Petition to Levy General Assessment for Ministers, 1785 - Amherst Co. VA (Submitter note: Transcription of December 10, 1785, Petition to the Virginia General Assembly Opposing Bill to Levy General Assessment for Ministers signed by 131 residents of Amherst County. The original petition is in the Library of Virginian, and it and thirteen others from Amherst County can be found on-line at the Library of Congress Web-Page, Early Virginia Religious. The petitions are interesting as they contain original signatures of many citizens. Many of the signatures are difficult to read and I have transcribed them as best I can. It would be wise to check the image at the Library of Congress Web-Page.) To the Honourable The General Assembly of the - Commonwealth of Virginia --------- We the underwritten subscribers Inhabitants of Amherst County being Called upon by a Request of the last General Assembly to signify our opinions to the next Assembly ...in the Bill For Establishing a Provision for Teachers of the Christian Religion And having seen & considered the Same do declare our Sentiments thereupon to the Hon'able Assembly as followeth: We beg leave to Observe That at the Conclusion of the late Glorious Revolution Beholding with deepest regret the unhappy ......... of the Christian Religion, and the Rapid Increase of Vice & Immora- lity of every kind - and finding ourselves still (as for years past) without any Regular Ministers duly Ordained to Officiate in the Churches and Administer the Holy Sacraments, and being no prospect of any Relief - many of your memorialists were induced from these Considerations to think favorably of a Gen'l Assessment for the Support of Teachers of the Gospel - Hoping it might be one step at least towards opening a way for obtaining a supply of ministers who might be Instrumental in the Hands of God in Stoping the Prevailing Torrent of Iniquity - Not doubting at at the same time but It might be acceptable to at least a Majority of our Fellow Citizens ----- But since finding on the Contrary That the Bill proposed for that Purpose has distracted the Minds and Burthend the Consciouces of many of our ....... and pious Brethern & Fellow Citizens in Different Parts of the State who have advanced Reasons & adduced Arguments against it of no Small Weight & Importance, which we conceive may not be made light of nor past over without a due Examination and thorough investigation in Order to which we beg leave to present the Chief of them (as we suppose) to the Hon'ble Assembly, as followeth ......... First -----[Page 2]----- First, it is Objected "That the Provision proposed by the Bill is Unnecessary - That as the Christian Religion is not of a Human Origin it cannot depend on Human Laws for its Support - To say that it does is a Direct Contradiction to the whole Christian System - every Page of which Disclaims any Dependence on Human Laws - But on the contrary, That it was Supported and made its way through the world not only without the aid but in Direct Opposition to all the Powers of the World, wheth for Ages were Combined to Destroy it - and that not only during the Continuance of Miraculous Aid, but long after that had ceased and it was left to its own innate Excellence and the Ordinary Protection & Providence of its Divine Author - who doubtless both can & will still continue to carry on his Own Glorious Work if not interrupted by the Vain & needless Inter= position of Human Laws. Secondly, it is Alleged "That the Principle of the Bill is Unjust and Impolitic - if not Uncharitable - 1 That it is unjust especially towards those who under the Sanction of our [Tithables] Mild and Tolerant Laws and Constitution have Emigrated to this County and by Complying with the Laws have become free Denizans or franchised Citizens of the State - But must now (if not yet converted to Christianity) seek an Asylum elsewhere or be Subject to the Penalties of the Law this is, Contribute to the Support of a Religion to which their Consciences have not yet assented - and therefore (how Excellent soever the thing is in itself or to the Real Professors) must at least be one mode of Persecution with reference to them - 2. That it is Impolitic Since by Repealing the General Toleration we shall entirely Exclude all future Emigrants who are not already Christians from Settling among us, and thereby retard the population & consequently the Temporal Wealth & Prosperity of our County. 3. That is not only unjust and Impolitic but also uncharitable inasmuch -----[Page 3]----- Inasmuch as it is, or ought to be the first wish of all Christians that the Kingdom of the Great Redeemer & the Blessings of his Gospel might spread abroad and be diffused throughout the whole world But the Bill by a Confined & Contracted Spirit sets the example to those Nations (by far the greater part of the habitable world) who are yet overspread with Mahomatism of Pagan Darkness to Exclude Christian Missionaries from spreading the Light of the Gospel amongst them - as well as discourages the Emigration to us were perhaps by the Divine Blessing themselves or posterity at least might one day become Converts to Christianity. But thirdly and lastly, it is asserted "That the Principle of the Bill is not only unjust or uncharitable towards others, But if once admitted might prove of the most Dangerous Consequences to our own Religious Liberties & fall Christians among us. Because the same Authority that can Establish Christianity in exclusion of all other religions may with the same ease Establish any particular Sect of Christians in exclusion of all other Sects. And who does not see (even from the principles of the late ever memorable Revolution) That the same Authority which can force a Citizen to contribute any part of his property for the support of any one Establishment may force him to conform to any other Establishment in all Cases whatsoever. But further on this Head it is Objected "That as the Christian Religion neither originated from Nor is Dependant on Human Laws for its Support so neither can it be Subject to their Cognizance Because being in as..... Properties of a Devine & Spiritual Nature it is altogether an in....... [invisible] Thing residing only in the mind and Conscience according to the T..[fabric].. & Convictions there wrought by its Divine Author. Therefore, as it has no Necessery Dependence on or connexion with the Institutions of Civil Society the ends and Designs being wholly different) So any attempt to blend them together necessarily confounds the Order of Things as may be seen by the unhappy Consequences of such attempts throughout the Christian World in almost every Age & Nation where this unnatural system hath been adopted" Three -----[Page 4]----- These are we think the Principal Objections which we have heard urged against the Bill - Whether they are conclusive or not the Hon Gen. Assembly will Determine. For our own Part we must confess that if the arguments are Just & the inferences rightly Drawn (as we are really inclined to think they are, particularly the latter of them) They involve in them a Traces [sp] of Consequences which we have not forseen and which appear to us to be of the last importance - For if the General Establishment of Christianity by our laws would open a way for or be drawn into Precedent so as that It might at any future Day operate to another Partial Establishment (Such as we have seen and felt till the late Revolution happily Delivered us from it) It would be alarming indeed. xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx And therefore we do humbly and earnestly Recommend them to the Serious Consideration of your Hon'able House. And we must further Declare that we feel that their weight and influence so sensibly [?] Together with the anxious fears & Jealosies which have been excited in the heart of many on the Occasion that we are induced to Recede from our former Opinion respecting the Assessment - And the rather, because we are fully persuded the Remechal Object with many or most of those who heretofore have thought well of such a measure (especially of the late members of the Church of England and of the Methodists who were in Communion with them) was as above hinted in Order to a Regular Supply of Ministers - But the latter Society have lately agreed upon a mode of ordination amongst themselves and the former have obtained an Act of Government for & are now Consulting upon a plan for the same Purpose - It may be presumed those reasons will no longer Operate with them as no doubt a Supply of Ministers will soon be Obtained - But if so can it be supposed that those who have so long groand under the want of Ministers and have taken so much pains to obtain a supply of them will not make the necessary provision for their support when obtained without any Law to compel them - we cannot, we will not Entertain a supposition so injurious to their feelings - nor admit a Doubt (with Respect to the members of the late Episcopal in Particular who are supposed to be much more numerous than any other Society in the State) but they will voluntarily & liberally Provide for them - And it is to be hoped the Teachers of other Denominations will at least be as well provided for as they have been heretofore - -----[Page 5]---- Upon the whole then and from all the foregoing considerations we now unanimously give our opinion to the Hon'able Assembly That it will be be best to lay aside or suspend the said Bill for the Present at least till it shall please Almighty God by the Gracious Operations of his Holy Spirit to Awaken the Zealous and stir up & enlarge the hearts & minds of Christians of every Denomination to make a Voluntary & Competent provision for the Ministers (which it must confessd is the true primitive & -------eal method of providing for Christian Teachers and to which we hope & trust the Labours of a pios & faithful ministry will not a little Contribute - Or until (after -eal in ma------- Expediency of Adopting It shall more clearly appear, so as at least a Decided Majority of the people in every county shall appear in favor of it. As we could then only expect a Blessing from Heaven upon it. Having given our sentiments on the above Important Subject before we conclude we humbly beg leave to digress a little and to entreat the attention of the Hon'ble Assembly of some fair things which tho not immediately connected with Religion, may yet be Subservient to its interests. 1. To continue all Possible Patronage and Encouragement to Seminaries of Learning - which may prove nurseries of Learned & Pious Gospel Ministers as well as of able Counsellors & Statesmen. 2. To enforce the Laws for more Effectual Suppression of Vice Restraint of Tippling Houses & Punishment of Openly Profaine & Dissolute Persons. 3. To make Provision for the Poor As the new houses have not & by the Constitution cannot have the same powers as formerly - as being now the El ---- Stewards or Trustees of the Protestant Episcopal Chruch only - we cannot see why the County Counts under proper Restrictions and Limitations might not be Entrusted & Empowered to make the necessary Annual Provision for them as well as further County Charges. That the Almighty may Inspire your Hearts and govern & direct all your Consultations & Determinations to his Glory and to the Peace, Prosperity and Happiness of this County and all xxx we are connected with your Petitioners shall every Ray NS Before Subscribing this Address we beg leave further to Declare it as our Opinion to the Hon'able Assembly That if the Provision in Question ever should be Generally thought Expedient we cannot see how it can be contrivd on more just & Equitable Terms than those held out in Bill above mentioned. David Clarke John Montgomery Wm Oglesby Thomas Landrum James Viqurt John Cong------ Wm Boars Henry Martin John Christian Sam'l Merrik John Lancaster Beverly W--- Jno R------- Josiah Joblin Jno Martin -----[Page 6]----- Thomas Ballew John Ryan Gery Souetherd Joseph Newman Wm Welck Augustine Shepard Chalres Slathawe Charles Tate Elijah Stone John Wright William Allen Major David Shelton AlexrWalesander William Tate John McAlexander Clarence Horrill David Montgomery Senr David Montgomery David Phillip James Montgomery Charles Tiyle Wm Mtiss Zath Phillips John Loving John Griffin James Hopkins Adam Brown -----[Page 7]----- William Forhus William Hamilton John Penn John Morrifs Nathan Bond Benjamin ------- John Thomas Wm Bill [Jr?} Laurence Campbell Sher- Griffin David Carmik... James Dillard Josiah Wingfield B J..... Fitzparrod Richard Murray David Bailey Lewis Nevil Henry Stowan Samuel Brown William Harrley Benjamin Aaron John Matthews George Hiltone John Crittondon Edward Ware Jr Solomon Ellis Robert Wright Thomas Striutten Richard Gatr----d James Bibb Perrin Giles Henry Bibb Killofs Wright Henry Cashwell John Rowsay Nat'l Clarke Henry Payton James Wright John Bigye John Borrisett Robert Mayo Wm Clarke Ths' Jones Thomas Hays David Clark Jesse Wright Patrick Hite John Becknell Jas Spears Henry Campbell Joseph Dodd John Ben---- Reubin Pendleton Dan'l Allen Shurdmore. Gillofper John Clarkson Nicholas Fontune James Wells ThosWm Loss William -hart John Brown John Mays Philip Going Elic Haycock John Sale Jamestown Patteson Joseph Neuman Aaron Campbell Charles Jones Robert Horsley George Fitzgerald John Williamson John Horsley John Turner Sam'l Megginson Peter Hendrickson David Davis Young Land....... 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