The North-Carolinian., 1855-07-28
tVOI.UME XVI-NO. S56.


Mr. Stephens Of ia. on Religions Liberty.
In his recent spccc, at Sparta, Hon. \: II.
Stephens dwet ut length upon "a fatal blow
aimed bv Know Nothingism at one of the most
vital parts Of the Constitution itself.'' This
blow ct,,nes from that article of its creed which
l,roscriles Catholics and proposes tn set ufy H
RELIGIOUS test rs IL qualification Tor Oice. One
of the oblisa tions taken by every member Of
1.-the order" is never to vote tor ioman Cath
Ollie for any Office What is this but an opcu-
attack upon the spirit, if not the letter Of the
.coustitufioua The clause III that instrument on
this subject. and the whole clause, is in these
words:
.'rhc Senators and Representatives before
mentioned and members of the several State
legislatures, and all Executive and judicial
ofIic< DAnth Of the United States ah,l tht sew
eraI States, shall be bound by oath, or af1rma-
ton to support this constitution; but no rcll-
gious test shall ever be required as IL qualca-
ton to any office or public trust undcr the nj
ted States.'
What was the object of this, but to secure to
every citizen the right of eligibility to Office,
notwithstanding any religious opinions NE may
entertain! In other words, to put stop TO all
inquiries touching !: mans faith in questions
relating to his eligibility to, or qualifications
for, Office: The only guaranty it asks for fe:lty
to the Government until there be some overt
act against 1t, is an oath to support the consti-
tuition. 1t Is, however, said that this provision
of the constitution Mas oul intended to prevent
Congress from passing Il law OF the character of
the English test act. The clause does not so
read. and it cannot so mean. For suppose the
President, who has the appointment of many
thousands Of officers holding places of profit and
trust under the constitution should, before con-
ferrin@ one of these appointments, inquire into
mans religious creed, and reject an applicant
if his faith did not square with his own. Sup
pose he should require all persons appointed by
him to be l'rotcstants? Would he not plainly
and palI,allv violate that clause which says that
'no religious test shall ever be rcquired?' Now,
this is just what Know Nothingism' proposes;
for, by the Second Degree, if member Of the
order should be President, he is bound to APP
point no Catholic-that is, he is bound to re-
quire Il religious test that the Constitution says
shall never be requircd.' in every view Of the
subject, is not this clause as binding upon the
appointing power as it is npon Congress!
And have not every member of thc order
who has taken the 2d degree, put himself under
an obligation never to appoint Roman Cath
Ollie to Office, if he should ever be i'll all official
station to exercise the appointing power! Is
not this obligation in direct conflict with the
obligation Of the CONSTITUTIONS There can be
no doubt of 1T. But is it true that this clause
of the Constitution is hot obligatory upon
voters at the polls! How can they as friends
of the Constitution indirectly effect that which
the Constitution declares shall never be donc2
That the plain object and intention OF the Con
stitnton to fix and establish this principle,
aud secure this great civil right that NO rc-
gious test shall ever be required Gualifica
ton to any Office &c., all must admit. Well,
then, can any friend Of tLc Constitution, as it
is, do that which would virtually and cfIcctually
paralyzc and nuIlify that clause? Can he right
fully disregard its evident spirit, cOntraycnc its
plain object and defeat its acknowledged pur-
pose? How can men who thus array them
selves against what they admit to be the inten-
tion Of the trainers Of the Constitution and who
combine to effect at the polls what legislators
cannot without dsrcgar'ling their oaths put
upon the statute book. set up just claims to be
looked upon considered the advocates Of
true Amcricansm? They are, as little as they
may think it, against the Constitution Of their
country.
WEST po,Nr -icxoEMy.--Niany applicants
for admission to this institution rejected,
and, for the information of parents and others,
the Journal of Commerce says:
.'Thc fact is, the highest degree Of physical vig-
or is requisite to bear up under the rigorous dis
cipline of West Point. The students are on
duty seventeen hours out OF the twcntv-iour;
for relaxation is as strictly prescribed as labor;
and implicit obedience to authority is the duty
of the soldier They are obliged to spend sew
en- hours, form ten to five, III bed, without
lights The rigid discipline of the institution
has the best effect those who have the
strength to Dear 1t. IL Is IOnnu 10 ne lTOifO-
tive OF health cheerfulncs>, and mental viyor
1t can never in any degree be relaxed in favor
of the weak for the country is Interested TO eX-
cude that class, incompetent for the SER
vices which it proposed TO require Of those
there educated. The object Of the institution
is to train for their conntyys service those on
whom it. can rely III cNigcncics and danger,
Let none but those who have exhibited indca-
tions Of peculiar promise he encouraged to as
pire to that exalted brotherhood. Failure and
dismissal ;,ss,,rcdIy await AL who, for want of
health, preparation, or ability, are unequal 10
meet the rigorous requirements cXactcd Of the
pupils at West Point"
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
BARNrM's E!.EiIANT.-Licut. Gov Brown,
of the New England Farmer, having made
some inquiries respecting the diet of the cIc-
plant, whose exploits in plou5hing have been
mentioned in all the papers, the great Snowman
replies ill way not likely to encourage the
. encral Introduction of that kind of labor:
'ile eats OH an average one bnslic of oats
aud one hundred pounds of hay per day-Snn-
day and all. His weight is 4, 700 poHnds. lie
will accomplish any kind of work set before him,
and uses ten time. better Judgment than three
fourths of the farm ha nds. Above all things, he Is
not all enc servant. Once set him to work pill
ling wood picking mp stones, OF anything else,
and Won can Erare him without fear of his
! l,,iny old soldier in your absence. Anoth,r
caDital negative quality is, that he don't pick
mn his du,ls and start for home exactly at six
o'clock in she afternoon, as many other farm
crs' assistants do he is willing to labor till
sun-dowrf and even later if work is pressing.