The Cairo bulletin. [volume] (Cairo, Ill.) 1872-1878, 1875-03-19
THAT "hTHEIST."
4 Lcttcr from the ExpcIicj Member
Of tLC Noril Carolina Legislature
4 Ridiculous Outra~c.

4 UIJicuiJu, Outra-e.
\ few day, ago we published the ac-
count of the expulsion of j. William,
rnnrur from the House ct Representa-
tvys of North Carolina. Below We give
his own version OF the affair. given in a
letter To the West Chester Penn RsguJ-
ii.lH:
lloCsE OF REPRESENTATIVES,.
RALEIGH. y. c.. Feb. -. lS7J.
MAJOR MuORE For the last iuurdaN
the House OF Representatives has been
changed into u hugh ecclesiastical court to
determine whether, on account OF ANY
religious opinion. had Il right to seat
~ the "nOusC.' Amer four sessions
at the most exciting character. in which
The Hall OF the House OF Representatives
vas crowded with spectators. they passed
di midnight a resolution of expulsion.
The liist charge made against me Wa~ the
denial OF the existence ct Almighty God.
i'lIi> charge they utterly lll.rd To sustain.
proved by three witnesses that | not
only never denied. but always affirmed
the existence Of God. BUt ~ they had
predetermined on my expulsion. they
changed the charge intO one of writing
ma publishing Il blaSphcmOus and inl-
moral panphlrt.' Against this lat
charge had no opportunity Whatever OF
defending myself. Il, it was only put be-
fore the House about halt an hour before
lie vote OF expulsion was taken. In "A
few day, VIII publish full account of
iii, great ecclesiastical trial. | have
only time To say Just now.
Shat was offended by three or four of
the hest aud ablcst Democrats in the
| house. The >prechv, ut Mr.. Punk and
| Mr.. Mcndculail, member, tor the David
| atttI "A
! ~ earnest and able. Mr.. Mrndrnhlll j. a
| member OF the "SDciciy OF Friends -
| lie /, both n learned and cOnscicnliuu,ly
Ju,t man. Mr.. Strong and Mr.. Gaze.
both able Democratic lawyers. voted
against my expulsion. Their defense Of
me, however, had little influence ON the
great body Of the Democratic members
who were pred 'trrniurd 70 cXpcl me.
Ostcu,ibly WAS expelled on account of
my religion, Opinion>--bul really brclu,c
was radical Republican. All the Re
puDican-, bur one. votcd against my rX-
pulsiOu. You will hear from me again
soon. j. WILLIAMS IHORNE.
In connection with thi, subject. in an
article written before the above letter was
received, the Rcpp5ii,an said: "lhrre's
no doubt but thu this i a Democratic rX-
pcdicmt 10 get rid OF Mr.. ThOrne. H. he
stems to have become quite II power in
the district in which lac lives. For "A num-
Der years past he Ia, possessed mania
for writing On religious, subjects. He is
quite familiar with the teachings Of the
Bible, and one of his pet subjects has
been TO show from it and other authori-
tie, that the Sabbath Was no more entitled
to sacred observance than any other day
OF the seven. We have reasoned with
him time and time again, that no public
good could result even if he proved be-
You'd question all that he claimed was
true. aud for that reason refused him the
Use of our column, 10 discuss the uIlcs-
ton. While We have no evidence That
Mr.. Thornc j. an Atheist his foolish
discussion of the Sabbath and Other re-
ligiuuN subjects has at last brought ,rri-
Ou- trouble upon hi, head. although we
have no doubt that he j. m all respects
great deal better man than u majority OF
those who have pronounced Judgment
against him."