Weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1858-1865, 1862-01-08

sion would learn to handle; weapons the more
ecdious since, though sbarbed and poisoned neither
strength nor courage was requisite to WELD them
Should We rely on public virtue to keep us from
the use end extension of this system Of tests In
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 and
yet more with power, maddened with faction, and
fired with the lust Of domination; let us not fatter
ourselves .oe were exempt from the common lot /;
and although the wise exposition of the bill of
rights, by the act to establish religious Freedom
might for time secure US from religious test,
political one was certainly possible, perhaps
probable, and not very remote event. Sir, am
possessed with strange delusion if the uery law in
qnesft0h does not appoint political test. | fear
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 Nj. Leigh, and does apply a religious test to
considerable portion of our population, as cond-
ton of their being allowed to remain citizens. It
would be very great mistake to suppose that the
oath which it prescribes, was an oath to support
the Constitution of tbs Confederate States" the
ly oath to that government required by its Consti
ton; or that it was the common oath Of allegiance
to the State of North Carolina, or both of these to-
gether. Let US read it: L
81, A. B., do soemnly swear, Tor affirm, as the
case may be) that will bear faithful and true allie.
glance to the State Of North Carolina, and will to
the utmost OF my power support maintain and des
fend the independent government of the Confederate
States of America, against the government of the
United States, or of any other power that by open
force or otherwise, shall attempt to subvert the
same. do hereby renounce 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
etfectual act of Punishment of that Sect as if 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
tsnets, l 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 well
known that they will not engage in war, and are
conscientlously scrupuloes against hearing arms
Our laws from the Revolution downward to this
day. have respected their scruples, and extended to
them the charity and liberation due to the sincerity
and humility OF their profession. This ordinance
wholly dlSregards their peculiar belief and converts
every man oil them into warrior or an exile. True
wy "S "iioNcu W duiTui: OUT tDc iulrtnatlOn IS
equivalent to the oath of the fcuda vassal to his
lord, to defend him with life and limb and terrene
power. 1t Is, that they Twill to the almost of
tier 1'o,cer, support, maintain and DEFEND the in
dependent government Of the Confederate States of
America, against the United States, or any other
power, tina, by open force or otherwise may at
tempt to subvcrt the same,' &c. If this does not
include military Defence it is difficult to find Ian
gnage that would. 1t is so well known that the
Oath tn fha Sfota
arms, that the Quakers have ever refused to affirm
III its terms, but have had special affirmation pro-
viGed for them, as may be seen in the present Re-
VlSed Code, and in all former editions of our laws
This ordinance, therefore, is nothing less than de-
cree OF banshment to them. Sir this humble de-
nomination, who in the meekness and charity which
50 distinguished their Divine Master, yield prece.
dence 10 none, were the first white men who
made permanent settlements within our borders
Scourged and buffeted by Puritansm in New Eng
land aud 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 it's South
ern border they obtained federation from the saw
age red man which had been denied them by their
Ango-Amercan 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
manned to this day-a quiet, moral, industrious,
thrifty people, differing from us in opinion on the
subject of slavery, but attempting no subverson of
the lnstitution-producing abundantly by their la
Dor, paying punctualy and certainly their dues to
the government, and supporting their own poor
Sir upon the expulsion from among us of such a
people, the civilized world would cry, shame But
it may be said that this was not intended Ifso,
it but demonstrates that it 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
Quakcrs IN the ordnance though they are excepted
and specially provided for in the act of Assembly,
It'll, 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 are engaged. 1t may
not be religious test to Others but Sir it is dis
urbance Of and interference with the religious
ment 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 nisdemeaaor, and
calculates on proving his attendance as part of his
! income may regard oaths 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 avenger of alsehood" and takes them not with
out feeling of awe. Beyond his daily prayer
| That he who stills the ravens clamorous nest,
And decks the lilly fair, in fowery 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 unwontea- fervor and
emphasis, in these times of difficulty and scarcity,
! he takes not his Makers name. lie is accustomed
| to yex HIS ear with no hlasnhemcnS nnnecnccarp
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 as would
the pagan whose household Gods had been rudely
jostled from their Seats He, as well as you Mr.
President, has read those thrilling words in which
Chatham has engraven on our memories the do.