The state chronicle. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1883-1893, 1886-04-01
tANOI : NORTH CAR0LiNItNS
-ouE EMINENT MEN NORTH CA
oIINA HAS PRODUCED.

From [ University Magazine of Dec, 1865.
Where can be found a nobler eulogy up
.g the majesty Of LAW and finer plea
,r It's claims upon the obedience OF every
r.tlzen. than is exhibited in the following
extract
There is another subject to which, on
IS occasion, your attention may properly
Je invited. The spirit Of freedom Is Il
pOwcrful principle, prompting to boldness
# thought and action, connected with an
ycitabie temperament, and seeking for
sympathy and co operation from kindred
minds. If it wanted these properties, it
would be inadequate to the performances
uf the great duties which it is required 10
discharge, and unfit to meet the hardy
trials which it is doomed 10 encounter.
But like that unseen agent which is daily
operating such marvels amongst US, which
drives the mighty steamer through the
Wdtors. and sends the fiery car careerlng
over the land it must be etfectually Sc
cured and Skillfuily regulated, or its eX
blossoms Will spread havoc around. To
retain it safe, yet active; to impose upon
II all ueedful, but no unnecessary restraint;
10 direct it wisely, virtuously and happily,
has been among the highest objects Of hu
man study, and in all ages has given en-
pIoymcnt to the most capacious intellect
and the most experienced sagaclty. Next
10 that truth which cometh down from
heaven, does it most concern the welfare
0i man 10 bo right upon this subject. 1t
is a trite observation, but not on that ac
count less correct, that the greatest of
blessings becomes the worst of curses when
they are perverted and abused. Without
freedom, man is 4 poor, miserable, ;blect
hing, tile sport and victim Of his fellow
man ; rage, caprice and cruelty, haSlnG
neither ylgour of thought, motive for cN-
ertlOn, nor rational hope to crafty. But
there can be 10 freedom without law. Tn
restrained liberty l. anarchy, dominion III
the strong; slavery in the weak; outrage
and plumber in the combined oppreSSOrS;
helpless misery in the oppressed; insccu
rty, suspicion, diStruSt, and fear to all.
Law is the guardian of freedom, To bor
row the thought, and, as far as possible,
the words of the orator of Athens, ''Law
seeks for that which is just, good and use
full, and when it is found, proclaims it as
an ordinance equal and alike 10 all To
law all should su bmit, for it is of divine in
sIltHtlOn, the enactment of wise men, the
corrective of wrongs, and the common
compact OF the State, according to which
every citizen is bound to live" There is
high subilmlty In the conception of moral
and intelligent beings acknowledging no
superior upon earth, yet conscious OF their
own intirmiti6s ,folleS and diStractng pas
slons; resolved to submit to no wrong and
anxious to do wrong to none; embodylng
themselves into a state, and yielding ale
glance to that states collected will: obey
ing no man as man, but Welding prompt
and loyal obedience to every ordinance
that may be decreed according to those
prescribed forms which ensure the happi-
ness of all, and which are equal uniform
and universal in their application to all.
Such Is the glorious spectacle exhibited in
our land, and long may It be presented to
the hops ana wonder of an admiring world!
May He who watches over nations, and
who is mindful of the sons of men, pre-
serve to us and to our children, and to our
children's children, these blessed institu-
tions! But we must not content overseives
with idle wishes. Blessings are not grant
ed simply for mans en- jOyment, or even
for mans gratitude; they are bestowed
also and principally, as motives to virtu-
Gus eyertlons, objects of his care, and
pledges for his vigilance, courage, pru-
dence and activity. History is full of in
stances-alas! it records little else-of free
states built up by wisdom and virtue, un
derminded and overturned by folly anC
vice Deprecatlng from the bottom of my
soul this fate for my country, ] would fair
warn my aGuntrynen with an earnest tone
against the evil auguries which seem tx
threaten her free existence. 1t may be
that as even the ordinary voice Of the sur
awakens, in those unused to its deep anC
solemn roar, terrOrs at which the hardy
seaman smiles; it may be thai he who, re
mote nom public hustle, hears in his re
tirement the distant report of the out
bursting of popular violence, may distress
W ms
alarms But when, from one end to th
other of this extended confederacy, we be
hold laWlts8 associations asserting the pre-
IOgatlYe of ylndlctlve Justice, legiSlatin!
for what they fancy to be crimes; adiudi
eating on those whom they suppose guilty
and by such rules of evidence as best suit
their rage; and executing sentences o. de
vastation, torture and death, with appall
ing rapldity, there is, there must be, ceus
of dread that spirit Is rife III the lam
which must be put down, or our fathtr
have bled and toiled in vain, and all til;
has been won by their valour or treasure
by their wisdom all is lost
The next two extracts are taken frOl
The Judges celebrated speech on Religion
Liberty, delivered in the Convention
1885 upon the proposition to abrogate tt
famous 32nd Article of our State Constitl
ton
If there be difficulties in ascertainir
what the ARTICLE IN question effectually e.
acts, we are at least able, with some d
gree Of confidence, to pronounce what
does not enact. 1t in no degree abridg
the elective franchise. Every citizen, hoy
ever heretical his religious opinions, has
right to vote in the choice of those WI
make the laws, or who administer to Il
service of the State. 1t unquestionab
has no application to military offices. Ho'
ever dangerous may be supposed the re
gious principles of an individual, he
Gonstitlltionally qualified to command t
military strength OF the State. It is cleS
too. and suppose will be admitted
every legal gentleman, that the prohl
tjonS in this Article can exclude no o
from seats in the General Assemb
Whenever the Constitution means to {
clude any man from a seat IN LeglslatU
it SAYS so in express terms. Thus IN
goth section it declares thai no kecelN
Of Public Monies, &c, !Shau have st
in either House of the General Assemb
or be eligible to any Office in this Stat'
seat IN the Legislature is above ofh'
or places Of trust in the Civil Departmel
and is not oomprehended implicitly will
these terms. If there had been any go
reason to doubt this construction, sucl
doubt would have been removed by
adjudication ofthe Senate of of the L nit
States upon the Impeachment OF Willie
Blount, and the decision of our House
Commons, in the year 1908, in the case
Mr. In1.S, tJnyNn r1VN r1ASI