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Mr. Alvey was not in favor of the amendment, but be-
lieved the section went too far in its exclusion.
Mr. Silver said this section would have the effect to
exclude a class, some of which had done more than all
other causes to produce the dissensions and troubles which
had afflicted the country. He referred to local preachers,
some of whom he had in his mind's eye, who had for-
gotten their high calling and gone about preaching pesti-
lential doctrines. The minister who had a large congre-
gation under his charge, composed of members of differ-
ent political faith, was not apt to mix in the muddy pool
of politics, but the tendency of many of those who were
without charges, was to go into political strife, and in
the excitement thereof, forget the teachings of their Lord
and Master. For the reason that it would keep out this
class he hoped the section would be adopted.
Mr. Brown argued in favor of striking out the whole
section. It inculcated class legislation, and it was wrong
to enact class legislation of any kind. He had examined
the constitutions of all the States on this subject, and he
believed that Nevada was the only one which had a pro-
vision of this nature. The whole clause was so vague and
indefinite that it would cause a great deal of alarm in the
breasts of a large number of our citizens. If the idea
was to exclude demagogues it would fall short of the de-
sired effect. The worst demagogues were not among the
preachers. In his opinion, the most dangerous dema-
gogues now in this country were among the lawyers.
How were they to be excluded?
Mr. Garey said that the constitutions of the Southern
States had generally contained provisions of this nature,
whereas the constitutions of the New England States had
sought to blend Church and State together, and what was
the result ? Had we ever seen such examples of fanatic-
ism displayed in the Southern States as by the three thou-
sand clergymen of New England? He differed with his
colleague (Mr. Brown) as to facts. His colleague had
asked where was there any instance of a minister at-
tempting to enter political life, although not debarred by
the constitution of 1864. For the last Legislature there
had been nominated in Baltimore, by probably the most
corrupt primary meetings that had ever assembled, two
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