The Hillsborough recorder. [volume] (Hillsborough, N.C.) 1820-1879, 1875-03-03
" n 4 49, ~
Z EtlitOr's C0rres)O,aflence.

nHeniptfs from warren County. Thorn,
Is snofthefn man, about sixty years o
age and q man of c,lucstiou. Upon takin,
his seat Ia the House, which lle did aiteI
the recess. TO flli the vacancy occasionec
by the dsatis cf w, III. Williams col, vii.
was elected ID August last, he decline,
being swornin the ordinary mode, npol
the Bible, but was qualified by appeal, sool
after belhg heated, thequestiea Of hiswan
ofeligibllity was raised the ground being
q constitutional disqualification Of dis.
belief Ia Almighty God. A resolution
was introduced instructiug the committee
on Privileges aud Elections 10 investigate
the subject, and report thereon. The re.
port was Made ON Saturday last.
The pfincipal evidence adduced was 4
pamphlet written and published by
Thorne, and admitted be his production
which contained sentiments so abhorrent
to the ideas and feelings ofmen educated
under the sound Of the gospel. that they
were heard with equal horror and amaze.
ment. ItcoDtained Ills objections 10 what
he styles the" charactirasatioiisn Of the
Almighty as given BY the inspired wri.
tings, and taking their narration OF His
connection with the actions Of men. His
confidence In Abraham; His love for
David, His favor 10 Soiemoi, aud dwei>
ling upon the weakness inlirmity or
crimes OF those fav0rites of the most High,
he deduces the inference that lie Ii a
cruel God, an unwise God, q blood thirsty
God wicked God. And his Idea OF our
Savior IL not more reverent. He Is deg
cribed, as mere fetSfmer, an infidei
propagation of doctrines hostile to tile Sell
bsing qf nian, an upholder Of all that i
wicledot oppressive la human lp ~. HI
srsues that cisristiauity Is the e ofhunau
that ills the support i II tyranny
in goversmeBt. The enslav er or thought.
and the restrainer Of Iiber sy; that II Is the
fountaiu OF immortality ami the protector
Of vice. He eisi'as Tor the Free thinker
all the good that 10 an enjoy. He elevates
Mornonism aud Accommodation above
ch fistianity ~ pu:.ty.
The re@dip I of The pamphlet was done
aiilia supp.ess d exoitemsnt, and was
easy to- g t!iat q dozen OF more were
.esdy 10 at when the reading was ended.
liiYnes colored, from Granville, was the
NE . take the floor. aud with = briefand
earnest speech, he offered resolutions for
tie immediate expulsion ofTLorne. sever
al oll.er colored men followed Hughes la
support OF his resolution, and one or two
whites. But the more prudent eounsels u
some Of the leading gentlemen Of The
House prevailed. and action was postponed
until Tuesday.
On Tuesday the subject was called up,
but postponed until the night session at
which time the House was crowded. That
night the sebate was continued until half
past eleven, without conclusion. Thorne
defended himself with much ingenuity,
and enleasored 70. explain his pamphlet
which he stiil upheld. He found strong
help In several gentleman, not 10 defence
Of Ms dioctrines, out on the question Of
the right of the Legislature to define 10
any NAH the idea of-AImighty God, aud
10 hold him "a any criterion % orthodoxy.
On Thursday night the discussion was
agaln resumed, and about eleven o'clock
lhe flnal vote was taken resulting In
rhornes expulsion by vote OF 10 to 81.
The idea was that the Constitution
which demands belief In fine being Of Al
mighty God. means the God oftlIe Bible,
whether Of Christian or jew; o God 10
whom there N accountability, and who
has proclaimed the reality Of future re-
wards and punishments, the belief in
which u the foundation ofaIl fidelity 10
government aud Tie observance Of faith |
between man and man. This IL Why the |
prescribes the qualification,
and farther than this IL had no right to
20. nor even. 70 Gar. exceptas regards the
illness for public trust.
The vote showed that the House did not |
believe that Thorne believed In the exis-
ichce Of Almighty God a. contemplated |
BY the S,onstisution, aud hence lis vote
suppose the effort will be 70 make a
martyr ofhim, nian prosecuted for opln-
for opluions sake. perhaps
sacrificed Cor his politics. This last u not
and look Cor an assault.upon
he Democratic party for that cause. II
5 absurd, however. Mr. Tl,orns himself
y conteinptible. He had not
. feathers weight in the House. The
Democratic majority had no reason TO di.
ninisll the strength or an already weak
The first and most Strenuous
tack upon Thorne came from his own
,arty. The resolution under which he
ras expelled was The weapon Of his own
arty. His strongest defenders were Of
he Democratic side fthe House.
The real reason was, the reality oftbe
harges. and The pre.npiness Of North
;afolina representation. thoroughly i'm.
,,...l x.lfl. rife,in,.. .,..f....a..f IL ...f -.