[689] Henry, ii, 199-206.
[690] Eckenrode: S. of C. and S., 77.
[691] Journal, H.D. (2d Sess., 1784), 19.
[692] Ib., 27.
[693] Ib., 82.
[694] Ib.
[695] Ib.
[696] Ib., 97. For the incorporation law see Hening, xi, 532-37; for marriage law see ib., 532-35. Madison describes this law to Jefferson and excuses his vote for it by saying that "the necessity of some sort of incorporation for the purpose of holding & managing the property of the Church could not well be denied, nor a more harmless modification of it now be obtained. A negative of the bill, too, would have doubled the eagerness and the pretexts for a much greater evil, a general Assessment, which, there is good ground to believe, was parried by this partial gratification of its warmest votaries." (Madison to Jefferson, Jan. 9, 1785; Writings: Hunt, ii, 113.)
[697] Story, in Dillon, iii, 338.
[698] "Virginia certainly owed two millions sterling [$10,000,000] to Great Britain at the conclusion of the war. Some have conjectured the debt as high as three millions [$15,000,000].... These debts had become hereditary from father to son for many generations, so that the planters were a species of property annexed to certain mercantile houses in London.... I think that state owed near as much as all the rest put together." Jefferson's explanation of these obligations is extremely partial to the debtors, of whom he was one. (Jefferson to Meusnier, Jan. 24, 1786; Works: Ford, v, 28.)