Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1860-07-05
SATURDAY, JUNE 80. 1860.
plain Facts and Considerations.

We dislike to refer to rumors of any kind, or
matters which have not assumed decidedly public
character but feel called upon this time to make al
fusion to matters which have been much talked
about on the streets that they cannot be regarded as at
all private One of these has reference to the provisions
of the second section of the fourth article OF the Amend
ed Constitution of North Carolina-at least that por-
ton of such section says, No person who shall deny
the being of God the truth of the christian religion
or the divine authority of the Old or New Testament
shall be capable of holding any Office place of trust or
profit in the civil department within this State"
This provision assumes importance in view OF Its
operation as exclusion against citizens of the Hebrew
persuasion. We need hardly say here what we have
more than once said BEFORE that look upon any civil
tests or exclusions from Office founded upon religious
belief as opposed to the genius of institutions. We
look upon such tests exclusions wrong in princi
pe and alone perhaps of all the papers of any party
in the State took open and decided ground upon this
subject two years ago. basng OurpOston upon no mere
grounds of expediency upon desire to achieve popu
ary or to gain votes for the citizens of that persua
sion are too few in number to engage the services
of the mere interested politician Our course was
dictated by a simple reference to which we con-
ceved to be right. Our views the now
as they were then We can see no why
q citizen who be made to pay taxes-to serve
on uries-to do military service, in fact to bear all the
burdens of the State equally with all Others should not
be equally capable of holding its Offices of trust profit
should be the pleasure of the people to bestow such
Offices upon him. We think such views in accord
ance with the true principles of Democracy We feel
assured that they are accordance with the views Of
any Democratic representatives who may be sent from
this county-of the Democratic Senator and Common
ers who qOiU be sent this year.
The history of the Democratic party all along, but
especially within the last ewyears conrasted with that
of its opponents ought to show which side the weight
of feeling in favor Of civil and religious liberty is and
will be found to exist We feel justified in saying, that
when anything can be done for the promotion of OBJ
ject of this characer-caculatcd to invdious
distinctions our Democratic representatives will not be
found wanting We say, with all personal respect to
the worthy gentlemen who come out oppose the Dem
ocratic nominees for the House of Commons in this
county, that these Democratic nominees will be found at
least deserving of the confidence of any class per-
suason, anxious for the removal of religious test,
which they feel to be nvdious their opponents who
have been identified with the movements of late party
one of whose tenets the application of such rel
gous test exclusion towards the members of another
religious denomination.
We have heard nothing personally from either Mr..
Meares or Mr. Poisson in reference to this matter, but
presumng that does not msrepresent their posi-
tion or the positions asserted for Them we will state that
rumor to the effect that they are held forth to the voters
of the Jewish persuasion the especial advocates of
amendment of the second section of the fourth article Of
the Amended Constitution of North Carolina. If this
rumor be wrong, we will take pleasure in stating
when apprized of the fact.
We trust that rumor docs truly represent these gen
temen, for we like to see the spread of liberal views
views already advanced by ourselves even among those
whose tenets so recently advanced would render the
boon an idle one to nearly every adult Hebrew 10
the State, since according to such enets their for
eign birth would be still an absolute bar to their
attainment of any civil Office Of trust or profit
We must further trust that Messrs. Meares and Poisson
will abandon that liberality too. Not that we know
of single man of the Jewish persuasion who wants an
Office, for that matter, foreigner of any persuasion
Again, we learn that an effort is made by whom we
know not, to array the mechanics and workngmen Of
the town against the Democratic party Now, if there
be any just reason for ths-any tangible grounds Of
complaint it is fair that they should be known. Errors
cannot be remeded until pointed out-publicity is the
thing to st them; the complaints made whatever they
may be, should be made in such way that candidates
aspiring to represent the people should know their wish
and grievances, SO that representatives and con-
stituents may understand each other Be assured that
in all that is practicable and reasonable the representa-
tves u the popular party the party Of the peope-he
Democracy, will not be found wanting.
good deal of talk is made about taxing the salaries
of Clerks and the wages of Mechanics Would be be-
lieved that this clause introduced into the tax-b
by prominent member Of the opposition party-the
party which brings it terrible charge against
the Democracy For own part, we are free to say
that think this feature of the axb requires
tal mobilization. If not SO modified it ought to be struck
out We have said tis long SINCE as reference to our
files will show.
Would our Opposition friends inform the public how
they expect to get at their proposed amendment of the
second section of the fourth article in the Constitution
The resolution of their State platform the subject of
constitutional amendment reads thus
Resoued That we recommend Convention of the peo
pie of the State be called the federal basis early
practicable for the purpose of modifying the Constitution
it's value with power to discriminate only in favor of the ma
tive products of State and the industrial pursuits of her
citizens.
And this, Mr.. Pool says means that the Conven-
ton so called shall amend only the second clause of the
third section, that negroes shall hereafter be taxed
I'D valorem. Mr.. Pool says that it means that and
nothing more" How then our enthusiastic friends
to get their amendment before the Convention if called
since the standardbearer of their party excludes it and
all other amendments the specific one referred to-
The fact is that they would be afraid to introduce this
because it might open the way for Others And be it
known that the Opposition denOunce the Democratic
mode of legislative amendment. Fact that from the
force Of circumstances the Opposition party pledged
against this amendment