The weekly North-Carolina standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 186?-1869, 1868-04-01
nF5fAe Bni ot Rishss.I

H~'sSAVA- "a WIZ OOasoeAsoSsA1 NJ ~
forth some of those rights, which have ever
been held dear by menJ to none more
than those who lave felt the iron heel of
despotism. upon their necks. In 1875, one
year before the Declaration of Independence
was made at Philadelphia, in Mecklenburg
County the people OF North Carolina de-
clarcd themselves free and independent of
tyrants, masters and kings. This glorious
heritage has descended to ue, and in the new
Constitution. the rights Of freemen then de-
clarea are still perpetuated. nae 81. ri
! Liberty is the gift of God. Under its be-
nign Influences all the arts of peace and
Christianity flourish, and man nearest APP
proaches that God like stature in which he
was first created. From the beginning of
time, the history Of the world is filed with
accounts of the struggles of nations and
peoples for liberty. Blood has been poured
from millions of hearts-thousands of heads
have fallen before the executioner's hand.
life has been accounted only second to liber-
ty, and liberty second only to the word of
God. 3H sH. SOS buH rsho.
Neither is this principle merely word
to be sung by poets. praised by orators. or
placarded on streets and public places to
please the eye and ear of the populace. But
it belongs to that in Nature, which lives,
and living makes all things else grow and
expand. Never has it slumbered or
even seemed asleep. The vigilance of des-
pots-the mailed hand Of bloody tyrsnts,
have not been able at any period to crush it
out of the heart of man. And thank God,
who inspired them, when the fathers found
ed here government in 177e, they made
LIBERTY its cornerstone, and built the
walls Of the Republic upon that eternal
rock alone. .zigDe9 aff I
Every line of the Bill of Rights breathes
this immortal principle, Free to labor, free
to learn, free to worship God, free to do good
what man can ask more, or desire less q
And in order to guarantee this freedom for
ever-to make it as eveilasting as the work
of man can beI-the Bill of Rights declares
that North Carolina has been, and shall ever
be member of the glorious American
Union Thus, should foreign foes invade,
or domestic traitors seek to disturb the
peace of this State, every citizen of the
United States is pledged to fly to arms and
defend US in the maintenance of our rights
So long, therefore, as North Carolina re-
mains in the Union, and so long as America
remains the first nation of the world, our
children will be free in defiance of foreign
| foes or domestic traitors!
Again: the Declaration of Rights puts
its finger upon secession-that abhorrent
| doctrine, which caused fratricidal war and
now perpetuatcs enmity between brethren.
1t also declares that every citizen owes para
mount allegiance to the general government
that no State limits shall hereafter circum-
scribe the patriotism of the American citi-
zen, but wherever the old flag floats, whether
it be amid the ice-felds of Alaska or the
lagoons and bayous of Texas, that there
and everywhere its authority may be exten-
ded, his heart and allegiance must fol.
low When the bitter feelings which
to day animate SO many of our delu-
ded brethren, will have died away, and slum-
Der " forgetful of the voice of the morning,
when instead of unpeopled prairies, millions
of inhabitants will dwell in America, and
cultivate her ample fields from ocean to
ocean-then each one who meets his fellow
| citizen here, will extend the hand Of
patriot friendship and bless that flag, which
all will then love and all will ycnerate. a.
Another provision in the Declaration Of
Rights says there shall be no Imprisonment
in this State for debt, except in cases Of
fraud. For long years, the humble debto
has been subject to Imprisonment, but this
custom, which descended from barbarious
age, is at length to be wiped away. Who
does not approve Of this provision If there
be one who does not, there is indeed a damn
ing spot in his bosom. rt las1
70 In order to give each citizen of the State
fair chance, rejecting the obsolete ideas o.
the feudal ages, according to intelligence, 9
higher degree of merit than to money, tho
Declaration of Rights says that hencefortl
and forever, there shall be no property quail
ifcation for holding Office or voting, in this
State This wise provision is sustained by
the experience of the past. In other States
whose magnificent domains are made tc
blossom like the rose, and whose sons rejoice
under free institutions. this principle has
been tested and found to yield the riches,
returns II the people are represented by
members, SO is property, which belongs to
the people, ana no other qualification than
their confidence is necessary to secure q good
and wise officer. a .f 81
But what would liberty be worth, unles.
provision was made for the education Of til.
people, Ignorance begets vice, and is tn.
chain which has fettered the feet of the pool
in all ages, and which has tripped them down
while education has made the rich more
powerful and the Strong stronger. Now
every man, who loves his native State an6
his government, who believes that its foun
: dations are based on truth and justice, il
anxious that al may be taught to read it,
Constitution and laws, to understand it
institutions and be able to add his mite te
!, ;to ,lorr aud r,ropdour ApDroc;atino fh<