92 LIFE AND CORRESPONDENCE OF THE [1783 



contrary, by the very same Section, an express Recommendation and 

 Authority are given to future Legislatures, "At their discretion, to lay a 

 general and equal Tax, for the support of the Christian Religion," 

 agreeably to the said Declaration. 



That your Petitioners are sensible of the many urgent civil concerns, 

 in which the honorable and worthy Legislatures of this State have been 

 engaged, since the commencement of the present great and trying 

 period ; and how much wisdom and deliberation are at all times neces- 

 sary in framing equal laws for the Support of Religion and Learning, 

 and more especially amidst the horrors and confusions of an expensive, 

 cruel, and unrelenting War. But they are sensible, at the same Time 

 (and persuaded the honorable Assembly are equally sensible), that where 

 Religion is left to mourn and droop her head, while her sacred Ordi- 

 nances are unsupported, and Vice and Immorality gain Ground, even 

 War itself will be but feebly carried on, Patriotism will lose its most 

 animating Principle, Corruption will win its Way from the lowest to the 

 highest Places, Distress will soon pervade every public Measure; our 

 Churches, our Grave-Yards — the Monuments of the Piety of our Ances- 

 tors, running into Ruin, Avill become the Reproach of their Posterity; 

 nay more, the great and glorious Fabric of public Happiness which we 

 are striving to build up, and cement with an Immensity of Blood and 

 Treasure, might be in Danger of tumbling into the Dust, as wanting the 

 s-tronger Cement of Virtue and Religion, or perhaps would fall an easy 

 Prey to some haughty Invader ! 



Deeply impressed with these momentous Considerations, and conceiv- 

 ing ourselves fully warranted by our Constituents, in this Application to 

 your honorable Body, having duly advertized our design without any ob- 

 jections yet notified to us — your Petitioners, therefore, most earnestly and 

 humbly pray that an Act may be passed, agreeably to the aforesaid Section 

 of the Declaration of Rights, for the Support of public Religion, by an 

 equal assessment and tax, and also to enable the Vestry and Church- 

 Wardens of this Parish, by rates on the Pews, from time to time, or 

 otherwise, as in your Wisdom you shall think fit, to repair and uphold 

 the Church and Chapel, and the Church-Yards and Burying-Grounds of 

 the same; all which, your Petitioners conceive, may be done, not only 

 for this Parish, but at the same time, if thought best, for every other 

 Parish within this State (which, it is believed, earnestly desires the same) 

 by a single Law, in a manner perfectly agreeable to the Liberty and 

 Wishes of every denomination of Men, who would be deemed good 

 Christians and faithful Citizens of this State. And your Petitioners, as 

 bound, shall ever pray, «S:c. 



In the foregoing Petition, as my readers will have observed, no 

 exclusive privilege was prayed for; but only "that a law may be 



