52 - John Blair (VA)

#52 - John Blair (VA)
Birthplace: Williamsburg, Virginia
Age at Convention: 55

1) Religion
-- Presbyterian and Episcopalian, however no evidence of extensive participation or influence
-- "But that part of the petition (from the Episcopal Clergy), which concerns me most, as well as every Non-Episcopalian in the state, is, where these Clergymen pray for an act of the Assembly to Enable, them to regulate all the spiritual concerns of that Church &c. This is an express attempt to draw the State into an illicit connexion & commerce with them, which is already the ground of that uneasiness which at present prevails thro' a great part of the State. According to the spirit of that prayer, the Legislature is to consider itself as the head of that Party, & consequently they as Members are to be fostered with particular care. This is unreasonable & highly improper, as well as dangerous. It ought therefore to [be] treated by the assembly as an ill-digested Scheme of policy in the present State of affairs. I am sorry that Christian Ministers should virtually declare their Church a mere political machine, which the State may regulate at pleasure;" (letter to James Madison - 1784)
-- "Surely we are not again to be irritated & harassed with the heavy weight of a State-Church, that is to sit as sovereign over the rest, by depending in a more particular manner for direction in Spirituals, upon that antiquated fountain head of influences, the secular power" (letter to Madison)

2) Slavery
-- Favored the immediate end of the slave trade
-- Supported a progressive program of abolition

3) Upbringing
-- Descendent of a wealthy family

References:
1) http://www.teachingamericanhistory.org/convention/delegates/blair.html
2) http://books.google.com/books?id=z2VzSg9hfp0C&pg=PA57&lpg=PA57&dq=John+Blair+abolition&source=web&ots=HhdpAhccfA&sig=wpq81JA8ayJZwRfgBTw2JkSNjTI&hl=en&sa=X&oi=book_result&resnum=10&ct=result
3) http://www.adherents.com/people/pb/John_Blair.html
4) http://www.geocities.com/peterroberts.geo/Relig-Politics/JBlair.html#rlg

Running tabulation:
1) Religiously Active (2) or Primarily Secular (2)
2) Abolitionist (3), Partial Abolitionist (1) or Non-Abolitionist (0)
3) Wealthy (2) or Middle-Class/Poor (2)