Semi-weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1853-18??, 1855-07-04


Catholics to hold Office, that he declared " it were
better that society should besssolved into its orig
inal elements better that the tide of coonialyas-
salage should again sweep oyer this extensive coun
try, from the seaboard to the mountains, and we
should be left again to graphic freedom with
the tyrant's chain, or the bigots scourge to wade
to our liberty through oceans of tears and seas of
blood, than n;ths enlightened age, when the march
of mind is onward, should prove so recreant to
the spirit Of liberty to hight qyaesO The torch Of
persecution, and extinguish forever the fond hopes
of philanthropy and freedom" [see Debates, page
262
Mr.. Rayner says now, we understand, that he has
nothing to take back-that he would make the same
speech and give the same vote again and yet he is,
this day. engaged in lighting The torch of perse
cution ''-he is endeavoring to exclude from the
honors the profits and the emolnments of the State'
a certain portion of our citizens because they are
Catholics; and such exclusion, according to his own
recorded opini ons, which he declares he still holds
I" as the highest persecution which public opinion
will tolerate in any Christian country in this en-
Gghtened age" Kenneth Rayner, the prosecutor
Kenneth Rayner the bigot Kenneth Rayner, Civ
ing the lie to public men more honest than himself
who have been constrained by sense of public duty
to convict him, from his record, of his dema-
goguesms, his evasions and his palpable and gross
inconsistencies! He says he would not rule the
Catholics out by the Constitution but would only
vote them out at the pollsl Why, what schoolboy
sophstry is that He insists in one breath that
Catholics shall have Constitutional rights, and in the
next goes to the polls and denies them these rights
and persecutes them because they are Catholics i
That is specimen both of his honesty and his logic
We make the following extracts from the speech
of Mr.. Rayner, already referred to; and we ask
special attention to those portions which are in
itaIics:
But it is said, if the Catholic is excluded from
office, that will not deprive him of the right Of
shipping God according to the dictates of his own
conscience. Sir the right Of worshipng God, free
from all personal pains and penalties, is right
which ato1c be enjoyed in any country in Chris
tendon. H. eccIUsi0R from tic h0R0rS tie pr0Rts
and en0lunents Of the State is the highest gersecu-
ton aCAct public opinion aciW tolerate any Chrs-
tan country IN this enlightened aye. So that, If you
sanction the principle recognized i'll the 32d article
you use the rod of persecution with uns1aring
hand it is used in Spain the States of the church
And if you exclude one sect, gchy not another and
another, 0nG finally all except one? 1t favor
tie saying of Napoleon that there was but one step
from the sublime to the ridiculous; and on the
principle there is but step from religious free
dom to the most bitter and intoerant persecution.
Retain that article, and assert it. the Catholic
and the Jew aoiI be pLQceI URder the ban ef pro-
Scjlpti0n, matter how great may be his merit
although he may love his country with patriotism
as pure the first love of woman although he may
pour cut his blood like water in her defence; yet
for daring to " worship God according to the die
tateS of his own conscience, you cut him off from
all hope Of political prefyrnlcnt, and from ak stnu
us to 4 laudabc ambition. Like the Israclites in
Egypt he will be oppressed by the land in which he
lives, the soil on which he treadS, and like them he
will have other left but turn his back
upon the graves Of his fathers, and take up his
march n tolerant chine the errIkSi0Jl
from office Jor opini0nS sake, in this enlightened
age, proceeds from the spirit ef bigotFy and
superstition which has preyed upon mankind from
the building of Babel to the present time; it is the
same spirit which presented the cup to Socrates,
which confined Calico in his dungeon, which bount
Cranmer to the stake of martyrdom, which drove
the HugenotS from France-nay. more, sir it is the
same spirit which led the Saviour of the world to
Calvary's awful summit. Sir what must be the
situation of the emigrant who to this country
for the sake of Religious freedom, if the appearance
OF the good old North State should induce him to
make it his home? VIII he not wish himself across
the wide waters again. that " after LIES litul fever is
o'cr,' he may lay his bones with those of his fath
els? What must be the feelings OF the piOus moth
Ell, when looking on her tender infant whom she
believes her duty her God enjOinS her to train up
in the way which has secured peace to her own
bosom what must be her agOIiZed feelings when
she reflects that by doing she is consigning him
to obscurity forever? Sir l would ask this Conveli
ton whether this prescription is in accordance with
the holy preceptS and requirements OF the Gospel!
Does it accord with that meekness and torbearance
which characterized the Saviour in his sojourn
among men? Does it accord with that bcnevolence
for the human family that charity for others, with
out which, the Apostle says, practical exercise of
all Christian duties, coupled with faith strong
enough to remove mountains, is as sounding brass
and tnkling cymbal."
Sir, is this Convention ready to incorporate into
our fundamental law, the doctrine, that honesty,
capabity and faithiulness TO the Constitution" is
not sufficient qualification for Office, but that he
who obtains it, mast allure cort0tn particular
fifth? Sir, acAo constituted rs judges of tile he0rts
and consciencs Of men? What right haze zee to
impugn the notices Of our tei1oocuen 1t is assert
ing Que Of tic attridutes @ the Deity himself fer
you may carry on this system of persecution: but
there is point beyond which you cannot go.
You may subject the body to prvation and torture,
but you cannot tether the mind-fetters cannot
bind it-tyrants cannot enchain it-dungeons cam
not contine tit will rise superior 10 tie powers
of fate, and aspire to him who gave it, n
See Debates of the Convention, page 262. 4
"a We authorized by H. W. Miller, Esq, to