Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1855-02-09
[From the Fayetteville Carolinian.l
e.fnnnn ~ Ane Reanrfl

Il For some time past we have thought of showing
up the inconsistency of the Hon. Kenneth Rayner in
regard to know nothingsm and the position occupied
by him in the Convention of 1885. but have post
pOned II from week to week. We advert to the
subject In that Conp enton Mr. Rayner opposed
gious tests for Officially ocated the expunging of
the 32d Article of the old Constitution which pro-
hibited members Of the Roman Catholic church from
holding an Office under the State government N0w
we find this same MIR. Rayner heels and head in love
with the know nothing party, one article IN whose
creed is opposition to the Catholics He has written
two three letters in favor of the order, published
first in the Is American Organ and republished by
whg papers in this State, which cannot be viewed
any other light than bid for the support of this Sc
cret organization in elevating him to some public
station.
In the Convention of 's5, Mr.. Rayner, in long
speech against the Article alluded to, said:
+" / do not conceive that we have anything to do
with the tenets of any particular creed. We have
not to decide between the merits of contending sects
We have not to enquire whether the Pope of Rome
is the legal custodier of the keys of Christs kingdom
whether according to the opinion OF some,) he is
the many headed monster mentioned in the Apoca-
| Iypse."
| How is this, MIR. Fayner ?-then you thought we
had nothing to do win the Pope and his power--now.
by connecting yourself with the know-no,hings, you
profess 10 think that that prominent individual requires
watching and regulating. Again, Mr.. Rayner said ::
"Butit is said if the Catholic is excluded from Office,
that will not deprive them of the right of worship
ping God according to the dictates of his own
| science. Sir, the right OF worshippng God, free
from all personal pains and penalties is right which
can now be enjoyed in any country in Chrstendom.
An exclusion from the bonors the profits and the
emoluments of the State is the highest persecui ion
which public opinion will tolerate in any Christian
country in this enlightened age So that, if you
sanction the principle recognized in the 32d Article,
you use the rod of persecution with unsparing
| hand it is used in Spain, or the States of the
Church. And if you exclude one sect, why not
other and another, and finally ALL except one o.
| Another change has taken place in the sentiments
OF the speaker, for be is encouraging and giving
his influence to party that proscribes for enter
tanning certain religious belief We not dwell
these inconsistencies, but give another extract from
the celebrated speech:
! Retain that Article, and assert it, the Catholic
and the Jew will be placed under the ban OF proscrp
ton matter how great may be bis merit although
he may love his country with patriotism pure
the first love OF woman although he may pour out
his blood like water in her defence yet, for daring
to worship God according to the dictates of his own
conscience, you cut him off from all hope of political
preferment, and from all stimulus to laudabe ambi-
ton Like The lsraelltes in Egypt, he will be oppres
sed by the land in which he lives, the soil on which
| he treads, and like them. he will have left other
resource but to turn his back upon the graves of his
| fathers, and take up his march to more tolerant
cline, Sir, the exclusion from Office for opinions
sake, in this enlightened age, proceeds from the
spirit of bigotry and superstition which has preyed
upon MANKIND from the building OF BABEL 10 the pres
emf time
| The above is strong defence of Catholics as
we have seen. Wonder if those know nothing
papers that have been praisng and fattering Mr..
Rayner. would copy these extracts
! Mr.. Rayner concludes his defence OF the Catholics
in the following manner:
- Sir, is this Convention ready to incorporate into
our fundamental law the doctrine, that honesty,
capabbility, and faithfulness TO the Constitution is
not sufficient qualification for Office, but that he
who obtains it, must abjure u certain particular
faith Sir. who constituted Judges of the hearts
and consciences Of men What right have we 10
impugn the motives of our fellow men 1t is assert
ing one of the attributes of the Deity himself for il is
The Lord alone that pondereth the heart. Sir YOU
may carry on this system of persecution, but there is
one point beyond which you cannot 60. You may
subject the body to privaton and torture, but you
cannot tether the mInd-fetters cannot bind it
tyrants cannot enchain It-dungeons cannot confne
tit will rise superior to the powers of fate and
aspire to him who gave it,
What friend the Catholic Church has lost in
the person of the Hon. Kenneth Rayner!
For the correctness of the above quotations we
refer the reader to the Debates of the Convention of
1885, pages 262-3-4
Observation-Disclosures is Frcc-SOilIsm In Disguise