The tri-weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1866-1868, 1866-06-28

eslawsli spS,s i sAzss j il amend.
AZ. Dick passed d high eulogy upon the
ministry Of the State, and lo6ked upon slis
section as fherestllt of the preiudices of our
for6fathers. He desired to see it abolished
Mr. AfeKoy pf Sampson opposed the
emit of the delegate from Burke, be.
cause he desired to keep the ministry OF
this State forever pure and holy, by exclu-
ding its members from the dirty pool of par
tizan politics. He Joined DIR. Dick in his
eulogium upon the virtues of our clergy; but,
he said, it would be woful falling off TO
bring them here to the Legislature to dabble
in politics and then send them home to their
congregations. 1t might improve politics,
but it would prove lasting injury to the
ministers. Their tpurity is now owing to-
their exclusion from politics.
Besides, said he, to open the door of the
Legislature to ministers of the Gospel is to
give to that denomination in this State, hay
ing the numerical majority, all political
power-tlie door of that church would be-
come the door to office. He trusted that this
barrier might remain in the Constitution
that it might not be broken. down and the
church contaminated. There was one invo-
cation in the Lords prayer to which he
would invite attention, Lead US not into
temptation % Let not this Convention there
fore fling the temptation of office into the
paths of our ministry, which has hitherto
kept itself so very pure. =
Mr.. Moore of Wake, favored the original
section. He desired from the best of mott
yes to keep the ministers where they are
out of the political arena. He would de-
plore the day when our ministers should be
engaged in writing political addresses to-
gether with their holy sermons. 1t would
introduce religious discussion into the Gen
eral Assembly, and political discussions into
our pulpits. A minister, who thought of
politics six days in the week, would think of
it on Sunday
Mr.. Mcdonald of Moore spoke in favor of
the admission of ministers to the Legislature.
Mr.. Bryan of Wilkes, an amendment exclu-
ding those ministers only, who have publicly
advocated the doctrines of secession. Read
for information.
Mr.. Caldwell's amendment was lost
Mr.. Bryan's amendment was offered and
lost.
In the course of the discussion of this sec
ton, Mr.. Joyner held that it Disseminated
in favor of one class of preachers and against
anot her. Under it, one class of clergymen
could be admitted to sit in the General As
sembly; and any member of the excluded
class by resigning his pastoral functions,
could also be admitted. 1t required that
SaCEluCe on tue part OI Tile ldtCcr, 10 pltce
himself on an equal footing with the former.
If this be its practical working, and such it
really is, he saw no good reason why the Sec
ton should not be repealed.
Mr.. Stewart held that all ministers should
be Unfortunately excluded, or indiscrim-
inately admitted. He could see no reason
for such discrimination in the Constitution.
The section stands as it was reported.
The following section was read:
HSec q Everv maroon chosen onnoinfa6
to any office or place of trust or profit i'll the
State, besides any oath prescribed for
faithful discharge of its duties shall before
entering on such duties, take an oath or af-
frmation to support, maintain and defend
the Constitution of the States"
MIR. Manly of Craven held that this made
a material alteration in the form of the old
oath required of officers, and he offered an
amendment, which he said, would simply
provide for the administration of the oath
as it now stands and has stood since our
Colonial days.
Mr.. Dick opposed the amendment of the
delegate from Craven. He deemed a change
in the old form of the oath of Office necessary
and proper. He held that the form of the
old oaths had done much to foster the spirit
of State rights, to educate the people into the
belief that the States were paramount to the
general government. This baleful idea,
educated by such means into the minds of
our people, had produced the late horrible
war. Here the issue was made up-State
sovereignty against the Union. 1t has been
decided, we all know how. Then it is use
less to kick against the pricks, we must ac-
custom ourselves to that decision, and con-
form our laws and our Constitution to it.
The war had decided against State sover-
eignty-it had decided that North Carolina
is subordinate to the general government
How then can any one, who accepts the is
sue of the war fairly, refuse to swear to sup
port the Constitution of this State, not in
Consistent with the Constitution of the Uni
ted States, as this section provides 1t is
the gist of the whole matter. He expressed
himself decidedly in favor of the adoption
of the section as it stood.
Mr.. Manly replied He denied that North
Carolina was entirely subordinate TO the
general government. He said that she had
certain rights; which belonged to her and
not to the general government. That our
system might be compared to the solar sys-
tenn, where all the planets moved on harmo-
niously, each in its proper sphere.
He deprecated the tendency of the re-
marks of the delegate from Guilford. He
thought they fostered that growing spirit of
centralization-whichw would annihilate State
rights and establish over US strong, central
government. He said that he would now
warn this Convention as an old man and n
close observer of events, that when State
rights are swept away irrevocably, liberty
goes with them. He said the tendency to
Capitalization in this country, was in strong
contrast to the feeling among republicans in
Europe. There they labored for the decen-
tralization of power.
But, said MIR. Manly, the amendment
which 1 propose does not make any change
in existing laws. The form of oath, descend
ing to US from the days when Carolina was
an English colony, hallowed and venerable
with age, will be preserved. He desired no
change-he could perceive no necessity for it.
Mr. Dick rejoined. He enforced his former
position, holding emphatically that North
Carolina is subordinate to the general gov
eminent. The issue made and decided, it
now becomes us to submit. He still favored
the rejection of Mr. Manly's proposed amend
ment.
Mr. Ferebee supported the amendment of
the delegate from Craven. He said that in
the face of present dangers he could see no
IL II,