Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1841-1853, 1852-07-01
LEVI WOODBURY., for the committee.

amendments TO the constitution Of Neg Hanbshirs,
commended at an adjourned session held the 18th and
17th days Of apr, 1851, by the convention appointed
for that purpose.
l. Resolpsd, That no belief in the doctrines of any
particular religious sect shall be required test for
holding office, be entitled to any preference whatever
under the constitution. And this amendment shall be
effected by striking from it, in part 2 section a. the
words, shall be Of the Protestant religions" and from
section 29 the words I" who is of the Protestant
religion and from section 49, the words, and unless
he shall be Of the Protestant religion and in the bill Of
rights, article g. the word Protestant"
2. Rssolred, That no particular qualification by prop
erty shall be required for holding any Office under Che
constitution And this amendment shall be effected by
striking from II in part 2d, section 18th, the words,
shall have an estate within the district which he may
be chosen 10 represent, Of the value of hundred
pounds half of which be hold, whereof he
is seized in his own right and from section 29th the
words, and seized Of freehold estate in his right
of the value of hundred pounds, lying within this
State - and section 42d the words and unless he shall
at the same time have an estate of the value OF FIVE
hundred pounds, one half OF which shall consist Of
freehold in his own right, within this State"
Mr.. Chamberlain, oil Keene, moved that the resolu-
tons be indefinitely postponed, and advocated, in a
speech of length the retention of the religious test
and the property qualification in the constitution.
Pending the question, remarks made in favor OF
the passage OF the resolutions of the committee by
Messrs Smith, of Henniker and Bell Of Clifford, and
by Mr.. Eastman, of Conway, in opposition.
Mr.. Virgins, of Dover moved that the whole subject
be laid on the table; negatived.
Mr.. Chamberlain again addressed the convention in
favor Of his motion of indefinite postponement.
Judge Woodbury., the chairman OF the Committee on
the Judiciary then and requested the attention OF
the convention for a few minutes. We are unable to
give than brief outline OF his remarks, which
listened to with profound attention, and evidently
produced decided impression upon the convention.
He said that the report which it had devolyed on him
to present to tn three amendments related chiefly
the form of them leaving to the convention to decide
alone the merits OF EACH and the proprey oil giving
than hal
another long term Of years delay round.
These last matters now under consideration; and
though thinking that member oil the committee, he
had authority to report on them yet he had no hest
aton in stating his convictions in favor both OF
he proprety OF these amendments and OF the submis
sion of them again at this time TO the people.
That striking the Protestant test right on
every sound principle Of liberation and equal rights he
had endeavored show fully at the last session OF this
convention, when this proposition adopted almost
unanimously. notwithstanding, them what has SO I'M
expectedly fallen from the gentleman from keene,
Chamberlain in favor o this test II cannot be that
majority of the people of New Hampshire, distracted
by other issue excitement but acting this
ton singy could sanction such opinion They did not
sanction even sixty years ago; but decided majority
then voted against the Protestant test and the reason
why it has since disfgured the constitution is that the
ma lorty then lacked few votes OF being two-thirds-
that ratio being required 10 make an amendment-the
question then being striking out this since test
And, he asked, have we in reality and deliberately,
travelled backwards Are now IN truth, despite oil
free schools here powerful press and the progress of
free principles the world over, in greater darkness and
more bigoted He, for one. did not believe 1t. Far
more probable was ii that scrt OF snap Judgment,
lawyers might call it, had been obtained in support Of
these in the hurry, excitement, and intermnglng
of other business in the late election. He did not be-
eve the majority of the people Of this State de-
beraely hostile the equal rights OF upright citi
zen because that citizen trusted in different religious
creed lie did not credit that they supposed him enti-
tied hold property and for all officers he
now and yet fit TO be officer, or, If fit, despoti
cay to be forbidden be He did not believe that
they did choose themselves with the power
to vote for citizen if they deemed him best qualified,
when the time of election arrived that they considered
proper make lChite slave of him and dsfranchise
him Of equal political power when much feeling exis
ted against this even towards black slaves that they
considered il right i'm free country brand such man.
though educated and talented and viruous, with nlamy
and disgrace and send him and his family through
streets and social circles marked like CAIN sort OF
degraded oucast heot, not fit to be intrusted with
either Legislative executive rights, though bestowed
fully the ignorant and reprobate.
But say that without this there is danger OF an
increase of Catholicism. Danger when and
Professionalism are left free 20 combat it when wrong
Danger when Deity himself will favor the right Dam
ger then if that uses prescription, why not go fur
Their why let it hold property and vote Then why
not on the same principle establish nqustion put
it downl But he said much at the last session this
subject and which he referred for other reasons, il
was not necessary this occasion say against
the continuance Of such prosecuting and ibera test.