Two separate and conflicting articles in the constitution of North Carolina provided that elected officials accept “the truth of the Protestant religion” and, at the same time, allowed for freedom of religious belief. Jacob Henry, a Carteret County representative in the North Carolina House of Commons, was reelected in 1809. Because he was a Jew and hence denied “the divine authority of the New Testament, and refused to take the oath prescribed by law for his qualification” for that office, the Rockingham County representative, Hugh C. Mills, moved that Henry be refused his seat. During the discussion on Mills's motion, Henry addressed his colleagues in the following speech (it has been attributed by one North Carolina historian to Attorney General John Louis Taylor, a Roman Catholic). So impressive and convincing was Henry that the legislature voted to seat him. Though this was a significant victory for both Jews and Catholics, the executive and other sections of the state government remained closed to all except Protestants.

Source:Publications of the American Jewish Historical Society, No. 16, 1907, pp. 68–71. Contributed by JoAnn Scott