The western Democrat. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1852-1870, 1856-01-22

that there shall be no religious test. The
clause granting suffrage, and the clause
prohibiting religious tests, must be constru-
ed in accord with each other. Thus the or
ganic law imposes restriction upon the ex-
ercise of suffrage; and whoever makes re-
igious tests violates that constitutional
restraint.
But it has been argued that the Know
Nothing party does not contemplate the en-
actment of a law excluding Roman Catho-
lies and naturalized foreigners from all of
fees. Ifthis result is accomplished through
the agency Of the ballot box, will it not be
as violative of the Constitution as if achiev-
cd through positive enactments? If, through
an instrumentality put into your hands by
the organic law, you accomplish the sub
version of the latter, is it not as violative of
all obligation and duty as if you circumvcnt-
cd it by positive statutory provision =
TO give an example: The President of the
United States is under the obligations of the
Constitution, just as any voter is. If he
were to declare that he would bestOw office
upon no one who is member of the Roman
Catholic Church, simply because he was a
Catholic, would it not be making religious
test Clearly so. How would this be SO?
By determining the qualifications for Office
and station according to the religious con-
victions of the candidate. The same is true
of naturalized foreigners; yet, in this in
stance, the circumvention of the Constitu-
ton would be without any positive law.
In answer to this view of the question, it
has been said that the voter may vote as he
plcases. Within the limitations imposed by
the Constitution, State and Federal, he may
vote as he choose but if he votes over and
against those limitations, he is guilty oflegal
or moral wrong. Though no specific penal
ties may have been defined, and no legal
tribunal instituted to enforce them, yet the
wrong is not the less clear and disastrous.
This argument also implies an absolute and
unqualified right of property in suffrage
If this right exists, why cannot the vote be
sold It will be answered because the law
prohibits. Exactly so but this proves that
the right is a qualified one-that there are
restrictions upon its exercise. This is all
1 contend for. I contend that the right of
suffrage is political or qualified right; that
it must be exercised in conformity to the
limitations of the Constitution; and that
the fundamental limitation is, that it shall
not be so used as to make religious tests
Suffrage is qualified political right, given
70 in of 70 HT1fx
and the latter reacts upon the former.
At this point may answer an inquiry put
by the gentleman from North Carolina, (Mr.
Reade.) He inquiries ''if we would vote for
any one hostile to civil liberty and the Con-
stitution?'' I answer him frankly that 1
would not. But he does not put the ques-
ton fully. Does he believe that every mem
Der of the Roman Catholic Church is hos
tile to civil liberty and the Constitution! If
so, does he believe them to be thus hostile
to them because of their religion If he
does not believe both of these propositions,
then he cannot shelter himself behind his
implication.
If there be any number of Roman Catho- |
lies in this country who are true to the
Constitution and civil liberty, then the Ro-
man Catholic religion does not make its vo-
taries false to their civil duties and obliga-
tions, and their political prescription must
be because of their religious faith. Thus,
in this event, the gentleman makes rcli
oious test. Nor will he fare better on the
other horn of the dilemma. If he alleges
all Roman Catholics to be hostile to civil IL
bertv, because of thei- religious creed, he
pronounccs sentence against the Constitu-
ton, and takes issue with the sages and
founders Of the Republic. The Consttu.
ton declares that there is no incombatibili-
ty between Republicanism and the Roman
Catholic religion, and the sages of the Re
public believed that Catholics might be as
Ioyal citizens as the followers of any other
faith. If the gentleman believes this pro-
vision in the Constitution to be unwise, he
should strive to amend it in the way pro-
vided in that instrument itself. While it
exists, it is the law, and disobedience to it
is the "hiehcr law"
l pass now, sir, from this branch of the
inquiry of my colleague. He asks me also,
# / approve Of the Presidents Message.
do approve OF 1t most emphatlcally. 1t Is
a bold, wise, and statesman-lke document,
and should commend itself to the sanction
IF the public Judgment. In this connection,
90, will say, that while am opposed to '
he representation of my State in the De-
nocratic Nominating Convention at Cincin-
,ati, if President Pierce is the nominee of .
he Democratic party, l will cheerfully and {
cordially support him, and doubt not my
State will do so. I think he has high claims ,
Ipon the party; and in this believe but
Express the judgment Of the people of South
Carolina.
Ny object, Mr.. Clerk, was to define my !
own position. viii add, however, that !
believe the Democratic party is to-day purer
md truer to the Constitution than it has
,cen for years. 1t has passed through fire
md water, and many of its impurities have
9een consumed or washed away. 1t has the
,mell of fire upon its garments. and while I