New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1852-08-31
Gov. Graham and Religious Tests.

esOy. Oranum ana Religious
Several Of the Democratic presses, per-
ceiving that their candidate for the Presidency is
likely to be preudiced by the odious religious test
in the Constitution of New. Hampshire, affect to
believe that Gov. Graham the Wing candidate
for Vice President is not as tolerant as he should
be, and one Of them mas even gone 30 far as to de-
clare that Dir. Graham was opposed to the reform
in the Constitution Of North Carolina by which
similar restriction was abrogated. We have in
quired into this allegation, and find that than
the contrary is true that Gov. Graham, so far
from favoring any such relic of persecution, was
one OF the most active of the public men Of the
State in procuring its repeal. He elected to
the Legislature the advocate of a Convention in
1888. The friends of a Convention advocated
it, among other reasons, upon the ground that
the religious test should be abolished. In an
address to the people, dated June, 1888, whue
the election OF Gov. Graham was pending, they
declared that it was "a disgrece to any free PEG.
pie to tyrannize over the c0nscences OF Others
and pronounced the obnoxious provision ian odl-
Gus restriction upon conscience. AT the session
OF 1889 MIR. Graham was one OF the chei adVo-
cate of the Convention bill in favor OF which his
vote is recorded, although the measure faiied.
nv a meeting of it's friends Immediately tlereat.
ter, at the seat Of Government, he was appointed
member Of a committee again to address the
form. This address, signed by VIM. II. Hay
wood, Jr., VIM. A. Graham, &c, and dated Jan
xary 1884 treats of the religious r,striction
follows: cu.,,,.,,o, ~.
oludes from civil Office all who may deny the truth
The protestant religion This has practical effect 10
the plain reason that there Is no tribunal
The copstmtion determine mans iahn Hna
al hadSe of prejudice which the enlightened lilo
eraitv of tue present day should scorn to wear ~
an unjust imputson again" the Cstnoncs Oh Ins GA.
10 attach 10 them any such disquallhcauon ine pair
o,,sm personal virtues and ability, aud the dntereste
nnbo services of single individual In the STATE orsn1
with fasehood the Idle tears 'aa' are liz ,h
snrit of Protes tsntsm itselt-how Tar II 10 comPsuo
With the bin of rights, which declares that all men
Law % the dictates of their own conscience
leave 10 tina. blgotfy which would peIpesusse this
stigma. 49, L;hor Courts in North Car
o,;na are elected by the Legislature. At the ses-
sion of 1888 a vacancy had occurred by the death
nj Chief Justice Henderson. The late Hon. VII
liam CASTOR, an eminent Catholic, was at the head
of the profession in the State, and by the admls'
sion of all was best qualified for the station. lt
being understood that MIR. Gaston, upon receh.
examination of the question, was vi OPINION 1hat
tbe restriction in the Constitution, by the rules OF
construction applicable to penal and disabling pro-
visions upon the power OF the people and the
/ legislature did not exclude Catholics from olhce,
and therefore had no scruples oil conscience against
accepting. Gov. Graham united with other fiends
IN ureing # upon him as q duty to accept the va.
cant place on the Bench, to which he was elected
with general appreciation.
In the course OF the ensuing year, the accept
ance of Judge CASTOR having exposed HIM to I'M
charitable remarks he pre- pared al article on tho
religious test in the Constitution, which ne trans
mitted to Gov. Graham in the following Ietter,
and which was read by the latter gentleman III
speech in the House of Commons, on the ON con-
Isn;ro a Copvent;on nj the session OF 1871:
0ei"s WNEwBHRN, Nov. IL, 1884
any DEAR Sir: have heard that some d'sau.sc'
finn had been expressed in certain parts OF tue STAKE al
INV having accepted Judicial ONCE under inc eNsAaS
C9r.,i,ntop Perhaps the matter 10 not deserving OF
spy notice on my part But az next 10 the sppfoosuon
Of INV own conscience, prize the good opinion oil the
uuright portion of the community, ana as possloiy
.6ms al ihese NAV have misconceiyed my motives Ia
the act alluded 10, have concluded 10 make 'nor
statement of them, which you Will ma enclosed /
leave II entirely TO your dlseTeon !" 'H0" W "N'"
beg Of YOU 10 believe me, with sincers re'pec,
and affection, your friend, WILLIAM "ASIoN'
"WMLIAM A. GRAHAM, Esq
Atthis session an act concerning ConFen-
ton TO amend the constitution OF the state was
passed Gov Graham advocating and voting for
it. Ii conferred power on the CONVENTION, ut the
people should by popular vote determine IN IaVO9
Of the measure) among other Things, 10 after or
abolish the religious test contained IN the thirty
second article The Convention assembled in
June, 1885; Judge Castor was member, and
the admirers of purity, ability, genius aVd elo-
0uence, will long remember his great speech on
the proposition in favor Of religious freedom. In
this he declared that, by his construction of the
constitution, he supposed Catholics not TO be cx-
clud,d, and therefore from sense OF duty had
accepted the office he held but that the Con-
yention had it now in its power to remove all
doubt, and that if they failed to make IT plain nv
amendment, he should forthwith resign The
amendment prevailed, sud the State enjoyed the
benefit of his enlightened icdcial labors until his
death, many wears thereafter.
Gov. Graham was in i'll health during the cam
yass for seats in the Convention was not cam
didate, and Of course not a member OF the BODY.
His previous action on the same sub ect, however,
shows what would have been his course IN regard
20 religious freedom had he been in the Conyen'
ton. Judge Castor, in his speech already men
toned, referred to the libeIality Of Gov. Graham
as shown by his action in the Legislature, and 10
addressing the people Of the State, and con-
trssted il with the narrower views OF member
who had been returned from his County. Indeed
his elevation and generosity Of character proclaim