Semi-weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1853-18??, 1854-07-26


civil and religious freedom. 1t is revolving to our
of justice and right 1t is derogatory to the
character of forefathers, who all emlgrants
from the old world, some at earlier and some at
later period. They once bore allegiance to the
crowned heads of Europe They too suffered the
torments of civil and religious persecution, the fury
of which tore them from their native homes and Tor
ced them to seek new ones on the shores OF Amerl-
Ca Indeed the settlement of this continent the de-
velopment of the thirteen united colonies the deca-
ration of independence, and the establishment OF
this glorious republic, may all be traced back to the
accursed spirit OF persecution The pilgrim 1athers
fed before their prosecutors from England to Hoi-
land, and thence to Plymouth rock, that they might
be permitted to worship God agreeaby to their own
faith. The same spirit compelled the Qaakers to
seek refuge in the wilderness under William Penn,
whose name they impaired to the country they in
habited, and from which the good old commonwealth
of Pennsylvania has arisen in her glory and majesty
Your own beautiful city of Philadelphia stands
living monument and trust it may stand all eter-
oal monument of their gratitude to God for having
removed them from the scenes of their troubles to
quiet and peaceful home the banks of the Della
ware, which, in the fulness of their hearts and in
faith that the spirit of religious persecution would
never again reach them spring up among them,
they called the "City of Brotherly Love-" [Cheers
and applause.
The Catholics, who in turn were oppressed and
pursued by those who had felt the rod of their pow
Ell, found an asylum upon the banks OF the Chesa-
peake, and called their little colony after their avo
rite Queen Mary to which circumstance the State of
Maryland owes her name and her origin.
The gallant cavaliers, who, after having prosecuted
the pilgrim and driven them from the kingdom un-
der Charles l., were in turn routed and pursued by
Cromwell with his invincibe army of Round Heads,
until they fed to Virginia, where they established
the Church of England
The Huguenots, who settled in South Carolina,
were also refugees from religious persecution Thus
will be seen that the different colon les the
representatives. ofthe various religious sects in Europe,
who had each been prosecuted and had nearly all
prosecuted each other in turn, UNTIL by the strange
vicssitudcs of fortune, they driven from their
native land and forced to seek asylum upon this
ntinent where each could be protected in the wor-
ship of God in accordance with the faith he had en-
braced. In proportion as they became tolerant and
just in matters of religion they became liberal and
enlightened in respect to the true principles OF CIVIL
government When the revolution broke out, in de-
fence of their civil and political rights each and all
of these colonies rallied under the banner OF their
common country. The revolution established their
by converting the dependent colonies
into distinct sovereign States Yet it not until
the adoption of the Constitution of the United
States that their liberties consolidated and
placed firm and sure basis In the Constitution
it provided that mo RELIGIOUS TEST SHALL EVER
BE REQUIRED TO ANY OFFICE OR PUBLIC TRUST UNDER
THE UNITED STATES" Immense applause.
This provision adopted unanimously. 1t was
the common ground of justice and equality, upon
which all religious denominations could stand in
and security. 1t expressed in plain Ian
guage the true principles of religious toeraton the
and necessity of which had been thor
oushly vindcated in the history and experience of
each of the colonies. 1t was heartily concurred in
by Protestant and Catholic-by Puritan and Cava-
er-by Quaker and Hugucnot-cach and all of the
religious sects and denominations agreed upon this
great principle as platform, common ground up |
on which they and their descendants in all future
time could and would stand in the bonds of brotherly
affection. [Appause.J
By another clause of the Constitution no man can |
hold any office under the government of the United |
States, under any of the State governments until
COQStItu-
ion of the United States. This oath must be taken,
md ought to be kept, not only by Presidents and |
and judges, but by the mayors of your
titles and all their subordnates in Office. TTremen-
lous cheers and applause
Now, feliow-citizens, permit to inquire, in all
iindness, how the members of this political
society, called "know-nothngs," take upon them
selves solemn oath by which they shall stand
pledged raise up religious test as qualification
or Office in the very teeth of the Constitution by
prescribing men account of their religious faith?
Viii they excuse themselves upon the ground that
hey did not GnOW fthis clause in the Constitution?
Cheers and laughter.
Will they tell US that they did not knoao the his
DRY of their own cOuntry-that they did not kno,o
# the sutferings and prosecutions to which their
athers had been subjected account of their reli-
ious aith-that they did not knOo that the obliga-
ions and principles of their society were at war
With the genius of our whole republican system and
direct conflict with the principles of the Constitu-
ion? Loud cheering]
thy did not Ano,o these things, surely there
Tas wisdom in calling themselves KNOW NorHINGs'
Tremendous cheers and roars of laughter.
Those who do not know should be made to learn
nd feel that the Constitution is the supreme law of
ne land that all men who live under it, and enjoy
s protection, must yield implicit obedience to it's
in all its parts and provisions whether
ney like them [Cheers and continued APP
lause.
Their likes dislkes have nothing to do with the
uestion. We live under government of laws
nd the supremacy of the laws must be maintained
o matter from what quarter motive the resistance
lay come [Great applause1
The equality of all the States under the Constitu-
on and the right of the people to decide for them
Elves what kind of local and domestic institutions
ley will have, cardinal principles in the demo-
ratio creed. Loud and enthusiastic cheers1
To these fundamental propositions let add
mother, which forms the corner stone in the temple
liberties. It's that all men have an inaliena-
lie right to worship God according to the dictates
their own conscience, and under Constitution, |
man ought can be prescribed on account of his
place of his religious faith loud cheers
nd appause.]
These are the issues which the democratic party
the nation have to meet and maintain before the
aope in all the States. Let no consideration of
artzan policy temporary advantage induce us to
verve hairs breadth from our principles. five
eet the questions fairly and directly and fight the
little boldly, and should even suffer temporary ,
efeat, yet will have the proud satisfaction of
rowing that we have saved honor at the same (
me that glorious triumph awaits us in the future
Then, fellow democrats, let stand by our
ms, and be ready to fight the allied forces of abo- l
,nism, whigism, nativesm and religious intolerance