Weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1858-1865, 1861-12-18
The Test Oath Ordinance.

This ordinance, SO Objectionable in some of its
features our readers will be grated to learn, re-
ceived its 9uietus in the Convention on Tuesday
last, by the adoption Of Mr. Grahams motion of in.
definite postponement, by vote of 70 to %. We
have abstained from any very marked opposition to
the ordinance in our columns, because of our inds
position to PREJUDICE the case. Few members of the
Convention, perhaps, would have offered any objec-
ton to an ordinance properly drawn up, simply to
punish seditlon. And if 1t were true, as this
ordinance plainly indicated to our Northern en-
emies that this State was full of traitors, or had
in it at least goodly number of persons still at
tached to the Lincoln despotism, none would have
raised an objection to an ordinance providing an
oath Of allegiance to the State and the Confederate
government to be taken by persons rightfully sus-
pected Of infidety to the government But in view
of the manifest unenimity which prevails in the
State in support of the war, and of eternal separa
tion from the Northern States, we can scarcely i'm
agine any thing which could more violently shock
the public mind in North Carolina, than to attempt
to offer to every citizens lips, at this time, test
oath of allegiance to the South. The friends of this
offensive measure will doubtless thank the majority
of the Convention for stepping forward SO oppor
tunely 10 shelter their heads from the overwhelming
storm of indignation and wrath which must have
arisen, if they had unluckly succeeded in its pas
sage. The South does not contain a more honest,
united and patriotic people than those Of North
Carolina. None have done more, all things being
equal, to prosecute the war; and none will resist
Northern vandalism with greater valor and sacrifice
than her people. The very intmation that any re-
spec table portion of her citizens traitors dis
loyal to the South, is an insult of such magnitude
that no one can make it with impunity and the
attempt to force upon people direct implica-
ton of their patriotism, such as test oath would
be, would arouse the old spirit of rs from the noun
tans to the seaboard, and kindle fire of resent
ment not easily extinguished. We are glad, there
fore, that the ordinance failed.
Our Convention proceedings and the speeches ap-
pearing in our columns will give the reader full
view of the whole question. The ordinance and
report were made by committee composed of
Judge Biggs, Mr.. Woodfn, Mr.. Rayner Mr. Badger,
and Mr.. Graham. The three former made the re-
port and ordinance. Messrs. Badger and Graham
dssented from the majority. The reader has learned
from our columns, that the ordinance was supported
tlength by Messrs. Biggs, Woodfn and Rayner, and
that Messrs Leak, Dick, Judge Osborne and Mr..
Graham opposed it in speeches of great power.
Mr.. Rayner, on Tuesday, replied, in favor of the
ordinance, with his usual ability. 1t is due to Mr..
Rayner. however, to say that while he favored the
ordinance at its introduction more mature reflection
had modified his views materially as to the proprie
ty or policy of compelling all our citizens to take
test oath. This he frankly avowed, preferring to
strike out that feature of the ordinance which re-
qured test oath, and confining its operation
especially to the punishment of sedition Mr.. R.
ingenuously and manfully repslled the insinuation
that the old Union men of the State had acted in
manner to excite the suspicious Of the original Sc
cessonists He declared that they had contribu.
ted to make the State unit, and that they had
shown at least equal if not greater alacrty and pa
triotism in supporting the war. Although seces-
sionist himself before many others were, he had no
nisgivngs about the old Union men, and regarded
them as equals in the great movement in which the
entire South was engaged Indeed, Mr.. R. acted
frank and manly part in relation to the Test Oath"
feature by announcing his opposition to it on re-
fection, and his willingness to strike it out.
Mr.. Badger made the closing speech against the
ordinance. What our reporter says, of that able
effort is true to the letter. We have never heard
him, when he was more himself: Indeed we doubt,
if among the many speeches We have heard from
him, he has excelled if equalled his speech on
that occasion. We hope all the speakers in this
important debate, will give their speeches to the
public.