Semi-weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1853-18??, 1855-02-07
A GLANCE AT THE RECORD.


For some time past we have thought of showing
up the inconsistency of the Hon. Kenneth Rayner
in regard to knownothngism and the position oc-
cupied by him in the Convention of 1885, but have
postponed it from week to week. We advert
to the subject. In that Convention Mr.. Rayner OPP
posed religious tests for ofice-advocated the
punging of the 32d Article of the old Constitution,
which prohibited members of the Roman Catholic
church from holding Office under the State gov
eminent. Nogo find this same Mr. Rayner heels
and head in love with the know nothing party, one
article in whose creed is opposition to the Catholics.
He has written three letters in favor of the
der, published first in the american Organ" and
repubshed by whig papers in this State which can
not be viewed in any other light than bid for the
support Of this secret organization in elevatng him
to public station.
In the Convention of So Mr.. Rayner in long
speech against the Article alluded to, said:
&c / do not conceive that we have any thing to do
with the tencts of any particular creed We have
not to decide between the merits ofconending sectS.
We have not to enquire whether the Pope of Rome
is the legal cusodier ofthekeys of Chrsts kingdom,
whether, according to the opinion of some,) he
is the many headed Monster mentioned in the Apoc
aypse."
How is this Mr. Ravner ?-then you thought we
had nothing to do with the Pope and his power
now, by connecting yourself with the know-noth-
ings, you profess to think that that prominent ndi
vidual requires watching and regulating. Again
Mr.. Rayner said
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 wOrShippng God, free
from all personal pains and penalties, is right which
nov be enjoyed in any country in ChristendOm.
An exclusion from the honors the profits and the
emoluments of the State, is the highest persecution
which public opinion will tolerate in any Christian
country in this enlightened age. So that, if you
sanction the principle recognized in the sd Article,
you the rod Of persecution with unsparing
hand as it is used in Spain, the States of the
Church. And if you exclude sect, why not
other and another and finally all, except one?"
Another change has taken place in the sentiments
of the speaker, for he is encouraging and Civ
ing his influence to party that prescribe men for
entertaining certain religious belief We will not
dwell these Inconsistencies, but give another
tract from the celebrated speech
&C Retain that Article, and assert it the Catholic
and the Jew will be placed under the ban ofproscrip
tion no matter how great may be his merit; although
he may love his country with patriotism as pure
as 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 a
laudable ambition Like the IsracIites in Egypt he
Will be oppressed by the land in which he lives, the
soil which he treadS, and like thcm 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 opinion sake, in this enlightened age, proceeds
from the spirit of bigotry and superstition
which has prcyed upon mankind, from the building
of Babel to the present time"
The above is strong defence of Catholics
we have ever seen. Wonder if these know nothing
papers that have been praising and iiattering MIR.
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
fundamental law, the doctrine, honesty, capa-
bility, and fathuness to the Constitution" is not
sufficient qualification for office but that he who OBJ
tains it, rnust ALLURE certain particular faith? Sir,
who constituted us judges of the hearts and con-
sciences of men? What right have to impugn
the motives Of our fellow-men? 1t is asserting
of the attributes of the Deity himself for it is the
Lcrd alone that pondereth the heart. Sir, you may
carry this system Of persecution but there is
point beyond which you cannot go. You may sub
ject the body to privaton and torture but you
not tether the mind-fetters canhot bind t-tyrants
cannot enchain t-dungcons cannot confine 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-FayetteriUe Carolimian.
The LEGISLATURE This body has been in session
about seUenty.tour days and it is thought its sit
-yuino Il