Small Town Resistor with Global Impact
🚗 I traveled next to Beaufort, NC, pronounced "bo fert" (unlike Beaufort, SC which is pronounced "byoo fert"). It has a little historic district. In that district is this house, where a man named Jacob Henry lived.
Henry was the first Jewish member of the North Carolina legislature in 1808, at a time when members were expected to take an oath agreeing to the "truth of the Protestant religion" and the "divine authority of the New Testament."
He resisted.
🗣️ After another legislator attempted to oust him, he made a speech that is now famous. In it, he
🔹 Agreed that if religious principles incompatible with freedom and safety of the state, then they should be excluded from being a representative
🔹 Stated that he did not know of any incompatibility among the many diverse religions then existing in the state
🔹 Wondered whether the oath was dictating modes of belief similar to the countries in Europe (which the independence movement recently fought against)
🔹 Confirmed he was supportive of government and his religion had taught him to act properly. Thus, there was no reason to keep him from his post.
✅ He was allowed to retain his post as a representative.
❌ The oath was then adjusted to apply only to leadership and was eliminated altogether in 1835.
His speech was soon referenced nationally, even globally, by other resistors, and is still to this day.
#Travel #History #JacobHenry #BeaufortNC @NCConnect
#CliffsOfTheNeuseSP 2 of 🧵
Joe Wynne 🌻🚗⛰️
