Semi-weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1853-18??, 1862-01-08

the glory of American politics. These test laws,
particularly, were the first weapons young oppres-
sion would learn to handle; weapons the more
odious, since, though barbed and poisoned, neither
strength nor courage was requisite to WELD them
Should we rely on public virtue to keep US from
the use and extension Of this system of tests 10
no age nor cline, nor nation, had ever virtue
wholly swayed human 5osoms and actions; man
was universally liable to be transported with pas,
sion, blinded with folly, corrupted with VICE ana
yet more with power, maddened with faction, ana
fired with the lust Of dOmnation let us not natter
ourselves zee were exempt from the common lot !;
and although the wise exposition OF the bill oil
rirhts, by the act to establish religious Freedom
might for a time secure US from religious test,
political one was certainly possible, perhaps
probable, and not very remote event Sir, am
possessed with strange deluson if the Gerry Lasc IN
question does not appoint political test. lear
other instances might be recounted. Such are the
BEGINNINGS The END of all these things is death"
Sir, this ordinance goes beyond the apprehensions
Of Mr.. Leigh. and does apply religious test to
considerable portion of our population, as cond-
ton OF their being allowed to remain citizens. 1t
would be very great mistake to suppose, that the
oath which it prescrbes, was oath 4" TO support
the Constitution of the Confederate States, the on
~ oath to that government required by its Constr
ton; or that it was the common oath of allegiance
to the State of North Carolina both OF these to-
gether. Let read it:
L., y.
case may be- that will bear faithful and true ALE
glance to the State Of North Carolina, and will to
the utmost of my power, support, maintain and de-
fend the independent government of the Confederate
States Of America, against the government OF the
United States, of any other power, that by open
force or otherwise, shall attempt to subyert the
same. do hereby renouncc my allegiance to the
government of the United States, and will support
and defend the Constitution of the Confederate
States of America and the Constitution of this State
not inconsistent with the Constitution of the Con-
federate States-so help me God"
Now, Sir, the requirement Of this affirmation to
be taken by the denomination called Quakers, is as
etfectua act of Punishment of that Sect as II it
had been plainly denounced in the ordinance. And
the same may be said, | presume, in relation to
Menonists and Dunkers, though have less knowl-
edge of them There were some of the last named
class in the county of Lincoln during my boyhood !;
whether they remain, and keep up their peculiar
tynetS, am not informed But the Quakers are a
well known Sect numbering not less than ten thou
sand persons in the State-and it is equally we'll
known that they will not engage in war, and are
conscentiouSly scrupulous against bearing arms
Our laws, from the Revolution downward to this
day, have respected their scruples and extended to
them the chuity and federation due to the sincerity
and humility of their profession. This ordinance
wholly diSregards their peculiar belief and converts
every man OF them into a warrior exile. True,
lIley aiiONeQ 10 atHrtn. out lDe alnrmatlOn Is
equivalent to the oath Of the feudal vaSSal to his
lord to defend him with life and limb and terrene
power 1t is, that they Twill to the utmost ot
their P0trer, support, maintain and defend the in
dependent government of the Confederate States of
America, against the United States, any other
power, that by open force or otheI uise may at
tempt TO subyert the same" &c If this does not
include military defence, it is difficult to find Ian
grlage that would IL is so well known that the
ordinary oath to the State implies defence with
arms, that the Quakers have ever refused to affirm
in its terms but have had special affirmation pro-
viGcd for them, may be seen in the present Re-
vised Code aud in all former editions Of our laws.
This ordinance therefore, is nothing less than de-
cree OF Punishment to them Sir, this humble de-
nomination, who in the meekness and charity which
Sd distinguished their Divine Master yield prece-
dence to none, were the first white men who
made permanent settlements within our borders
Scourged and buifeted by PuritanSm in New Eng
land and Prelacy in Virginia, they found rest or
religious freedom, until they had put the great Dis
\ NAL Swamp between themselves and the nearest Of
their prosecutors In the dark forests of its South
border, they obtained federation from the
age red man which had been denied them by their
Anglo American brethren. There they opened the
wilderness, reared their modest dwellings and filed
the land with the monuments of civilization There,
and upon the upper waters Of the Cape Fear, which
they subsequently colOnIzed their posterity has
" ShiS HuiSI ihuuSuiOus,
thrifty people, differing from in opinion on the
subject of slavery, but attempting subverson of
the institutlon-producing abundantly by their Ia
Dor, paying punctually and certainly their dues to
the government, and supporting their own poor
Sir, upon the expulsion from among of such n
people, the civilized world would cry shame But
ii may be said that this was not intended IL so,
it but demonstrates that il is dangerous for freemen
to take hold of the weapons of deSpOtism and BRAN
dish them about lest they do mischief more than
was designed But there is certainly exception of
Quakers in the ordinance, though they excepted
and specially provided for in the act Of Assembly
l777, from which its main features are copied -
none in those amendments which the Chairman sig
niied his intention TO move, and the report Of the
committee declares there can be no neutrals in
the struggle" in which we are engaged 1t may
not be religious test to Others but SIR it is dis
urbance Of and interference with the religious
tment and domestic repose of the country not to be
justified, unless called for by some most urgent
ccSsity. The veteran of the Court house. who sees
every breach Of the peace and misdemeaaor, and
calculates OH proving his attendance part of his
income may regard oaths as unmeaning ceremo-
MES but your quiet and retired citizen, who, ex-
cept when called to the public duty of juror, or
who has seldom been sworn at all, looks upon them
in the language Of your public statute, as "being
most solemn appeals to Almighty God, as the ON
niscient witness of truth and the Just and omnpo-
tent aNcISer o lalsenoOu, anu aheS Iue nOl WILL
out feeling of awe. Beyond his daily prayer
THAT he who stills the ravens camorous nest,
Aud decks the lilly fair, in howery pride;
Would in the way His wisdom sees the best,
For him, and for his little ones PROVIDE"
Beyond this, his morning and evening implora-
ton, repeated perhaps with unwonted fervor and
emphasis, in these times of difficulty and scarcity,
he takes not his Makers name He is accustomed
to veX HIS with no blasphemous, unnecessary,
unhallowed appeals. When you invade the retire
ment of such a man by domiciliary visitation, ard
demand from him his oath, with threat of Danish
ment brandished over his head he will feel would
the pagan whose household Gods had been rudely
)ostled from their seats He, as well you, Mr..
President has read those thrilling words in which
Chatham has engraven on our memories the do
mestic rights of our fathers beyond the seas, that
"every Englshman's house is his castle, though so
rude and humble that the rains and the winds OF
heaven NAV heat unnn and NAV enter IL vet the