The Hillsborough recorder. [volume] (Hillsborough, N.C.) 1820-1879, 1862-01-15

penalty annexed is--what? Not disquali-
fication for holding ofice--not forfeiture
of part or the whole Of his goods and lands.
but forfeiture Of his birth-right as citizen
Of North Carolina.
Mr.. President, if'this Convention, like a
French national Assembly, were to declare
itself in permanent session, and arrogate all
the powers OF government, il would give no
greater shock TO pubic sentiment, and make
no more dangerous stride towards despotism,
than would be effected by the passage Of this
ordinance. Ii is true, there have been con-
fided to US extensive powers, but they are
delegated powers, and must be exercised not
whimsically and tyrunnicalIy, but in con(or-
nifty with those elementary principles OF
freedom and justice. on which are founded
our American system of ConstitHional gov
ernment. Ii these are violated. It's usurpa-
ton on our part, or an abuse OF power equal
to usurpation, and Tor want Of other remedy,
it may expect to provoke THAT old and prl-
mary one OF resistance on the par! OF the peo.
pie. When elected to these seats in the
month of May last, we were not understood
to be placed above, .. out OF reach OF the
well known responsibilities of the represen-
tatiye TO the constituent body. Our coun-
trymen supposed that they retained The right
to Judge of and canvass our whole proceed
lings as freely as they were accustomed TO do
as 10 bose OF other representatives; and that
il Dissatisfied with what we had done, suf-
ficent majority, by some process or other,
might set II aside, and afford redress. They
further supposed, that. although we had pow
er to disfranchise men, and change the quail
i6cations for the right Of Suffrage, yet that
no new test Of citizenship would be applied
TO those born upon the soil Of parents who
had achieved tie independence Of the coun-
Try. and established the free Institutions,
whose essential features no one desires to
change. What. thea, wi, ee their surprise,
not TO say indigHallgo, Il this ordinance shall
pass, and they are told thar no man can ever
vote again-nay, that no man will be allow
ed to remain in the State, but every one will
Be exlled who does not take an oath that the
Convention has ordained, Sir. every North
Carolndn refugees in the idea, that, like st.
Paul, he was fr6e-born. And, although this
freedom was purchased at great price, no
less than tie blood Of his fathers Sued in es-
ery battle field of American Independence,
from the shores uf the Hudson to tile ever
glades OF Florida, ii came to him Is an in
heritance, the more valued, because of IL as
soclation with bis ancestral pride and glory.
His right to dwell in and breathe the pure ar
OF the land Of his birth; his right to partlcl-
pate IN the election OF rulers, and Il il suit
his inclination and the will OF a majority, tp
be himself invested with portion Of tie
powers Of tie republic. be will suifar neither
tu be taken away nor tritled with. lie did
not acquire theM by an oath, anl lie will
spurn any oath 0ferti q him as a coalition
~ their continued enjoyment II il one of
those bunders csafaelrriIed BY Talleyrand
A. verse than crime, iOr statesmen by their
measures 10 encoach upon aud offend 50 sa-
crel feeling as thc pride Ut natitiiy-the
self-respcct and manhood Ot high spirited. !.
Tree born American. Sir, the people when
nresented with This oats, Will turn upon this
Convention. and iuqaire upon @hat Ionl have
these our casag., al Raleigh, fed, that they
have grown 81 great: We ihaught they
we're our servants; hnW have they become
OUT masierss Nehad u FIRE election accord.
ing 10 the usages and Constitution ii our
fathers when we chose tllemas our represent
tatiyes; by What legerdemain. ~ what au>
dacity, do they declare that We shall never
vote again, no nor lahab,t our present homes,
but shall be driven cat as fugitiyes and vag-
abonls, unless VIC take an o1th that they
have dictateds Il wll be no answer ID tell
them, as they are tod in substance in the
report OF the committee, and the speech Of
the Chairman. Mr. giggs, in support of The
ordinance, that tic cath is but an esidegce
of patriotism, and nOOne but traitor need
have any hesitation III taking It. The prompt
response would be. We care but little for the
thing proposed TO be sworn TO; the objection
is to being compelled 70 swear at all, as a
condition to the enjoyment Of our Unborn
rights Of property and citizenship. We rem
der to the government our loyalty and duty,
as we cherish and support our wives aud
children, and perform othcr, obligations a.
members oI society; but VIC viii take no
oaths upon compulsiOn, to bind Us TO those
duties. and least of all, an oath that is accom-
panied with the polite alternative Of exile or
degradation. Nor will they be any better
satisfied with that Other idea contained IN the
report, aud which sems TO be the fa,orite
explanation Of the ordnance, that it's mere
measure Of detective police, not intended to
do any harm to patriotic men, but Io discos.
cr snl expe! disloyal ones, This Assumes