The weekly North-Carolina standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 186?-1869, 1868-01-15


and we are for a poll tax only for public
schools, because it is proper that persons as
well as property should contribute to that OBJ
ject, and because the right to levy poll tax
for all purposes, State, County and Town,
would be, as it has been, used unjustly and
oppressively. "a j. E.,.s1 amama
Our neighbor of the .4doertiser is evident
ly not well pleased with portions of the new
Constitution of Alabama. We will not sup
pose that our neighbor is so preiudiced
against the source from which this instru-
ment emanated that he can not do it justice;
but what does be think, for example, OF the
9th section of the Bill of Rights of that
State? %" 2n'
"Any citizen may speak, write, and pub
lish his sentiments on all subjects, being re-
sponsible for the abuse of that liberty"
Of course the, responsibility referred to
must be in law. But, during the rebellion,
citizens of this State who spoke, wrote and
published their sentiments freely on certain
subjects, were mobbed, exiled, conscripted,
and immured in dungeons for so doing. 1t
seems to us the Alabama Constitution is an
improvement in this respect on the practice
that obtained here during the rebellion
This practice is bad one, and will be re-
formed altogether. Underthe just and mild
sway of the Republican party no person will
be mobbed, cxiied or murdered for his opin-
ions on political questions, but will be al
lowed to express them freely, being response
bic only to the lao for the abuse of that lib
erty. +a1 s.a ylss..is-sasei ...t
Here is another section of the Bill of
Rights-the 33d (Which strikes us as good.
1t is ey y a.
That emigration from this State shall
not be prohibited; and that no citizen shall
be exilcd."
During the rebellion many of our best cit
liens were exiled on account of their politi-
cal opinions and a strenuous effort was
made in the State Convention of 1861 to
compel every citizen to renounce his allegi-
ance to the government of the United States.
and to swear allegiance to the Confederate
States, and upon his refusal or neglect so to
do, to exile him from the State, having first
sold hispropcrty to pay his expenses outof it,.
This was expatriation and confscation in the
same breath But that day is over in North
Carolina, never to return.
There is another section in the Bill of
Rights-the 29th-which strikes US as good.
1t is
"That no person who conscientiously scru-
plies to bear arms, shall De compelled to do
so, but may pay an equivalent for personal
service" ft a a'eir.a..s
During the rebellion some of the Friends
or Quakers, of this State, as well as Others,
were forced into service against their con-
sciences, and compelled to bear arms. No
equivalent for service was accepted. When
they refused to go they were run down with
bloodhounds, caught. handcufed, sent to the
front, and compelled to fight against their
will. Several Quakers who were placed in
camp at Kinston, in this State. having
refused to take arms in their hands and
drill. were confined in the guard house
and starved for days in the most cruel
manner, to compel them to do violence to
their consciences. But this day of injustice
and violence is also over in this State, never
to return. W b1aJJist .5.sHe s..4. r.
We regard the new Constitution for the
State of Alabama us an excellent instrument.
We trust our own Convention may be as
harmonious as that of Alabama, and may
succeed as well as that body has done in lay
ing anew the foundations of free, popular
government. E
ii We expect soon from Mr.. Tullock, the
Secretary of the Congressional Committee,
$50 copies in pamphlet form of the new Con-
stitution of Alabama. When these pamphlets
are received we will take pleasure in furnish
ing our neighbor of the Adgertiser with an
official, authentic copy of the instrument.
il9jd ava Gov. Morton,s Speech. -4a.H
a We expect to publish as soon as we can
make room forit, the great speech of Senator
Morton, Of Indiana, delivered in Washing
ton City on the 31st December last, on the
Issues of 1868 T" ti{tsfsa 70 en- s1
4 These issues have been most forcibly sta
ted by Gov Morton. The views taken by
him are the only safe views for the country
inthis crisis. There are but t~o sides in the
controversy The loyal men justify the ma
tion in suppressing the rebellion; the dis