Publisher's Synopsis
Excerpt from Speech of Hon. William A. Graham, of Orange, in the Convention of North-Carolina, Dec. 7th, 1861, on the Ordinance Concerning Test Oaths and Sedition
Mr. President - When the original ordinance pertainin to this subject came up for consideration several days since} took occasion to express my decided aversion to test oaths, as antiquated instruments of oppression and despotism, unsuited to an enlightened age, and wholly at war with all our ideas of free republican government. I was then of opinion that an indefinite postponement was the proper disposition to make of the entire topic. At the suggestion of others, it was referred to a committee, of which, under your appointment, I had the honor to be a member. When that committee assembled, and the honorable Chairman, Mr. Biggs, produced and read from an old act of 1777, as contained in Iredell's Revisal, the two first sections of the ordinance reported by him, without much re?ection I gave that part of the ordinance my concur rence, and consented that it might be reported to the Conven tion. But, in committee, as in this House, everywhere and under all circumstances, I have been unalterably opposed to a test oath, and especially to that most objectionable form of such an oath contained in the report of the committee, and proposed to be enacted into a law of the State. And upon a little more consideration, I am satisfied that no enactment by this Convention is required in regard to sedition; I therefore, now submit the motion, that in the outset I deemed appropri ate, that the further consideration of the subject be indefi nitely postponed. I esteem it proper in this connection further to state, that the eloquent, argumentative report of the Chair man of the committee, so full of fiery zeal and patriotism, was never heard of by me, until it was read by the Chairman at your desk. If it was ever read to the committee, it was on some occasion other than the two meetings I was summoned to attend, and I received no intimation that'such a paper might be expected. This I mention, not in the way of com plaint, but to acquit myself of any neglect of duty in failing to present a counter-report against a document, which, with all respect I must say, inculcates doctrines most intolerant and tyrannical.
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