USA > Virginia > A history of Virginia : from its discovery and settlement by Europeans to the present time. Vol. II > Part 31
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ª Minutes Gen. Assembly, 1847, stat. table .- The contributions noted
486
STATISTICS.
[CHAP. VIII.
The Constitutional or New School Synod of Vir- ginia, embraces the three Presbyteries of Hanover, Winchester, and the District of Columbia. But the churches of the last-named presbytery are not within the geographical bounds of Virginia. In 1843, it had 10 churches, 7 ministers, 3 licentiates, and 1,315 communicants.ª In 1839, the synod composed of the three presbyteries we have named, had 21 churches, 17 ministers, 2 licentiates, 3 candidates for the ministry, and 1,611 members. In 1847, the same synod, composed of the same presbyteries, has 42 churches, 40 ministers, 7 licentiates, 9 can- didates, and 3,589 communing members. In addi- tion, the Presbytery of New River, within the bounds of Virginia, has 7 churches, 3 ministers, and 549 communicants.b
The rapid apparent increase in these presbyte- ries, between the years 1839 and '47, needs a word of comment. They have undoubtedly gained by persons converted, and originally added to their communion, and by the building of new churches; but the principal increase has been from another source. In 1839, in Virginia, this branch of the Presbyterian Church was not fully organized. Many ministers and private members were then undecided in their ecclesiastical preferences who have since united themselves regularly with the
do not embrace any part of the Jos. C. Stiles, Oct. 1847. I have sums raised for ministers' salaries.
a Min. Gen. Assem., 1843.
b Letter to the author from Rev.
not been able to obtain definite knowledge as to the contributions of the Constitutional Presbyterians.
487
EPISCOPALIANS.
Constitutional Presbyterians. Hence the chief augmentation of their numbers.ª
The history of the Episcopal Church in Vir- ginia is full of material for instructive reflection. Through all its phases, it has been teaching the simple lesson that Christianity, in order to be pure, must be free. It has been sometimes a beacon to warn against the dangers of its contact, and some- times a lighthouse to guide the storm-beaten to a harbour of safety. But whether its example has repelled or invited imitation, we may equally find in its teachings admonitions for the future. We have seen that, during the Colonial period, this Church was established by law. All its measures were coercive. The arm of civil government com- pelled men to attend its ministrations, to conform to its ritual, to support its officers. And we may safely say that this was the worst period of its ex- istence; at the time when its legal authority was greatest, and its connexion with the state most stringent, its character as a church was most un- hallowed and impure. Glebe lands and stipends raised by law, could not compensate for the want of piety in its ministers and members.
For about thirty years after the opening of the Revolution, this Church was struggling with ad- versity. The support of law was removed, and having, then, few other supports, it tottered to its base. The great body of the people felt towards it either indifference or positive dislike. Many of its
Letter to author from Rev. J. C. Stiles, Oct. 1847.
488
EPISCOPALIANS.
[CHAP. VIII.
ministers forsook the country, and returned to England ; others abandoned the sacred profession, and engaged in secular duties; others, in poverty and danger, maintained a feeble supervision over their scattered flocks. Its churches were often left vacant, and were sometimes dismantled.ª After the year 1802, it was left wholly without legal countenance, and was to depend upon its own re- deeming powers. The superficial observer will look upon this period as the most gloomy and dis- astrous in the history of the Church. But the phi- losopher, if he be a Christian, will see in it some- thing more than clouds and darkness. It was necessary that the impurities of one hundred and fifty years should be cleansed by fire. A day was to dawn upon the Church, made brighter by the darkness that preceded it.
In May, 1814, Richard Channing Moore was elected Bishop of the Diocese of Virginia. The Convention that elected him consisted of seven clergymen and seventeen laymen.' From this time a change appeared in the fortunes of the Church, gradual, but decided. No longer polluted by the embrace of the state, purified by adversity, and left to her own spontaneous efforts, her Christianity began to develope itself in full force. Her progress has since been constantly onward. Her bishops have been learned and laborious, her ministers en- lightened and pious, her people zealous in good works. The contributions of the church for reli-
a See Dr. Hawks, 143-147, 154, 202, &c.
h Hawks, 245, 246.
489
PROGRESS.
gious and benevolent purposes, have been large in amount, and discriminating in their application.
In 1847, besides her bishop and assistant bishop, this Church had one hundred and twelve clergy- men, either presiding over congregations in Vir- ginia, or engaged in kindred duties. She had 95 parishes, embracing 112 church edifices. The whole number of communicants was 4305, and the amount contributed during the past year, for reli- gious purposes, other than ministers' salaries, was 22,849 dollars.ª
If we have drawn correct inferences from the facts of past and present years, the course of the Episcopal Church in Virginia proves that an Esta- blishment is not only not necessary, but positively hurtful to the cause of religion. No Church in the United States has sustained more real injury be- cause of its contact with the State than the Epis- copal, and no denomination of Christians has greater reason to shrink with horror from any proposal to renew such contact, than the Episcopal Church of Virginia. For there are many circumstances that would make such attempt dangerous in our state, which would not so strongly operate in any other part of the Union. And such we believe to be the views of her own most virtuous and enlightened members. If this Church, with us, has any thing to fear, it is not from external enemies; it is rather from an unhappy spirit of what is called High
" Journal Conven. 1847, 78-85. complete it from the Appendix, 62- The Abstract, pages 78-80, is very 77. imperfect, but I have endeavoured to
1
490
HIGH CHURCH.
[CHAP. VIII.
Churchism, which has crept into the bosoms of men and women within her own communion. This spirit need not be described; its distinguishing traits have long been known. It is hoped that it is cherished by very few; indeed, it can hardly be otherwise. For such a spirit can prevail only with the weak or the wicked: the weak, who, not able to appreciate the overwhelming facts and arguments against the exclusive claims of prelacy, are content stupidly to follow designing leaders; or the wicked, who, knowing the truth, are yet willing to practise the deceits of an unholy ambition. We believe
that in one or the other of these classes, the High Church people of Virginia will be found arrayed. There may be honourable exceptions, but they are only numerous enough to prove the rule. It is grateful to be able to say that, within a few months past, one of the most accomplished and virtuous Episcopal divines in our state has taken a noble stand against this mischievous spirit, and has sus- tained himself against all attacks, with a power of argument irresistible to every sound head and honest heart.
Besides these prominent evangelical denomina- tions, there are in Virginia several other sects, as Quakers, Lutherans, Campbellites, Thomasites, Mennonists, Seceders, Universalists, Swedenbor- gians,-all more or less important in numbers and influence. But we have not been able to obtain authentic information with regard to them, nor is it probable that any sources exist from which such information could be procured.
491
JEWS - ROMAN CATHOLICS.
The Jewish people of our state, though not nu- merous, are, as in other parts of the world, so dis- tinct in their habits and character, as to form a marked portion of the popular body. They are supposed in all to number not more than seven hundred persons, and of these about five hundred live in the city of Richmond. They are distin- guished by their caution, industry, and success in trade. Their first religious congregation was established in Richmond in the year 1791, and they have now in that city two synagogues, one conducted after the order of the Spanish and Por- tuguese, and the other after that of the German Jews. A reader presides in each, and these are the only Jewish houses of worship in Virginia.
The Roman Catholic Church has not neglected our state in her measures for extending her com- munion. The Diocese of Richmond embraces other parts of Virginia. Its bishop is the Right Rev. R. V. Whelan, D.D. In 1846, it had thirteen churches, twelve clergymen, and three institutions of learning or charity, one of which is known as St. Joseph's Female Academy, in Richmond. The communicants of the church are in general foreigners, chiefly of French or Irish extract. The fine lands of West Virginia, by their cheapness, have attracted foreign population, and to them the Papists have already directed special attention.b
a For these facts I am chiefly in- b See Catholic Almanac, 1846, debted to Mr. Jacob Ezekiel, Secre- pages 158-160. tary of the Portuguese Synagogue in Richmond.
492
RELIGIOUS INCORPORATIONS. [CHAP. VIII.
Before we pass from the religious condition of the state, it will be proper to refer to a subject which has given rise to some conflict of opinion among Christians, and which has not yet been finally discussed. We have seen that in past years the Legislature of Virginia had repealed an act in- corporating a Christian Church, and had after- wards declared that such acts of incorporation " manifestly tended to the re-establishment of a na- tional church."> The policy of the state seemed to be decidedly against the passage of any law which might connect religion with the working of civil government. During the period from 1802 to 1830, several applications were made to the Legis- lature, by one or more religious sects, asking for acts of incorporation to enable them to hold and administer property voluntarily given to them ; but these applications had been uniformly rejected.b It may be, that under the pressure of fears founded on past experience, the leading men of the state carried their views on this subject farther than such experience would justify. In the Convention of 1829-30, a debate occurred on a proposition to strike out the proviso disqualifying clergymen from being members of either House of Assembly, but the proposition was rejected. Twelve members only voted for it; but among these twelve was James Madison.c Immediately after this vote, William H. Brodnax, of Dinwiddie, proposed to
a See I R. C. 78, 79. for Loudon County, xi. Leigh, 132-
b Judge Stanard's Opinion in Sel- 136.
den et al. vs. Overseers of the Poor
c Debates, 1829-30, page 459.
493
LAW OF 1842.
the part of the Constitution touching religion, an amendment, to the effect that nothing in that section should be so construed as to deprive the Legis- lature of the power to incorporate by law "the trustees or directors of any theological seminary, or other religious society or body of men, created for charitable purposes, or the advancement of piety and learning," with proper provisoes for con- trol and regulation. After a brief debate, this amendment was also rejected, twelve members only voting in its favour.ª It should be remarked, however, that though the Convention rejected this amendment, they inserted nothing in the Constitu- tion which forbids the Legislature to grant cor- porate powers to such bodies, if it be deemed ex- pedient so to do.
The only symptom of a disposition to relax its previous policy on this subject, occurred in the Legislature of 1841-42. On the 3d of February, 1842, a law passed, giving full legal power to trustees for a religious society, to acquire and hold land to the amount of thirty acres in the country and two acres in any incorporated town, to be used for no other purpose " than as a place of public worship, religious or other instruction, burial- ground, and residence of their minister." Power is given to the Chancery Courts to revise these trusts.b
a We do not learn whether Mr. Journal of Virginia Epis. Conven. Madison was one of these twelve. 1847, page 88 .- Argument on Cor- See Debates, 459, 460. porations by Wm. S. Plumer, D.D.,
b Sess. Acts, 1841-42; see also pages 6, 7.
494
PETITION.
[CHAP. VIII.
After some preliminary measures, which excited animated debate in several ecclesiastical bodies, a committee appointed by the Convention of the Protestant Episcopal Church in Virginia, presented to the Legislature of 1845-46, a petition for a law authorizing the religious congregations of the state to hold property to a limited amount.ª The peti- tion in general terms states the ills which Christian denominations had suffered from the want of legal protection to their property ; it speaks of " corpo- rate rights," and of the propriety that religious de- nominations should have the right " as a body," to appeal to the laws for the protection of their in- terests ; it mentions several objects, as a theological seminary, clergymen's salaries, buildings for public worship, the relief of widows and orphans of de- ceased clergymen, which merited special counte- nance; it asks no privilege or immunity which the petitioners " do not desire to see extended to their brethren of all other denominations ;" they declare that "it would offend no less against their own sense of what is right and proper than against the principles of our institutions, to bestow on any re- ligious denomination, privileges which are not made free and open to all."
On the 11th December, 1845, this petition was presented to the Legislature by James Lyons, and it was referred to the Committee on Courts of Jus- tice.b Willing to obtain as much light as possible
a See the Petition, Journal H. D., Scott, Leftwich, Funsten, Gordon, 1845-46, Doc. No. 8, and Argument of Wm. H. Macfarland, pages 3-6.
b Consisting of Messrs. Bocock,
Tunstall, Turnbull, Wootten, Hol. laday, Edmundson, Garnett, Lacy, and Baldwin .- Journal, page 18.
.
495
DEBATE.
on the subject, the committee consented that it should be publicly discussed before them. The debate commenced in the hall of the House of De- legates, in Richmond, on the evening of the 8th of January, 1846, and was continued, with intervals, during several subsequent evenings. For the peti- tion, the argument was conducted by James Lyons, William H. Macfarland, and Rev. Mr.º Tinsley, a minister of the Baptist Church ; and against it, by William S. Plumer, D.D., pastor of the First Pres- byterian Church, Richmond.ª The debate was animated, and often truly eloquent, and it was heard on each evening by a crowded auditory, composed of both sexes.
Interesting as was the whole discussion, it is · deemed inexpedient to give even a brief sketch of the course of argument pursued on either side. But it may here be stated that the true question dis- cussed was whether a general lan should be passed, giving to all religious denominations who desired it, power to take and hold property, and to exercise other corporate privileges incident to such power. It was expressly declared by the gentleman who argued against the petition, that if the boon asked had been simply an act of incorporation for a spe- cific object, as a Theological Seminary, or a fund for the widows and orphans of deceased clergymen, he would not have opposed it.b
ª The arguments of Mr. Macfar- now pastor of a Presbyterian church land and of Dr. Plumer, have been in Baltimore, Md. printed. The latter gentleman is
b See Dr. Plúmer's Argument, p. 8.
-
496
PETITION REJECTED.
[CHAP. VIII.
On the 6th February, the committee reported on the petition, as follows : " 1. Resolved, unanimous- ly, as the opinion of this committee, that the policy of the laws of this Commonwealth, by which the power to take and hold property is withheld from religious congregations, is founded in the highest wisdom, as well for the safety of the State, as for the purity of the Church. 2. Resolved, therefore, as the opinion of this committee, that the prayer of the petitioners be rejected." On motion of Mr. Lyons, this report was ordered to be laid on the table.ª
At the next session of the Legislature, the peti- tioners obtained the leave of the House to withdraw their petition. (January 16, 1847.) It was then again presented, and again referred to the Commit- tee of Courts of Justice. On the 28th January, the committee reported ; and, on the 8th of March, the report was agreed to by the House, without a dis- senting voice. It is in the following words : " Re- solved, in the opinion of this committee, that the said petition be rejected, it being, in the opinion of this committee, inexpedient to legislate upon the subject."b
Since this judgment of the Legislature, intima- tions have been given that renewed prayers on the subject will be offered to succeeding Assemblies by more than one religious denomination. Delicacy forbids that any surmises shall here be indulged as to the final success of these prayers. But the re-
a Journal, H. D. 1845-46, 193. b Journal H. D., 1846-47, pages 88-111, 182-183.
497
AGRICULTURE.
mark shall be hazarded that it is not probable that Virginia will ever so far depart from her settled policy as to sanction a general lan for incorporating all religious societies that may apply for it. Yet an act of incorporation for a specific religious ob- ject, might meet with greater favour than hereto- fore. Gross injustice might be done, we may say, has been done, in consequence of the want of legal protection to property given for purposes the wisest and most sacred that human interests can know.
Passing from the views of our state which may be considered as intellectual and moral, we may now speak of those which are more nearly allied to her physical condition. It is true that mind is em- ployed in all that we shall notice; but, it is mind operating chiefly upon matter. The Agricultural interest of Virginia, shall now engage our thoughts. Agriculture must always be the principal source of her wealth. It is hard to conceive of any change that could make any branch of industry within her bosom, more productive than the cultivation of the ground. Her rich soil, genial suns, temperate clime, her noble rivers, skirting grounds of un- equalled beauty and fertility, all eminently fit her for copious returns to the labour of the husband- man, and had the skill and industry of her people been equal to her intrinsic resources, it is impos- sible to estimate the agricultural riches that she might have produced. Even now, though slave labour and ignorance of chemistry have ruined, for a time, many of her finest lands, her products are yet sufficient to banish the idea of famine from the VOL. II. 32
T
498
EASTERN VIRGINIA.
[CHAP, VIII.
fancies of her poorest people. On this subject, we shall give the results of the latest and most accu- rate observations to which we have access. We shall present, separately, Eastern and Western Virginia, although their products are often the same. We will give the amount of each product of the state section, and then the county raising the largest, and that raising the next largest quantity of the article." Our estimate will include, not merely crops and harvests in the proper sense, but other species of wealth directly dependent on them for existence.
Eastern Virginia has an area of twenty-seven thousand square miles of land and water. In 1840, this section of the state had 157,051 horses and mules, of which Loudon had 7,627, and Fauquier 7,624; 542,543 neat cattle, of which Fauquier had 26,184, and Loudon 25,620; 551,506 sheep, of which Fauquier had 35,055, and Loudon 31,503 ; 1,121,733 swine, of which Southampton had 43,663, and Pittsylvania 42,513 ; poultry, valued at 481,732 dollars, of which Fauquier had an amount valued at 18,091 dollars, and Accomac an amount valued at 18,064 dollars; this section raised 4,864,814 bushels of wheat, of which Loudon raised 573,460, and Fauquier 362,227 bushels; 77,947 bushels of barley, of which Albemarle raised 72,527, and Gloucester 2,748 bushels; 7,586,340 bushels of
a The estimates given here, and may, I think, be relied on as ap. in subsequent parts of this chapter, proximating the truth. Some errors have been compiled with great care, patent on the face of the returns and some labour, from the Compen- have been corrected. dium of the Census of 1840. They
499
EASTERN VIRGINIA.
1
oats, of which Accomac raised 453,137, and Pitt- sylvania 333,763 bushels; 460,885 bushels of rye, of which Albemarle raised 117,369, and Loudon 81,517 bushels; 27,010 bushels of buckwheat, of which Loudon raised 6,845, and Fauquier 6,454 bushels; 21,204,699 bushels of Indian corn, of which Loudon raised 891,695, and Pittsylvania 679,319 bushels ; 877,030 pounds of wool, of which Fauquier raised 75,195, and Loudon 63,951 pounds; 6,546 pounds of hops, of which Orange raised 940, and Fauquier 626 pounds ; 36,779 pounds of wax, of which Pittsylvania raised 4,182, and Campbell 2,312 pounds; 1,404,217 bushels of potatoes, of which Accomac raised 113,396, and Southampton 88,036 bushels; 193,385 tons of hay, of which Princess Anne raised 76,250, and Louisa 21,307 tons.
The whole quantity of tobacco raised in the state was 75,347,106 pounds. In Eastern Virginia the quantity raised was 73,131,092 pounds ; of this, 41,239,591 pounds were raised in the twelve coun- ties of Pittsylvania, Campbell, Buckingham, Cum- berland, Prince Edward, Charlotte, Halifax, Meck- lenburg, Lunenburg, Nottaway, Amelia, and Pow- hatan, which, together, cover an area of 6,295 square miles. Pittsylvania raised 6,438,777, and Halifax 6,209,511 pounds.
Farther, the eastern section raised 1,038 tons of hemp and flax, of which Bedford raised 249, and Prince William 167 tons ; 2,957 pounds of rice, of which Nansemond raised 1,440, and Southampton 1,080 pounds ; 3,493,667 pounds of cotton, of which
A 500
WESTERN VIRGINIA.
[CHAP. VIII.
Southampton raised 851,315, and Stafford 760,287 pounds ; 2,571 pounds of silk cocoons, of which King and Queen raised 337, and Nelson 300 pounds ; 63 pounds of sugar, all made in Bedford ; 323,663 cords of wood, of which Northumberland produced 45,120, and Isle of Wight 31,307 cords ; products of the dairy, valued at 791,298 dollars, of which Loudon raised, in value, 80,223, and Camp- bell 45,605 dollars; products of the orchard, valued at 447,075 dollars, of which Southampton raised, in value, 40,345, and Sussex 37,520 dollars ; 9,628 gallons of wine, of which Fauquier made 1,226, and Henrico 1,148 gallons ; and of home-made fa- brics, of all kinds, an amount valued at 1,485,988 dollars, of which Halifax made, in value, 97,779, and Pittsylvania 97,090 dollars.ª
Western Virginia embraces an area of about thirty-nine thousand square miles. In 1840 this section had 169,387 horses and mules, of which Wythe had 10,496 and Augusta 9,910; 481,605 neat cattle, of which Harrison had 23,536, and Augusta 21,479; 742,266 sheep, of which Jefferson had 67,289, and Harrison 35,119; 870,422 swine, of which Jefferson had 72,467, and Rockingham 38,765 ; poultry, valued at 272,966 dollars, of which Rockingham had, in value, 15,041, and Monon- galia 11,800 dollars ; this section raised 5,244,902 bushels of wheat, of which Jefferson raised 516,969, and Rockingham 375,197 bushels; 9,483 bushels of barley, of which Jefferson' raised 4,230, and Washington 1,168 bushels; 5,864,722 bushels of
a See Compendium of the Sixth Census, 155-157.
-
501
WESTERN VIRGINIA.
oats, of which Monongalia raised 320,092, and Washington 295,770 bushels; 1,021,914 bushels of rye, of which Augusta raised 92,227, and Rock- ingham 90,886 bushels; 216,812 bushels of buck- wheat, of which Hampshire raised 26,167, and Preston 16,057 bushels; 13,372,892 bushels of In- dian corn, of which Jefferson raised 988,552, and Logan 870,930 bushels ; 1,661,344 pounds of wool, of which Jefferson raised 516,840, and Harrison 70,804 pounds; 4,051 pounds of hops, of which Monongalia raised 636, and Shenandoah 568 pounds; 28,241 pounds of wax, of which Russel raised 2,884, and Logan 2,358 pounds; 1,540,443 bushels of potatoes, of which Jefferson raised 151,443, and Brooke 63,140 bushels; 171,323 tons of hay, of which Harrison raised 13,765, and Rockingham 12,220 tons; 3,828 tons of hemp and flax, of which Tazewell raised 923, and Jackson 750 tons ; 2,216,014 pounds of tobacco, of which Botetourt raised 707,885, and Roanoke 599,273 pounds ; 816 pounds of cotton, of which Lee raised 556, and Scott 200 pounds ; 620 pounds of silk cocoons, of which Logan raised 266, and Monongalia 111 pounds ; 1,541,770 pounds of sugar, of which Har- rison raised 200,372, and Monongalia 118,569 pounds ; 79,927 cords of wood, of which Shenan- doah raised 12,703, and Jefferson, 7,859 cords; products of the dairy, amounting to 689,190 dollars, of which Rockbridge produced, in value, 72,077, and Rockingham 61,025 dollars; products of the orchard, amounting to 258,690 dollars, of which Washington raised, in value, 19,932, and Rock-
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