Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1860-09-05
A Just Rebuke.

We do not know upon what Editor, nor
to what political party he belongs, that the
Washington Dispatch inflicts the following
severe and indi gnant rebuke; but be he who
he may, if he meant to say, that a man OF
bad moral character" is well qualified, and
ought to be recognized as a fit person to rep
resent a North Carolina constituency in Con-
g ess, then he deserves the scorehing, severe
flashing he has received. If he meant this,
the sentiments a disgrace to the writer, and
an insult to the virtuous, moral sentiment of
a civilized, enlightened community. Here is
what the Washington Dispatch says:
"BAp MORAL CHARAcTER."-We have sell
dom been more surprised and mortified,
than we were the other day, to see the
following sentiment advanced by a North Car
DINA contemporary:
"Bad moral character" has nothing to do
with ones qualification for Congress"
There is some room for charging it to haste,
to youthful indiscretion, or to the influence of
pique but whatever may have dictated it,
tn. sentiment deserves rebuke. In this free
country, we know, men OF bad moral charac-
ter aspire to almost any position. The press,
the bar, the pulpit, the halls of legislation,
indeed honorable or profitable position, is not
exempt from the contamination and degrade
ton consequent upon being filled by men of
"bad moral character :" and there are to be
found slippery and degraded beings enough
in the shape of men, who are ready to second
the efforts of these bold, bad men to attain
such positions. But we never expected to
live to see the day, when any respectable
man, muctrdess the conductor of a respecta-
BILE press in this State, would avow the doc
trine, that bad moral character" has nothing
t, do with ones qualification for Congress-
What, then, does have any thing to do with it:
Is it a recommendation to a Congressional can.
didate to hare a bad moral character? In the
estimation of this writer it is certainly no dis
qualification for a man to be liar, a swearer
a rake, a cheat, a hypocrite in religion, :
fraudulent dealer, and a brazen-faced adulter
err. No, not a whit. So he belongs to my
party and can get the most votes, he is til,
maa, whatever may be his character in othe
respects, as a gentleman and honorable man
Is that the doctrine now heldby our fastyoun;
political sprouts, who assume to dictate to tn
public? Is that the meaning of principle
not men" in the vocabulary of parties
so, we scorn and detest the doctrine.
What are the political principles Of a ma
worth who has a "bad moral character ?
Can he be trusted with any thing? Certain
ly not. Surely such a doctrine can find n
apologist among the sober, honest voters {
North Carolina and yet there is reasonst
fear that politicians and strong party me
ignore too much the moral qualifications {
men for office. Is not this the reason VIII
Washington City, during the sittings of Cor
gress, sends Out upon every breeze such q
insufferable stencil of corruption and wicked
ness over the land? Is not this the groun
of Senator Toombs' severe charge, that 9Th
is the most corrupt government on the fac
of the earth ?" @ shame, shame, upon an
man, any party in this Christian land, VIII
dare say, "bad moral character has nothin
to do with ones qualifications for Congress
Perhaps the writer of such a sentiment thinl
that "bad moral character is no disquali.
cation for an editor, a schoo! teacher, a magi
trate, or indeed for any vocation or office
The interests of this great Christian natio
according to this writer, may be safely COZ
mitted to the care of infidels, drunkard
ibertines, liars and abominable men, if the
belong to the right party; for ''bad moral cha
acter has nothing to do with ones qualihc
ton for Congress-" And is such a man
editor of a paper in a moral, intelligsr
, Christian community? Horrible, horribl