Democrat and sentinel. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1853-1866, 1855-09-05
Kenneth Raynor on Religious Pres,

Kenneth Raynor on Religious Froscription.
The following extract from speech of the
Hon. Kenneth Raynor. delivered in the North
Carolina Constitutional Convention in 1885,
on the question of removing Catholic disabili-
ties, contains. as the Mobile Register well
says, noble sentiments:
But It is said, if the Catholic Is excluded
from Office, that win not deprive him of the
| right of worshipping God according to the
dictates of bis conscience. Sir. the right of
worshipping God, free from all personal pains
and penalties, is right which can now be
enjoyed in any country in Christendon. An
erclssion from the honors, the projfh and en-
ozgnsenfs Of the Sf1fe is the Aigkef y,exseesaion
,czich 1,nblic opinion sciH tolerate an amy
Christian country an this enlightened age
So that if you sanction the principle recog-
nized in the thirty y-second article, you use the
rod Of persecution with as unsparing a hand
as it is used in Spain or the States of the
chnrch.-And if you exclude one sect; schy
not another and another, and finally all except
one7 1t was a fayorite saying of Napoleon
that there was but one step fro,s The sublime
to the ridiculous; and ON fIis same principle
there is but one step from religious freedoms
to the most bitter and intolernnt persecution.
Retain that article, and assert it that the
Catholic and the Jew sciH be placed under the
ban of prescription, no matter how great may
be his merit; although he may pour ont blood
like water in her defense; yet. for daring TO
worship God according to fhesdietates Of his
own conscience, you cut him off from all hope
of political prefermens. aAd from al stimulus
to laudable ambition Like the Israeftes
Of Egypt. he will be oppressed BY the land in
which he lives. the soil on which he. ffeads,
and like them he xiH have no other resource
left but to turn his back uron Che graves of
his fathers, and take up his march for some
more Tolerant cline Sir, tie ezctasfoif from
| office far opinion' sake, IN this enli iehsened
age proceeds from the sanse spirit of bigotry
and superstition which has preyed upon man
kind from the building of Babel to the pres
ent time; if the same spirit which presented
| the cup to Socrates. confined Calico in his
| dungeon, which bound Cranmer to tie stake
of martyrdoni which drove tie Hdguenots
| from France-nay, more, Sir, it is the same
spirit which led the Saviour of the world to
| Calvarys awful summit Sir, what must be
the situation of the Immigrant who comes to
this country for the sake Of religious freedom,
if the appearance of the good old North State
should induce him to oimake it his home? !? VIII
he not wish himself across the waters again,
that .s after life's ftful fever is DER" he may
| lay his bones with those of bis fathers? What
must be the feelings of the pious mother. when
looking on her tender infant, whom she be-
lieves her duty 10 her God enjoins her to train
up in the same way which has secured peace
to her own boson-wlat must be her aeon51
zing feelings when she reflects that by so do
ing she is c,nsisning him 10 obseurity for
| ever? -
Sir, would ask the Convention whether
| this prescription is in accordance with the
holy preccpts of the requirements of the Cos
pei? Does it accord with that benevol, nee
| for the human family. that charity for others,
without which the Apostle says a practical
exercise of all Christian duties coupled will,
faith strong enough to remove mountains is
'as sounding brass and tinkling cymbals."
Sir, is the convention ready to incorporate
into our fundamental law the doctrine that
honesty capability. and faithfuiness to the
Constitution, is not sufficient qualification
| for Office, but that he who obtains it must oL-
.jure to a certain particular taifh SIR, ,cho
constituted ,ss i,aegrs Of the hearts dsd consci-
e,,ces If n,enp Hhot right hare re to i'm
pug,l Me nso,ires Of orr fello~ mea7 His
asserting onc Of the attributes Of the Deity IT.
| self, for az rs the Lord alone that pondcreth
the hearf. SIR, you may carry ON this system
of persecution, bnt there is ono point which
you cannot tether the mind fefscrs cannot
bind it; tyrants cannot enchzin It dungeons
cannot eon6ne il; it will rise Superior 10 she
power Of fate, and aspire to him who gave it.