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

there should be no DIVISION among us. but ttle
question returns with full force hoW does this
traordinary Legislation or such he admits it to beg
either stimulate the patriotism of our people, or
strengthen their determination to prosecute it ITO
the dealt" or lessen the divisions which the ord-
nance pre-supposes to exist among us? deny, SIT
that it will accomplish either, and to divisions
there divisions that call for any such extreme
measure. True, sir, we have understood that IN
one or two of the eastern counties lying upon the
coast, there are few Bankers" or "Wreckers,'
or whatever else you may call them, who live upon
the misfortunes Of their fellow-men, who have ex-
hibited disafection, some want OF loyalty to
the cause in which we have embarked but from
such you could expect nothing better for they are
men OF neither character, position or means, and
their very pursuit blunts those ennobling virtues
that calls patriotism FORTH and bids it submit to any
and every privation, rather than live in govern
ment claiming, and actually exercising, unlimited
powers. What care they for constitutional or any
other equalityg Like vultures, they live upon the
msfortunes of their race and with all the test oaths
your ordinance can impose they will be vultures
still Is it to reach in this class that you must resort
to such "extraordary legislation? Why, sir, the
game is not worth the paper upon which the ordi-
nance Is written
But Sir it may be said that there are fears enter
tanned that some of our people living in the extreme
west bordering upon East Tennessee, may likewise
be, to some small extent disattected Thls too, IS
natural; for as their intercourse is as much with
the tories of East Tennessee with the more loyal
of their own counties, it would be miracle indeed
if all were sound Whether this is SO or not can
not TELL but from all the information l can get the
disaffected in that portion also few and far be-
tween and for one, | am willing to trust the noun
tain boys to look after them, and they cannot be
committed into more trustworthy hands; for there
is no part of North Carolina more sound, or who
have sprung forward with more commendable alac-
rty in support of the "bars and stripes" than the
section alluded to- Is it to reach these that such
extraordinary legislation is called for? If not, then
what possible good can it accomplish? Where, l
ask, is there any other disloyalty! From Curri:
tuck to Cherokee with the slight exceptions alluded
to, and which do not include at most 25O men, the
whole state is in one enthusiastic blaze of enthusi-
asm, in favor of carrying on this war, with the
"knife to the hilt" until the purposes for which it
commenced shall have been accomplished.
Yes, Mr.. Speaker, our people know no comIro-
mise. Caesar or nothing" They are opposed to
any and all kinds of reconstruction, POLITICAL conf
mercial, or even social Why, sir, a man who
would talk now of "naturalizng" Yankee after
the war over under probation of less than
81 years, would run the risk Of getting a coat of
tar and feathers. And while upon the subject of
naturalization, permit me to say, that the party
with whom | have had the honor to act through
life upon this subject of naturalization committed
ny of us had supposed that liberty boon,
gift but it is an entire mistake; for liberty to be
appreciated and enjoyed in its highest sense, must
to some extent, be earned: that is, you must be
first qualified for its enjoyments, to do which, re-
qures u more extended term of probation than we
have hitherto imposed upon the Foreigner. This
error, sir, will never again DC recommitted at least
SO far as Yaakeydom is concerned; for they have
given the most unmistaken evidence that they are
10 ,c o;p,ll, bait Vac thav
seem to be satisfied with government without
law-yes, complete dcspotsm
But, sir, enough of this depression. Where, then,
is there any disloyalty-where is there latent
spark of disaffection that lies smothered in the
bosoms of our peopeg You cannot find it, and it
must be exhibited before !, for one, can ever con-
sent to any such 'extraordinary" legislation
North Carolina now boast of having some 49,,
000 devoted SONS either in the tented field the
camp of instruction. and hazard nothing in the as
sertion, that there not 1000 families in the en-
tire State, who not directly indirectly related
to those in the field yes, sir they bone of their
bone and flesh of their flesh. Would you require
of the grand fathers and fathers of those in the field
some higher evidences of loyalty would you de-
mand evidence of their patriotism, that they
should be first subjected to the humiliating propo-
sition that this ordinance seeks to impose ?-and
that failing to subscribe to it. that their should
be cast out term of reproach the elective fran
chise withheld, and they prosecuted for high mis-
demeanor? Why, sir, they would point you with
indignant scorn to their sons in the field and pro-
claim to you, look, "those are my jewels" What
stronger li.aments would you have than has been
already afforded of undying devoti n to the cause of
the South? If it was the highest evidence Of per-
sonal regard and we are assured by authority 1t
ITO lay down your life for your friend you here
| find an obligation voluntarily assumed, compared
with which the chords and cables of your test oaths,
| the spiders most attenuated thread.
ask you, MIR. President where is there single
State in this Confederacy that seeks to impose such
| a test oath? Has South Carolina, Alabama, Geor-
| gia, Tennessee, or even Virginia with her $4,000
traitors in her midst passed any such ordinance p
I; Now, then, why should We do it? Sir, upon this
subject can speak freely without the fear of the
slightest mputation of hesitancy on my part, in
subscribing to any additional tests-for, through
life, permit to say, that have always belonged
to the Calhoun wing of the Democratic party, and,
as such, have ever maintained that my primary ale
glance was first due to my State; have ever advo
Gated the right of State to withdraw, and, in the
language of Thomas Jefferson, have held that when
ever the general government assumed undelegated
power, its acts unauthoritative, void and Of nc
force and that to this compact each State accedet
State and is an integral party, that the govern
ment created by this compact was not made the ex
elusive or final judge of its powers since that woule
made its discretion and not the Constitution the
Of its powers but that in all other cases
of compact among parties having no comm on judge
each party has equal right to judge for itself al
we'll of infractions, as of the mode and measure o
redress, notwithstanding this, enter my most sol
emn protest to this ordinance in its present shape
would give you sedition law sufficiently broat
and comprehensive so as to reach the disaffectet
wreckers, and others, if there may be, but hav
not that respect for their feelings that would promp
| in oxda To 10 tha off
them to require the aged fathers of the country,
we'll as every free male citizen of the State, owe
sixteen years to subscribe to such test.
Again: maintain that it restricts the freedom Q
debate, and is therefore Objectionable. Has tn
gentleman forgotten the alien and sedition" law
Of the elder Adams? Has he forgotten who it was
f and achy 1t was they were resisted? He has not
he cannot; for it was at the feet of those Apostle
Of liberty that both the gentleman and myself wer
. politicallr Schnnled w ho fret mound ri