The weekly North-Carolina standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 186?-1869, 1868-01-29
from the Standard of May Sd, 1861
Mr.. Biggs, Test Oath Ordinance

We publish below the famous, or rather in
famous Test Oath Ordinance introduced into
sa the Convention of the State, in April, 1862,
by Mr. Biggs of Martin, together with the
test vote in that body by which the Ordi-
nance was indefinitely postponed o.
In February, 1881, the people of the State
voted for and against Convention, and at
the same time for delegates to the Conven-
g ton, to serve in the event majority of the
fo'a people should have voted to call such u
body. The proposition to hold the Conven-
ton was defeated by small majority, and
consequently that Convention did not assem-.
ble Thousands of Union men voted for
Convention, with the confident belief that
Ealr if such body could then be called, the
secession of the border States would be pre-
vented, and such steps would be taken as
would bring the cotton States back to the
Union without the shedding of blood, and
sl but for this belief, the majority against
'ls Convention would have ranged from twenty
79Hg to thirty thousand. A large majority of the
delegates chosen in February were Union
men; but at the next election in May, 1851
of delegates who did assemble and act owing
to the fact that many Union men would not
vote, and to the further fact that the seees-
POI sionists deceived a considerable number of
la'- voters by their no party arguments and APP
peals, the Convention contained a small ma
jority of secessionists Separation from the
old government, or rather attempted separa-
tion, was then inevitable. Under the cir
cunlstances, no human power could have
%2Ea prevented it. South Carolina and Virginia
ass s. had both seeded, and North Carolina weslg-
moo eel beween them, was compelled to make the
~ plunge. The secessonists did so with
Shouts and rejoicings, and the Union men
l,..s, did 50 silently and with broken spirits
Strong men, who were forced to Go the deed,
Ola and strong men, who felt bound to sustain
those who had thus acted against their will,
retired to their houses and wept like chil-,
dren over the sad event. These Union men
still cherished their principles in their hearts,
and hoped for a better day They determin.
ed at all hazards, to preserve and maintain
NJ civil liberty among themselves, and TO '.bide
75tfJ their time" The secess,onists saw and felt
ii this and prosecuted them from the very first
a'u1 As general rule they excluded them from
all offices, and, when the eonscription law
no.. was passed, they singled them out as pri-.
watts in the army, to be sent to the 'front.'
issss They openly declared that those who had
Is'1a made the revolution were alone entitled to
1-@ Ai conduct it, and that hdeous mark of
infamy should be placed IN the brow of all
gsY ID who had opposed dsGa;sa to the last. 1t
bee 10 was this bitter, prosecuting spirit that sug
gested and sustained the Ordinance intro
- ~ duced by Mr.. Biggs That gentleman him
self was an original secessionist He prefer
red disunion. He thought it would be a
10 b. good thing for our people. He suspected
e III the Union men, and after comforting with
ug. such men Judge Rufin, of Alamance,
N'1 7i4 Weldon N. Edwards, of Warren, Judge
Howard, ofEdgecombe, Walter F. Leake, of
,,Y,, Richmond, E. A. Thompson, of Wayne, John
c. Washington, of Lenoir, and others of
similar stamp, he introduced this Ordinance,
the object of which was to compel the Union
!, men to swear to support, maintain and
7r-rgs defend the independent government of the
is F Confederate States of America against the
government, of the United States" or be drio-
.igF en- from the State and the Sheriffs of the re-
spective Counties were directed to seenough
of the property of those persons refusing to
be- take this OATH to pay the expenses of cap
5a 5 pretending " and sending them out of the
~ Confederate States! 1t was also provided
e" that If the County Courts should permit any
person refusing such oath to remain in the
= State, he should be utterly digranchiscd and
reduced to a condition Of affect su1iagation and
zoo ayamy. Andit was further provided that
Re :" if any person SO departing or sent off from
this State, shall return to the same, then such
5e person shall be guilty of treason against the
on State" &C. .'e salfT7 rsUH
sgg e. Such were the contents of the cup prepared
for the lips of the Union men by the seces-
BAR sionists OF this State; and but for the deter
mined and heroic manner in which the
Union men resisted it in the Convention,
nf.a and the aroused Indignation of the great
body of the people, they would have been
required to drink to the dregs
m slts Mr. Bggs, the author of this infamous
o ,ti3 Ordinance, was Judge of the District
s's Court of the United States when this State
seeded, and he slipped, with singular facil- |
ity, from that position into the Judgeslp, |
% 49, which he now affects to hold, ofthe District
Vi, gofNorth Carolina for the Confederate States !
~ Whoever is King, he would be Vicar of |
~ Bray" The transition was so sudden. to |
use the language Of Dr. Grissom, in the
House of Commons. that one could hear fed |
ba eral gold jingling IN one pocket, while Con- |
federate treasury notes rustled in the other |
But Mr.. Biggs, lad as he is, is no worse than
the other leaders. 1t was ambition and the
u lust for office that led them forward to the
s ruin OF their country. They are all equally
guilty, from the master who presided at the
table to the poor creature who picked up the
crumbs and washed the dishes; and those
have since Joined them and made shpwreck
se OF the Union fath,a if possible, worse than
b they for these apostates sinned against
- light and knowledge |