The Hillsborough recorder. [volume] (Hillsborough, N.C.) 1820-1879, 1866-12-19


VINO. as general rule. withou, any refer
euce to political opinions. have nnparamount
claims to conslderation-n mental or morai.
NV acquaintance with prominent men
throughout the State is perhaps as general
as that Of any other citizea. aud yet ! DO
not know of single instance IN any one OF
the congressional districts oil person who
eau hone Sly take the test oath. WIN. IN 1860.
would have regarded himself or WAS COAST
dered by others as one OF the number who
might reasonably aspire TO seat IN the
National Councils. l. il any evidence of
want Of loyalty to decline acceptance Of
such system Of sutfrages
II might seem strange It. instead OF a
selection from the teath st our own. we
were allowed To vote for citizens OF other
States to represent Us. Fur me, could
name score OF cltlzens ot other STATES OF
the American Union, OF either political par
ty, Tor whom | would much more willingly
vote than for any one in this Congressional
district who can give the evidence OF 10y
atty required by the test oath.
Supp,se the third section adopted. how
MANY voters would avail themselves Of what
has hitherto been considered the inestiina-
bic right OF suffrages Not m,re than half
the voters participated in the last elec,ioa
for menbcrs Of the Legislature and Cav
ernor. A smaller proportion, aud that not
always the most discreet, would attend the
polls, AMI the porllon nt the tithes selecte u
would not always be the most discreet aud
intelligent Of thoss eligible TO office. Ono
thing IS very certain. tnose most apt to Sc
curo majority Of votes under such q sys.
ten, would be those least loyal in profes
sion and devotion to the Union, and the mos,
Objectionable 70 those who h,ve been its
most earnest advocates in times Of rs grea.
test peril.
vii not do the CON ntstee OF 6tleen the
Injustice 10 suppose that the minority desir
ed the adopuoa OF bisis OF slf'ase for
the SJalh that would insure the selection
OF the least loyal OF the s.n iii proportiun oi
taose eligible to Once. yet suca ~oaId BE-
the inevitable result; aud therefore repeat
that do not believe that the author of the
amend meut, Judge Howard, would himself
desire It's adoption. II he was accurately
acquainted silh our condition.
IL is not very difficult To decide the cha
racter Of our representation fihis rule shall
be forced upon u. Let Us inquire for !
moment who will be excluded. Take your
State for an example. Fr1m ear.y lite I,
the preseat tine | have had opportunities
J 10 know som .thing Of YOUR leading men.
knew Mr. Pettigrew personality HIN
IN Charleston IN February. l56i-corres.
pon1ed with hIln during the entire period
Of the war, and TO within iso or three
weeks of mis- death-regarded him whsr
liyIny and yenerate hin now that he - ma
more, a, one of the ablest anil parest men
have ever known. | caanot say that II he
4 was alive he could no, take The test oath
BIZ can a!Firin with great csnilence, tnat
under % Circumstances wOnlI n u, Il.
NJ p.r.,nll kn,slelse oi you extends
truu,l nearly hail cen;ury. We wer,
schojI mates 4nl Intl nate trends 10 early
life. and at all subsequent period. h,y,
been f,niiar with your history. Withou
entering INTO any details That nj yht be Ut
len.lye to your deiicacy. can say Wit
conf leace that investigation would e,tab
lisa TIE tact oeyOnu controversy wv Hoil
the first ayowal ol nuiIlic itiun by Mr. Cal
Iiiun. IN nj. letter 90 General HinIltpn, uu
I'll the secession oi yoir State, no rnenbe
Of thu committee. Nor even excepting Sena
: tor Johnston OF Maryland, had ever bee,
placel in circumstances q al required 0
admitted the constant. unaInching, h'Lar
+, doIs levn,iol 70 the UaIon, and opposition
\ -.
characterized the whole curse Of your po
IiticaI lite. President J,hnspn, in 1898
!. q believe resided IN i.,arens. the aljoIn
ing district to Greenslle 10 your State, az,
, few person. beyond the limits Vi South "a
q rillna are a. llniliIr a. he. or sympathL
. Ell a, deeply as he. 10 the eonillcts who
YOU w,g.d dlring 80 miny years IN behi
a Of the Union Ypu cannot take the oath
anil what affirm in relation to those /
! A -. .Utif nnta nf,lv tui