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2 after that era, held the human race in slavish bondage. The teachings of the gospel developed a different and far better form of government and of which the Theocratic had been measurably the antetype, but its length and breadth, its height and depth, hidden from mankind until after the dis- covery of the ait of printing, was not developed until the American Revolution blazoned it to the world in all its glory. The principles forming the foundation of this form of govern- ment are lew and simple. The words which contain them are equally so. Fraternity and equality are the principles; "Thou shall love thy neighbor as thyself," "do unto others as you would have them do unto you," are the words in which are contained the spirit of a democratic republic, which is the form established by our revolutionary sires. Long as these principles lay buried in darkness and were hidden by the destructive rage of the enemies of truth, they now stand and have stood before us in a light so clear and strong, that none but the fool or the madman may gainsay them. The history of our country affords abundant testimony of their exceeding value and goodness. For the maintenance and perpetuation of the blessings to be obtained under the influence and operation of these prin- ciples, other precepts were added equally simple and clear, "render unto Caesar the things that are Caesar's," "obey them that have authority over you," '-subject yourselves to the powers that, be," &c. Principles and precepts are of equal force and obligation, and action under the one, implies and demands action under the other. These memorials are replete with quotations of maxims extracted from our Bill of Rights, resulting from the principles on which our government was founded, maintain- ing these principles; but your committee have sought in vain for one word that indicates a perception of knowledge or ac- tion, prompted by the precepts on which the principles were intended to be carried out. The memorialists set forth the proposition, that by the provisions of the constitution and the law providing an uni- form mode of registration, they are grievously oppressed, and argue that under the provisions of the several sections of the Bill of Rights therein quoted, the law and the constitution are tyrannical assumptions, tending to the establishment of oligarchal powers and demand their repeal. The constitution demands that persons proven to have done certain acts therein specified, shall be forever thereafter disqualified from holding any office of honor, profit or trust, or voting at any election thereafter to be held in this State, and that the Legislature .shall enact a law uniform in its op- eration to accomplish the objects of that provision. The |
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Proceedings and Acts of the General Assembly, 1866
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