The Hillsborough recorder., 1861-06-12

as 10 remove Jewish disability TO hold Office,
and the motion prevailed.
| The ordinance was then read, as follows;
Be ordained and declared by the Delegates % his
| C0nveniion IN Coapenfioa assembled, Gndan hereby
ordained by he aufhoify of The same, That the Sc
cond section of the fourth article Of the Amended Con-
s,ilulion shall I've amended TO read as follows.
.No person who shall deuy the being Of God or
who shall hold religious principles incompatible with
the freedom or safety Of the State, shall be capable q
holding sny Office place ofiruss or profit The civil
department. within ibis State yYWrfq 81
The substitute of Mr.. Rayner was also
read, which is in these words:
Rtsolved, That the end section Of the 4th article Of
the amended Constitution Of North Carolina ought 70
be amended so MS TO read follows, viz: No person
who shall pobcIy proclaim his dsbelefinthe being Of
God and Of his experimenting providence over human
affair, Of the moral accountability Of all mankind
for their lives and conduct Ia this world shall be caPa.
ble Of holding any office a trust profit In The civil
department within this Ssste."
Resolued, That commiuee Of Eve be appointed ty
the chair 10 prepare amendment 10 The Constitution
Of this State in conformity with the foregoing resolu.
i ion.
Mr.. Johnson said he preferred the origi-
nal introduced BY himself, because it gives
rise to no new construction Of the constitu-,
tion. but merely amends BY striking out the
phrase which excludes certain class Of
meritorious citizens from holding Office in
4 the State.
1 Mr.. Biggs moved to amend by striking
out the whole section from the constitution.
He said that in 1888 he had voted TO strike
out the word protestant" and insert "Chris-
tian." He believes he ought to have voted
then to strike out the whole clause there
fore, he oilers the amendment for that pur-
pose now.
MIR. Ruffin said he was in favor of remoy-
ing the restriction, so far as it applied TO
Jews, but he was not in favor. OF everybody
Of all religions and Of no religion-rurks,
Pagans, Cooles-to be eligible to Office in
The State. He said that, IL in order. he
would move to amend BY adding to the
clause as il now stands in the Constitution,
the words provided that the foregoing shall
not be so construed as to render incapable
those protesting the Jewish religion.
Mr.. Osborne said the object Of the propo-
sed amendment is intended to apply only TO
the Jews. lie objects 10 Mr.. Rayaer's sub
stitute. because a mans principes are ihe
same whether proclaimed or not.
\ Mr.. Rayner said he would strike out the
word, publicly"
Mr. Osborne said that did not help il any;
to proclaim.was 10 make public. .iie thinks
il would be better 70 do what WAS intended
in plain words. and say jews" at once.
Mr. Biggs defended his amendment. lie
thought the clause in the Constitution was
an infringement o. the principle which for
bids the adoption Of religious test in order
20 hold niFice.
4 slr. Rayner said that in framing his a
mendmeni, he had been careful IN the selec
tion Of terms-he wanted the Constitution
to be plain and explicit in this matier-that
the God IN whom belief Is required, sbnIld
be God having a personal existence. hay-
ing a experimenting providence over hu-
man affairs, and who will hold all men 60
moral accountability for their lives aud con-
diet in this world he would not Interfere
with a man's prisa'e religious opinions, but
when proclaimed to the world, if erroneous,
they become mischieSous.
Sir. Ruiiin said that all our laws are
founded on the idea that we are a religious
people, therefore be must oppose the prupo-
siiiun ol t'le gentleman from Martin Nr.
Biggs.) lie SAID the abrOgation Of that clause
~
Of religious obligation among thr people. lie
then read his amendment, mod,hed. for IN
formation.
The subject was further discussed by
MesIs. Raihn, Rayner, osborne, Badger
and Bigg..
Mr.. Ferebee said as this was very i'm
por,ant question, and one that ought % BE-
fully discussed and well considered. he would
move that the Convention do now adjourn.
and the melton prevailed.
Monday, Jons ,.
Prayer by Rev. Mr. Hicks. delegate from
Haywood.
SIR. Osborne presented resolution ioap.
pOint committee 10 inquire intu the eapc.
dIency Of 80 amending the Constitution as to
provide for annual sessions Of the Legisls.
ture, to be restricted 70 liked period. aud
also, whether the spportionment 81 members
VI the General Assembly should not be made
every ten years.
Mr. Battle Of Wake, offered an amendment,
extending the inquiry as 70 the propriets ~
electing members of the General Assembly
annually, and the amendment was accepted
By Mr.. osborne.
The resolotion was then adopted.
Mr.. Graham introduced a resolution TO
instruct the Military committee 10 inquire
and report and report. in regard TO The pro
priety Of continuing enlistment. by state
authority. and also what quota of iroops i
will be nccessary 10 raise in State, under
any apportionmrIit fihe Confederate states,
aud other matters pertaining to the mill.
larry.
ST.. Howard aid he WIS clad the resolu-
tion bad been introduced, and tha, the IN.
quiries were specific. IIe said some mis-
conception existed in regard TO the nature oI
the troops now being raised that the zen
thousand troops 10 be raised under The act
ef the recent Legislature, are NOT, in Inc fall
meaning OF tlr term, regulars--tbey differ
from other volunteers only in the fact. that
they enlist for the war, while those raised
under the other act, are only volunteer. for
Il fuelye fnnnfha