The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1877-1885, 1879-11-27

that | viii be faithful and bear true alle.i-
glance 70 the State Of North Carolina. AMI
TO the Powers and Authorities which are or
may be established for the Government
lLeEeo1, not inconsistent with the constitu
'toi' ANA do solemnly and sincerely de
clare, that do believe In my conscience tina,
neither the King Of Great Britain. nor the
iarHahent thereof. Jointly with the said
hing, or separately, or any foreign prince.
person, State, or Potentate. have or ought
y have, any right OF title to the dominion or
sovereignty OF this State or to any part OF
-Ae government thereof And | 10 re
Aounce, refuse, and abjpre any allegiance or
obedience to them or any of them. or TO anv
person or persons put in authority bv or un-
der them, or any OF them And | will do
my utmost endeavour to disclose and make
known to the Legislative or executive powers
OF the State, al trea.ons and tlaitorous con
splracles and attempts whatsoever, which [
the>said State. And do faithfully promise
that VIII endeavor 10 support, maintain
and defend, the independence of the said
State, against him, the said King, and all
other persons whatsoever And all these
things Idoplainly and sincerely acknowledge
and swear. according to these express words
by NE spoken, and .according to the plain
and commons and understanding of the
same words, without any equivocation, men,
tax evasion or secret reservation whatsoev-
err And do make tkscacknowledgeme
abjuration, renunciatieY aud promise hearth
ly, willingly and truly. 80 help ME God:
l do solemnly swear, that 1 haye hot BY
myself or any other person or persons, either
directly or indirectly, given or caused TO be
riff ord orr
whatsoever, to any person or pf' ms for his
or their votes to obtain seat III The present
General Assembly; and that | Will not dur
ling my continuing member thereof, take
or receive privately the profits, or any part
of the profits OF any office within this State.
either for my own use ol for the use or uses
OF any person or persons whatsoever. other
wise than what is or shat be allowed by law.
SO help me God.
To the foregoing oath are attached the
Autographs of long list OF prominent North
Caroinians, such as Richard Caswell, Ma
thaniel Macon Willie Jones, Thomas Wade
Alfred Moore, H. Hiil, j. Kenan, Isaac
Gui9n; l. BIount, \ Bryan, VIM; Shephard'
G. Mcdowell VI Locke, VIM. Mebane.
1t will be observed there is no alluslon to
Federal authority, although the Articles OF
Confederation and Perpetual Union had
been in existence four years. Allegiance to
the State of North Carolina is alone exacted.
Indeed SO flimsy and ill-fashioned was this
first Perpetual Union, that within less
than nine years the majority OF the states
seeded and formed "a mare FeRet"n.
Union" In doing this they were guilty OF
rank treason, according to Lincoln theory;
for if the Union created the States they had
no right to leave it.
TIE PRESENT GOVERNMENT
A number of the State for long time
refused to enter into the usw arrangement.
They readily conceded the l4vanta@e OF hav-
ing general or vlcarlous goSernment to Sc
cure uniform laws, unrestricted intercourse,
domestic tranquility, and ammon protec
ton from outside encroachnents but they
also saw the dangers of a Consolidated gov
ernment with its necessarily Increasing pow
er and patronage. They remembered that
within twelve months after tie war closed,
the very army which had Struggled seven
years for freedom was ready to make Wash
ington the king Of the countr-. And how
quickly a great central government would
arrogate to itself illimitabe power! Would
it be wise to exchange distant master for
one at their doors? The colonists as a gen
eral thing were restiye under any form OF
government. The largest portion OF them
were sons of men who came to the New
World to get room to do as they pleased
The war of Independence was began on the
pretence of resisting the ''iniquitous tax OF
three cents pound on tea, though not one
in one hundred of them ever bought
pound Of tea in their lives. -,
Is it likely, then, that these men' WIN
the expressions of arbitrary power 1resh III
their memory, would voluntarily set up
centralized Supreme Government to 'ahc
the place Of that which they had Just thrown