Weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1858-1865, 1861-06-05
r.. Convention .djourned, to meet ts:h.uow at

Tho Convention adjourned, 70 messtsah'uow at
II o'clock.
SATURDAY, June Il 1851.
The President took the chair ct II O'clock The
journal Of Fridays proceedings was read ana sp-
proved. 81
M. Leake. of Richmond, asked leave Of absence
for DR.. Myers for three days, and the same was
granted ~.
The President announced the following COMMITTEES
on some resolution adopted in secret session. Messr
Smith of johnson, Craige, Hargrove, Ellison and
Durham. ...z.
The President also laid before the Convention
communication in answer to resolution relative 70
the census returns Of this State for the year 1861
Laid on the table and ordered to be printed.
Mr.. Howard, from the committee on military at
fairs. reported on certain information in answer to
resolutions, made to the Convention in secret SEES
sion, and recommended that the same be eon1Sden-
italy printed. The report was adopted. :,
Mr. Biggs called up his resolution concerning the
printing Of those matters ordered to be printed IN
secret session, which requires the printer and his
assistants to take an oath Of secrecy, &c. and the
same was considered and passed
Mr.. Bachelor introduced q resolution TO raise
committee to inquire into the propriety OF publish
ing the last census returns OF this state ana 10 re-
port the manner in which it shall be done.
He
the table, and the motion prevailed
Mr.. Rufin introduced the following resolution:
Resolped That it be referred to select commit
tee to inquire, to-wit: Whether the Constltut'on
ought not to be amended so as to require that all
bills shall be read three times on three several days
in each House of the General Assembly before they
uses into laws And secondly whether the Con-
stitution ought not to be amended SO as 10 provoe
that the Governor shall hold his Office for the term
of four years. instead of two years, and he ineligible
for the next succeeding term and so as also to vest
in the Governor qualified veto on the acts OF the
General Assembly.
MIR. Rufin said, the subject is an important one,
and will Justify the investigation of committee
He thought the amendments contemplated in his
resolution, if adopted, would have wholesome ef'
feet in counteracting the evils of hasty legislation
Mr.. Ferebee suggested the extension OF the reso-
luton so as to instruct the committee to inquire
into the expediency of eecting the Governor by the
Legislature.
Mr.. Ruffn declined to accept the suggestion as an
amendment to his resolution.
Mr.. Ferebee said he merely offered it as sug-
pestion-not as an amendment. He would not
urgesit.
Mr. Osborne offered an amendment that the same
committee inquire into the propriey OF creating the
office of Lieutenant Governor, and the amendment
was accepted.
The resolution was then passed and ordered to be
printed
Mr. Rayner introduced a resolution, to raise
committee to inquire into the proprety OF so amend
ing the Constitution, that the yeas and nays may
not be called in either House of the General Assem-
bly,, except upon the demand Of one-ifth OF the
members present Adopted
By Mr. Ferebee, a resolution to raise commit
tee to inquire into the expedency OF the legislature
meeting on the 25th of this month"; according to its
adjournment Adopted
Mr.. johnson then moved to take up his ordinance
for amending the Constitution, so as to remove
Jewish disability to hold Office, and the motion pre-
vailed.
The ordinance was then read, as follows.
Belt Ordained and Declared by the Delegates to
this Convention in Contention assembled, and 1t Is
hereby Ordained by the authority Of the same,
That the second section of the fourth article of the
Amended Constitution shall be amended to read as
follows:
mo person who shall deny the being of God, or
who shall hold; religious principles incompatible
with the freedom or safety of the State shall DO
capable of holding any Office or place of trust or
profit in the civil department within this State"
The substitute Of Mr.. Rayner was also read,
! which is in these words:
Resolred, That the End Section of the 18th Article
of the amended Constitution of North-Carolina
ought to be amended so as to read as follows viz !:
lief in the being of God and of his experimenting
providence over human affairs, of the moral &C.
countabity of all mankind for their lives and con-
duct in this world, shall be capable Of holding any
Office of trust or profit in the civil department with
in this State"
Resolred, That committee of FIVE be appointed
by the chair to prepare an amendment to the Con.
stitution of this State in conformity with the fore
going resolution.
Mr.. johnson said he preferred the original intro.
duced by himself, because it gives rise to no new
construction Of the constitution, but merely amends
by striking out the phrase which excludes certain
class of mertorious citizens from holding Office in
the State.
Mr.. Biggs moved to amend by striking out the
| whole section from the constitution. He said that
in 1885 he had voted to strike out the word pro
testant," and insert "Christian." He believes he
ought to have voted then to strike out the whole
clause; therefore, he offers the amendment for that
purpose now.
Mr. Ruffin said he was in favor of removing the
restriction, so far as it applied to Jews, but be was
not in favor of everybody Of all religions and of
religion-Turks Pagans, Coolies-to be eligible
to office in the State. He said that if in order, h,
would move to amend by adding to the clause as il
now stands in the Constitution, the words, pro
vded that the foregoing shall not be 80 construed al
to render incapable those protesting the Jewish re
hgIon.
Mr. Osborne said the object of the proposed amend
ment is intended to apply only to the Jews HI
objects to Mr.. Rayners substitute, because man
principles are the same whether proclaimed or not
Mr. Rayner said he would strike out the word
publicly"
Mr.. Osborne said that did not help it any; to pro
claim was to make public He thinks it would
better to do what was intended in PLAIN words, an
say Jews" at once.
Mr.. Biggs defended his amendment. He though
the clause in the Constitution was an infringement
of the principle which forbids the adoption of relig
GUS test in order to hold Office.
Mr.. Rayner said that in framing his amendment
he had been careful in the selection of terms-h
wanted the Constitution to be plain and explicit i
this matter-that the God in whom belief is requil
ed, should be God having a personal existencs
having experimenting providence over human a
fairs and who will hold all men to q moral accour
liability for their lives and conduct in this world
He would not interfere with mans private relig
Gus opinions, but when proclaimed to the world
erroneous, they become mischievous.
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