OPINION
4A • THURSDAY, JULY 14, 2011
SALISBURY POST
Salisbury Post “The truth shall make you free” GREGORY M. ANDERSON Publisher 704-797-4201 ganderson@salisburypost.com
ELIZABETH G. COOK
CHRIS RATLIFF
Editor
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CHRIS VERNER
RON BROOKS
Editorial Page Editor
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GOV. JOHN ELLIS
A fateful role in history fter the first shots of the Civil War rang out at Fort Sumter, a courier came to Salisbury to notify North Carolina’s governor. Local tradition holds that Gov. John Ellis was entertaining in his stately home on South Ellis Street when he received the news. Soon after, President Lincoln asked all the states for troops to help quell the rebellion, and Ellis knew the state’s resistance to secession was coming to an end. North Carolina would not send troops to fight its Southern neighbor. The 150th anniversary of the firing on Fort Sumter in April was followed last week by another footnote to history, the 150th anniversary of Gov. John Ellis’ untimely death on July 7, 1861. Here in Salisbury, especially, Ellis should be remembered for his desire to improve life in his mostly rural state and his level head as the South prepared for war. But Ellis was a man of his time. The son of a planter, he saw owning slaves as a property right and staunchly defended it. In remembering Ellis and other local leaders of that era, Salisburians walk a fine line as they deplore his stance on slavery yet admire his leadership of the state. Ellis was born in eastern Rowan County, in an area now in Davidson County. He graduated from the University of North Carolina in 1841 and established his legal practice in Salisbury, ELLIS then one of the state’s major cities. Rising to prominence, he served as a legislator and Superior Court judge before winning election as governor in 1858. Even before he became governor, Ellis vigorously promoted transportation improvements to connect towns and industry and boost the state’s economy. The result was the North Carolina Railroad, a line going from Goldsboro to Raleigh to Charlotte — passing, of course, through Salisbury. But Ellis will be remembered more as the governor who led North Carolina into the Civil War. He did not press his secessionist views so much as wait for the sentiment of the state to swing his way, as it did soon after Fort Sumter. Ellis’ reaction to Lincoln’s call for troops sounds both lawyerly and rebellious: “I regard the levy of troops made by the administration for the purpose of subjugating the States of the South as in violation of the Constitution and a gross usurpation of power. I can be no party to this wicked violation of the laws of the country, and to this war upon the liberties of a free people. You can get no troops from North Carolina.” Within weeks, North Carolina seceded from the Union. Volunteers flocked to a training camp in Raleigh named for the governor, Camp Ellis. Patriotism was high. “Not a man shrunk from his post or showed symptoms of fear,” one commander reported to Ellis after an early battle. Historians say it was Ellis’ misfortune to be governor during the days of secession. If so, perhaps it was a blessing that he did not live to see how it played out. Poor health plagued him much of his life, and he was in Red Sulphur Springs, Va., when he died of a pulmonary disease, according to newspapers of the day. He is buried in the Old English Cemetery on Church Street in Salisbury — a key figure in North Carolina history.
A
Common sense
(Or uncommon wisdom, as the case may be)
He who does not bait his hook catches nothing. — German proverb
... Motorcycle hit 140 mph in I-85 chase From wiseman’s view: Thank goodness the officer used better judgment by calling off the chase than the rider did by running!!
A religious test for 2012? he Constitution is specific when it prohibits a “religious test” for “any office or public trust” — Article VI, Paragraph III. That doesn’t mean that voters are prohibited from taking a person’s faith (or lack thereof) into account when deciding for whom they will vote. No law could stop them. Past elections have been decided when some Catholics voted for a Catholic politician because of their shared religion and Protestants voted against a Catholic because they did not share that faith. Now come two Mormons — Mitt Romney and Jon HuntsCAL man — and two evangelical THOMAS Christians — Tim Pawlenty and Michele Bachmann. There is confusion and division within once nearly solid evangelical ranks over what to do. Some evangelicals say they wouldn’t vote for a Mormon for president, even though Romney and Huntsman seem, on the surface, to fit with many of the political viewpoints of the majority of politically conservative Christians on social issues such as abortion and same-sex marriage (though Huntsman favors “civil unions” and Romney has been on both sides of this issue, as well as abortion, more than once). Does it really matter what faith a president or presidential candidate has, or should everyone, regardless of their religious background, focus on their competence to do the job? Shouldn’t the question answer itself? I would vote for a competent atheist who believed in issues I care about over the most conservative Christian or Orthodox Jew who lacks the experience, knowledge and vision to do a good job as president. Religion can and has been used as a distraction to dupe voters. Jimmy Carter made “born again” mainstream during the 1976 presidential campaign and many evangelicals voted for him on the basis of his declared faith. Yet Carter later revealed himself to be a standard liberal Democrat in virtually every category that mattered, from abortion and civil unions, to the economy, to weakening America’s defenses and image worldwide.
T
LETTERS
What about Barack Obama’s self-declared Christian faith? He attended the Chicago church of Rev. Jeremiah Wright, whose sermons frequently condemned America and contained what some took to be racial slurs. The president’s faith has not distinguished his positions on any issue that matters from that of a standard liberal Democratic secularist. If a candidate says faith is important, shouldn’t that faith take the person on a different path than what someone of little or no faith would propose? If not, what difference does faith make and why should it be of concern to voters? Not every declared “believer” delivers on the expectations of evangelical voters. Even the “sainted” Ronald Reagan raised taxes, signed an amnesty measure and named two justices to the Supreme Court — Sandra Day O’Connor (now retired) and Anthony Kennedy — who voted to preserve the abortion status quo. And yet to this day, most evangelicals believe Reagan was one of our greatest presidents, though he rarely attended church. Carter regularly attended church and even taught Sunday school, but he came to be reviled by most conservative Christians. For evangelicals, the ideal presidential combination would be someone who has a deep faith and is willing to apply it to social, economic and defense issues. It shouldn’t matter whether Mormons believe in baptizing the dead, what undergarments they wear, or that they believe God was once a man like us. Neither should it matter that an evangelical Christian believes in Armageddon, unless, of course, he (or she) wants to advance that day by dropping a nuclear bomb on our enemies, as Iran’s Mahmoud Ahmadinejad has threatened to do to the West. Now there is someone who combines his religion with political power, which should scare us all. The Bible, the guidebook for evangelicals, teaches that there are two kingdoms. Presidential candidates are running to head up a part of the earthly kingdom known as America. The job as head of the other Kingdom is taken. The duties and responsibilities of each should be kept separate. • • • Contact Cal Thomas at tmseditors@ tribune.com.
TO THE
Let legislative leaders know if you don’t like decisions Why do we need photo IDs to vote (House Bill 351)? During the 2008 election, Roger Ailes of the Fox network allowed “doctored” news that left us with the perception there was widespread voter fraud. Now we find Rupert Murdoch has also been guilty of manipulating the news. Where are we to go for news we can trust? Hopefully, it’s our local newspapers. Maybe we can get a message through them to our legislators as they head back to Raleigh that some of us believe they’ve overreached their 2010 perceived mandate. If we don’t think photo IDs are necessary, we should say so. If you don’t like the cuts to education, you should let them know . After redistricting, opposing views will carry less weight, in my opinion. It appears the present goal is “to take our country back” to limited government where it’s of, by and particularly for the party in power. — Alice G. Brown Mocksville
AP courses were beneficial As a graduate of Clemson University and current student of the College of Dental Medicine at the Medical University of South Carolina, I am very grateful that I was able to take a number of Advanced Placement (AP) classes while a student at South Rowan High School. In reflection, I found the AP classes offered several advantages. I quickly discovered that the college credits I earned while at South Rowan helped me to move more quickly into my major at Clemson. Also, I feel that many of my AP classes helped prepare me for the rigors of my collegiate freshman year. College professors expect a high level of performance. I found that an AP course load can give a more realistic idea of what college is like, especially that oftentimes overwhelming freshman year. I commend the school board and superintendent for continuing their efforts in offering AP classes. I noticed in the recent Post article that students are required to take the AP tests but that there is no AP qualification require-
EDITOR
From southernmost point: That is just plain crazy, hope he gets jail time.
... Porn videos at flea market not illegal From penny lane: There are always two camps on stuff like this ... the “I don’t give a hoot camp” and the puritanical types who try to save society. I’ve never been in the place, but if it’s legal, there’s not much of a story. I’m in the first group; bigger things to worry about than what this guy sells.
... Child drowns in grandparents’ pool From elarom6: This is so sad. One moment changes a life for so many people. Losing track of a child for one moment — thats all it took.
... Have what it takes to be candidate? From patriot81: I think the first criteria for a candidate (is to) be as honest as possible for a human being, have a feeling for want people want, then what they need. Find out completely what you are able to do in office, then make sure you do not promise something you can’t deliver on.
... ‘Miracle baby’ beats the odds From coolbeans: What a wonderful story. He sounds like a wonderful child. God bless you. From really...: Bradley is such a blessing to know and be around! He is sure to put a smile on your face every time!
... Tick bites pose summer hazard
Letters policy The Salisbury Post welcomes letters to the editor. Each letter should be limited to 300 words and include the writer’s name, address and daytime phone number. Letters may be edited for clarity and length. Limit one letter each 14 days. Write Letters to the Editor, Salisbury Post, P.O. Box 4639, Salisbury, NC 28145-4639. Or fax your letter to 639-0003. E-mail: letters@salisburypost.com.
ment for teachers. To make the AP offerings even stronger, I feel it would be very helpful for students if teachers could receive training from the College Board on the particular AP class they would be teaching. That way the curriculum could be better matched to the test, and more students might be able to earn those very valuable college credits. Also, please reconsider block scheduling for AP classes. If the overall goal is to help students earn college credit, why have them take an AP course fall semester only to make them wait until late in the spring semester to take the AP test? Too much wait time! Parents and students both have a lot invested in the AP course. Why not facilitate a happier result for more students? — Kathryn Hall Charleston, S.C.
Send a message to D.C. Maybe it is about time for the people of the United States to ask Congress and senators to do something for their fellow constituents: Take a cut in pay. Take a cut in the benefits they get. They get so many kickbacks for their job, and yet the “little man” must work harder than ever just to stay alive. It is time we stand up and say give us something back. Stop taking everything away from us. Maybe we should be the ones that say when they can have a raise or receive benefits. How can we make a difference — and not just by voting? What do you think, Americans? — Louise Klaver Salisbury
From flightbum: I was diagnosed with rocky mountain spotted fever three weeks ago. High fever, thought my head was exploding!
Online poll results Do you agree with the jury’s verdict in the Casey Anthony trial?* Uncertain: 3.67% No: 33.01%
Yes: 63.32% *2,478 responses as of 6 p.m., July 13. The Salisbury Post's polls are not based on scientifically valid survey methodology. They are merely a way to allow readers to express opinions on current events.
Next question Which game best describes the debt-ceiling standoff in Washington? • Blindman’s Bluff • Russian Roulette • Chicken • Paper, rock, scissors To respond, go to www.salisburypost.com and click on any local story; scroll down to find the poll on the right of your screen.