The weekly North-Carolina standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 186?-1869, 1866-07-04

~ASSSiaDAJs w.
MIR. Caldwell spoke in favor Of his amend.
ment
Mr.. Dick passed a high eulogv upon the
ministry OF the State, and looked upon this
section as the result of the prejudices of. our
forefathers. He desired to see it abolished.
MI. .McKoy of Sampson opposed the
amendment of the delegate from Burke. be-
cause ne desired to Keep the ministry of
this State forever pure and holy, by exclu-
ding its members from the dirty pool of par
titan politics. He joined Mr. 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 purity is now owing to
their exclusion from politics.
Besides, said he, to open the door of the
l. Legislature to ministers of the Gospel is to
give to that denomination in this State, hay
ing the numerical majority, all political
power--the 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.
MIR. 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 hdv 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
another 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
sacrifice on the part of the latter, to place
himself on an equal footing with the former,
If this be its practical working, and such il
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:
| "Sec. 9. Every person chosen or appointed
to any Office or place of trust or profit in thu
State, besides any oath prescribed for {
faithful discharge of its duties shall before
entering on such duties, take an oath or at
firmation to support, maintain and defen(
the Constitution of the States"
| Mr. Manly of Craven held that this mad,
a material alteration in the form of the OLE
| oath required of officers, and he offered al
amendment, which he said, would simply
provide for the administration of the oatl
as it now stands and has stood since GU
Colonial days.
Mr.. Dick opposed the amendment of tn
delegate from Craven. He deemed chang
in the old form of the oath of office necessar
and proper He held that the form of til
old oaths had done much to foster the spiri
of State rights, to educate the people into til
belief that the States were paramount to tn
general government. This baleful idle:
educated by such means into the minds G
our people, had produced the late horribl
war. Here the issue was made up-Stat
sovereignty against the Union. 1t has bee
decided, we all know how. Then it is us
less to kick against the pricks we must az
custom ourselves to that decision, and col
form our laws and our Constitution to it.
The war had decided against State sove
eignty-it had decided that North Carolir
is subordinate to the general government
How then can any one, who accepts the j
sue of the war fairly, refuse to swear to SUI
port the Constitution of this State, not i
consistent with the Constitution of the Tn
ted States, rs this section provides? 1t
!, the gist of the whole matter. He expresst
himself decidedly in favor of the adoptit
of the section as it stood.
Mr.. Manly replied. He denied that Mort
Carolina was entirely subordinate 10 Il
general government. He said that she Ii,
!, certain rights which belonged to her al
not to the general government. That o
system might be compared to the solar sy
TEN, where all the planets moved on harm
niously each in its proper sphere
, He deprecated the tendency of the !
!, marks of the delegate from Guilford.
: thought they fostered that growing spirit
centralization-whichw would annihilate Sta
rights and establish over us strong, cent
!, government. He said that he would NJ
!. warn this Convention as an old man and
: close observer of events, that when Sta
!, rights are swept away irrevocably, libel
= goes with them He said the tendency
:. Capitalization in this country, was in stro
- contrast to the feeling among republicans
L Europe There they labored for the dec
. tralization of power.
y But said Mr.. Manly, the amendmt
which propose does not make any chan
~ in existing laws The form of oath, descer
:. ing to us from the days when Carolina v
- an English colony, hallowed and veuera
% with age, will be preserved. He desired
~ ~ change-he could perceive no necessity for
y Mr.. Dick rejoined. He enforced his forr
position, holding emphatically that Nor
Carolina is subordinate to the general g
!, eminent. The issue made and decided
- now becomes us to submit. He still favo
y the rejection of Mr. Manly's proposed anne
~ ment.
d, Mr.. Ferebee supported the amendment
r. the delegate from Craven. He said thai
N. the face of present dangers, he could see
~ good reason to alter the old oath. He o
of illustrate Said he the Congress now
,r. Washington, which denies us our RICH
M representation, has recently passed const
Dr. tional amendments suppose those anne
N, ments are ratified by the Northern State
N They will not he submitted to US. They
.pr priye our people of rights. guaranteed
". them by the constitution of our forefatf
i, These amendments being ratified would