Weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1858-1865, 1862-04-30
NENlRI &T,

the State Convention by the Yearly Meeting CT
Friends, on the subject of bearing arirs:-
At stated Meeting for .Suffernss representing
North Carolina Yearly Meeting of Friends held at
Deep River the l4,h of Fourth Month, 1862, ie
subject of our present SutterngS, account of
conscientious scruples against bearing arms, claim
ing the deliberate consideration Of the Meeting. and
believing it right to embrace our privilege to petit
ton those in authority, We therefore adopt the fol-
lowing
To the Contention of North Carolina.
in Contention assembled:
Your petitioners respectfully shew that it is one
of our fundamental religious principles to bear
faithful testimony against all wars and fghtingS.
and that in consequence cannot aid in carrying
any carnal war
This is no new principle of our Society, but one
which was adopted at its rise, the doctrine taught
by our Saviour and followed by his disciples for
more than two hundred years, and has ever been
and is now held as one Of our fundamental and vital
principles, and one that We cannot yield or compIo
mise in any degree whatever.
We would further shew that the whole number
of our members in the Confederate States is less
than Ten Thousand. while in the United States the
number probably exceeds Two Hundred Thousand,
who bear the same testimony against all wars and
fightingS; and that in every nation and cline where
our Society exists it is at this day, heretofore,
that We every where in this respect speak the same
language, and mind the same thing
We may further shew, that according to the best
information We can obtain until the present time,
Friends of North Carolina have not been called on
10 aid in the battlefield or military camp, but now
peaceful principles are in measure disregarded,
and many of our members are drafted to take part
in the conflicting armies, while we understand that
our brethren in the United States are not.
We have enlisted under the banner of the Cap
tain of our souls salvation Jesus Christ the Prince
Of Peace; therefore, in obedience to his express
command, we cannot fight, or aid directly or indi-
rectly in any carnal wars. But your petitioners
would represent to you that believe it to he our
moral and religious duty to submit to the govern
men under which we 1--we, and the laws and powers
that he, or suffer patiently their penalties.
We love our homes and our country much, but
at the same time we love our religious principles
more; therefore your petitioners would most re-
spectfuly ask that you grant US the enjoyment of
this important religious principle.
We own no God but the God Of Love, Truth,
Peace Mercy and Judgment whose blessings we
invoke, and whose wisdom we inpiore to be with
you in your legislative deliberations.
Signed on behalf and by direction Of the meeting,
NATHAN F. SPENCER, Clerk.
The following extract from the Minutes of the
half yearly meeting of Friends, held in Richmond,
Va, the 10th of October last, also adopted by
the Yearly meeting held at Deep River, April 14th,
1862:
"Beng thus careful to abstain from war; and
every thing connected with war, We cannot con.
scientiously pay any fines that may be imposed
upon us, individually for non-performance Of militia
ry duty but rather quietly submit to have the value
of the same distrained by the proper officer !; yet
do we pay all taxes imposed on as citizens and
property holders, in common with other citizens,
remembering the injunction, "Tribute to whom
tribute is due, custom to whom custom !" believing
that upon the Government rests the responsibility
of how they expend this tribute or custom nor
do our views prevent us from contributing our
mite toward the relief Of the sick and suffering, (sol
diers as we'll others,) but on the contrary we
feel it required of US like the good Samaritan to bind
up the wounds of any we may find by the way side,
to feed the hungry, cothe the naked, and pray for
our enemies even though they may have desptefully
used and prosecuted u.s."