€for€the€inspectionÐ #*“$ Ðof€all€concerned.€€And€the€Sheriff,€after€deducting€five€per€centum€for€theÐ +u% Ðcollection,€shall€forthwith€pay€to€such€person€or€persons€as€shall€be€appointed€toÐ ç+W& Ðreceive€the€same€by€the€Vestry,€Elders,€or€Directors,€however,€denominated€ofÐ É,9 ' Ðeach€such€society,€the€sum€so€stated€to€be€due€to€that€society;€or€in€default€thereof,Ð «-!( Ðupon€the€motion€of€such€person€or€persons€to€the€next€or€any€succeeding€Court,Ð   Ðexecution€shall€be€awarded€for€the€same€against€the€Sheriff€and€his€security,€hisÐ r â Ðand€their€executors€or€administrators;€provided€that€ten€days€previous€notice€beÐ TÄ Ðgiven€of€such€motion.€€An€upon€every€such€execution,€the€Officer€serving€theÐ 6¦ Ðsame€shall€proceed€to€immediate€sale€of€the€estate€taken,€and€shall€not€accept€ofÐ ˆ Ðsecurity€for€payment€at€the€end€of€three€months,€nor€to€have€the€goodsÐ új Ðforthcoming€at€the€day€of€sale;€for€his€better€direction€wherein,€the€Clerk€shallÐ ÜL Ðendorse€upon€every€such€execution€that€no€security€of€any€kind€shall€be€taken.Ð ¾. Ðà $ àòòAnd€be€it€further€enacted,óó€That€the€money€to€be€raised€by€virtue€of€this€Act,Ð   Ðshall€be€by€the€Vestries,€Elders,€or€Directors€of€each€religious€society,Ð óc  Ðappropriated€to€a€provision€for€a€Minister€or€Teacher€of€the€Gospel€of€theirÐ ÕE  Ðdenomination,€or€the€providing€places€of€divine€worship,€and€to€none€other€useÐ ·'  Ðwhatsoever;€except€in€the€denominations€of€Quakers€and€Menonists,€who€mayÐ ™  Ðreceive€what€is€collected€from€their€members,€and€place€it€in€their€general€fund,Ð {ë  Ðto€be€disposed€of€in€a€manner€which€they€shall€think€best€calculated€to€promoteÐ ]Í  Ðtheir€particular€mode€of€worship.Ð ?¯  Ðà $ àòòAnd€be€it€enacted,óó€That€all€sums€which€at€the€time€of€payment€to€the€SheriffÐ ’ Ðor€Collector€may€not€be€appropriated€by€the€person€paying€the€same,€shall€beÐ tä Ðaccounted€for€with€the€Court€in€manner€as€by€this€Act€is€directed;€and€afterÐ VÆ Ðdeducting€for€his€collection,€the€Sheriff€shall€pay€the€amount€thereof€(uponÐ 8¨ Ðaccount€certified€by€the€Court€to€the€Auditors€of€Public€Accounts,€and€by€them€toÐ Š Ðthe€Treasurer)€into€the€public€Treasury,€to€be€disposed€of€under€the€direction€ofÐ ül Ðthe€General€Assembly,€for€the€encouragement€of€seminaries€of€learning€within€theÐ Þ N ÐCounties€whence€such€sums€shall€arise,€and€to€no€other€use€or€purposeÐ À!0 Ðwhatsoever.Ð ¢" Ðà $ àTHIS€Act€shall€commence,€and€be€in€force,€from€and€after€the€___€day€of€___Ð õ#e Ðin€the€year€___.Ù*ƒIã!ÙØØ׃×Ý ƒÃÝòòÚ  Ú*Ú  ÚóóÝ  Ý×  ×Ð ×$G Ð