Year: 1861

SPEECH OF ROBERT p. DICK, ESQ.,,
Made in the Convention, December the 3D., on the


ordinance to establish Test Oaths


MR PRESIDENT:


had determined to remain silent actor during
this session of the Convention, but sense of JUS
tice to myself my people, and my country, compels
me to speak out against this bill of abominations."
The history Of the past has taught me- that sedton
laws and test oaths have been the engines of
tyranny, and justly odious to every free people
Free speech and free press are important parts of
our heritage of liberty, and if We give them up, We
will no longer deserve the of freemen and our
great sacrifices and suferings in this mighty srug-
gle will be in vain, as the only fruits of success will
be change of masters.


Does any stern necessity demand such an ordi-
nance! Where is there any manifestation of dis
loyalty to the State or Confederate Government
among the people Of North Carolina? There are
many men who are dissatisfied with, and bitterly
opposed to the prescription and partzan spirit
which too often characterizes and controls the poll
cy of the country but they have shown themselves
to be true and loyal men, and they will not quietly
submit to injustice and wrong. For whom was this
ordinance intended? If it was intended only to
reach traitors it will not accomplish its purpose;
for the man who is untrue and disoyal to his coun.
try in this time of her trial and peril will be dis
loyal to his God, and will readily blacken his nfa
nous soul with perjury. | cannot andwill not be-
lieve until have the evidence before me, that any
large part of the people Of this State the friends
of Lincoln and his horrid despotism. North Caro-.
lima is not the mother of traitors If she has such
children, her curse is upon them,-they deserve to
die, and ought not even to have grave within her
bosom.


Mr. President: This ordinance implies that there
are many disloyal men in North Carolina. The i'm
plication is untrue, unjust and it is libel upon
native State Tie conduct Of North Carolina dur
ing the whole of this revolution is worthy of the
highest admiration, and is just Of pride to
all Of her people She has acted with prudence,
justice and calm deliberation She has been influ-
enced by no wild and reckless ambition, or desire of
glory and advancement With unwavering f.
deity she kept her plghtcd faith to her sisters of
the old Union until the Constitution, sacred
record Of her vow,-was rudcly broken by despotic
power; and then with her whole heart and with
all her resources and energies, she entered the FORE
front of the ranks Of her Southern sisters in this
mighty struggle for the great principles of Ameri-
can liberty. She called upon her children to stand
by her in the hour of danger, and with wonderful
unanimity they have responded to her call. Now
thirty-fve thousand of her sons are in arms, and
they as loyal. as true, and as brave men as ever
trod battle field. Her daughters, too, have shown
themselves equal to the crisis. Like their mothers
of the old Revolution, with indefa.gable toll they





for the field; with fearful eyes they have bid them
go where duty calls and their high and holy patr-
otism has nerved with fresh courage the hearts of
the brave. With munifcent liberality North Caro-
lima has poured out the accumulated treasures of
long years Of economy and industry, and still she
is willing to toll on, undaunted and undsmayed
Is it possible that after such high herosm such sac
ritices and suferings, she must be the first State
called upon to take test oath to prove her LOYALTY
t,fh he fade nf Ann ltb
do they will, but would die at the stake before
I would cast such reproach upon the fair fame of
my noble and glorious old mother.


Mr.. President: am opposed to this ordinance,
because it is an unwarranted usurpation of power
This Convention has already trespassed far enough
upon the rights and liberties of the people. We
have adopted permanent government and refused
to allow them TO ratfy it; and, without their con-
sent, we have elected delegates to the Provisional
Congress. We have thus violated two great princ-
pies of American liberty. The people of the east
cried unto us for protection from invasion on the
coast and that cry was disregarded The enemy
came. The defences were insufficient and unaval-
ing. Now many of our brave boys are captives in
distant prisons; women and children fled terror
stricken from their homes, and millions of property
were exposed to robbery and devastation. Former
usurpations of power may, in some degree, be ex-
cused by the emergency of the OCCASION" and the





called, an error of judgment; but there can Le no
excuse for our wrongs if we arraign the whole peo
pie of North Carolina at our bar upon the charge of
suspected loyalty:


Is this time to call upon our fellow citizens to
take test oath? Now the hand of industry reaps
not its accustomed gans,-all ordinary business is
prostrated nearly every channel Of commerce is OBJ.
structed, the common luxuries of life have been
taken away and the articles necessary for SUBJ
sstence engrossed by soulless specul.tors, who
like the locusts OF Egypt, are consuming the sub
stance of the land, or, like hungry vampires, are
sucking out the life blood of the poor.


Is tia time to suspect the loyalty of our patriotic
people, when, in the public defence, every nerve is
strung to its highest tension every energy taxed to
its utmost endurance, every heart throbbing with
anxe ety. but not with fear ?-when every hand IS en-
gagged toll, and every house is workshop of sup
plies, and more than all, when every house is tenn
pie from which the incense of prayer is rising up
to Heaven for the protection of soldiers and the
success of our arms? The world has never wit
messed a more grand and sublime spectacle of a
united people struggling for liberty, and shall we
cast the dark shadow of suspicion over its glo-
riOuS brightness!


Mr.. President: What will be the efec. of this or
dinance upon our enemies? 1t would give them
more aid and comfort" than would the defeat of
our army upon the Potomac. Throughout the
limits Of their vast empire the news would spread
like wlldfre in autumn among the mountains, and
it would be said everywhere that North Carolina
desired to return to her former allegiance and her
people were only restrained by sedition laws and
test oaths. Their hopes would be encouraged, their
efforts redoubled, and with renewed energy and
power they would prepare for the conflict They
would eagerly poursout their treasures, and the
"drum Cal" would summon new armies into the
field and soon their tens of thousands of bayonets
would be bris,ling upon our border.


What will be the effect of this ordinance on the
great powers Of Europe? North Carolina has ob.
tanned high reputation abroad for her integrity
and conservatism, and soon it would be said at the
Courts of ST. James and Versailles that the people
of this good old State were opposed to this revolu
ton. North Carolina is a calm and quiet old State
no longer. Her rights have been violated and her
people threatened with subjugation, and now like
chiralrc warrior, she has g,rded the panoply of
justice and her power and earlessly sprung TO- the
vanguard of the contest.


Mr.. President: regret to detain this Conven-
hro al 1oc h,,&I H., l.. 7 l.