Lewistown gazette. [volume] (Lewistown, Pa.) 1843-1944, 1862-10-01
The omish and the Right of Citizenship.

When Pennsylvania was settled under
the auspices of William Penn, who was
himself a Quaker, an especial invitation
was given to those who desired to enjoy
religious privileges in quietness to become
inhabitants thereof, and it is a wellknown
historical fact that this State was the only
one whose territory was acquired without
wacing war with the aboriginal inhabitants.
Under this invitation Quakers, Omish,
Tunkers AMI other peaceful sects who be-
lieved that wars were unrighteous, left
their European homes, bought lands, and
by their industry and upright conduct soon
became most respected and useful citizens.
For their benefit the following clause was
inserted in the first constitution adopted,
re inserted in 1888 without word of OBJ.
lection, and so stands unmolested to the
present day
''THe fecmen Of this Commonwealth shall
be armed, organized and disciplined for its
defence, 1cten and IN such manner as may be
directed By iaw Those acho coascientiously
sc71lke TO bear arms, shall not be compelled to
do so, BUT SHALL PAY AN EQUIVALENT FOR PER-
SoNAL SERVICE
When the Omish and other sccts were
invited here their scruples against bearing
arms were known, and it may therefore be
justly inferred that the above clause in the
Constitution was intended as a solemn as.
surance that while they should enjoy all
the rights and privileges of citizenship,
their creed of peace should not be interfer-
ed with, but that in consideration thereof
they were to "pay an equivalent for per-
sonal service ;" and SO long as this is the
fundamental law of Pennsylvania, it is the
grossest injustice, ungenerous and unchris
tian to deride or persecute them. Not
withstanding this plain fact-eertainly
plain to any reasonable man-no sooner is
a draft threatened than the same dema-
gogues who profess so much reverence for
constitutions as to oppose the coniscation
of rebel property though stepped in treason
of the deepest dye-who hypocritically
turn up the whites of their eyes in affected
horror when the shackles of slavery are
struck from some poor African held in un-
willing bondage-and who have thus far
boasted that their party was the only DEM
ocratic one which tolerated freedom of
speech, THOUGHT and action-arc now de.
the Omish and Tunkers in the
most shameful manner for exercising a con-
stitutional right! Even men who had nev-
er been known to be ailing either in work
shop or on farm-others a little under or
a little over age, but sound to all appearan,
had no scruples to go before the
Commissioner and Examining Surgeon a
few weeks ago and swear or get others to
swear for them that they were unfit for du
ty-are most loud -mouthed in their de-
Do not these fellows know
that the Omish and Tunkers have a better
right to exemption than they have-the
one being held by the Constitution, while
the other is mere legislative enactment ?
We say then to our Omish and Tunker
friends that o man has the right of inter-
fering with their voting or exercising any
other right of citizenship. Let them go
to the polls--for never in the history of
this government were the votes of good
men more needed to support the admins
tration in its efforts to put down the imam
Gus rebellion hatched by Buchanan's dem
ocratic traitors and they can go with the
assurance that every cowardly scoundrel
who will attempt to interfere with their
elective rights, WILL DO IT AT THE PERIL
OF THE LAW, which will be meted out to
him in full measure