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The Test Oath In Tennessee

The Test Oath In Tennessee image
Parent Issue
Day
28
Month
October
Year
1864
Copyright
Public Domain
OCR Text

The Nuw York Commercial Advertiser (conservativa republioan) says : Mr. Andrew Jobn&o-ïï, Military Goveruor of Tennessee, b;ia issuod u proclamntion in regird to the coming elec tion in that State, ia which he bas ordered that any one offering to vote must take a ,-nost estraordinary oath. Tbis oath, after a recital of the ordinary and unobjectionable features fa regard to supporting the Constitution and the govcrnmeiit, proceeds as follovvs ; "That I will eordially opposo all armistices. or neotiations for peaee witb rebels ia arms, uutil the Conatitutiou of the United States and all laws made in pursuance thereof shall be estab'ished over all the national Uuion ; and tbat Í will bwta-tily aid and asaist the loynl people in wbatever measure:! may be adöpted for the attainment of these ends." It is easy to eee against what and whoin this oath is aimed, but ]ike many otber ir.conbiderate dovices, t, recoils upon its framers. The voter fa req.uired :o svvear opposition to "all tiegoti'ations 'or peace with rebels in arms." It would seera to follow that ha should oppose all negotialors also. Now, Mr. Lineolu in bis "To whoiu, it tnay eoscern" letter declares that he wül re-1 ceive and consider any propoaition looktng to peaue ''whieh comes by and with an authority tliat can control the armies now it war against tbe Un.tud States." Such authority must eertamy be a "rebel in arms," and a consisten!) and conscientous roter would consequeatly be troubled to take Ihis test oatb without mental reservation ; particuhiily as Mr. Lincoln in the letter alluded to, in lus anxiety to treat with hb rebel authoritiee, offers to meet their proposítions ''with liberal terms un other substantial and collateral points ;' We fer that Mr. Johnson has roadu it mpossible for any one to vote in Tennessee, either demócrata if tb'ey favor an armistice, or repnbliuang ïf they stand by the "To whcrn ir may conoérn" pronunciamonto. It is time that from tho administra ion party sorae open rebuke be given o thiy action, aüd that the loud-voiced advoeates of freedom and civü rights should esprews their micds upoa a subeet as grave as this. It was against just such a pohcy that the manifestó of öena or Wade and Conreissmau David was direoted. They saw that the President ruight attenipt to make his election suiü by holding the "eleotoral votes of the rebel States ui the dictation of his persona] nmbition," but it was hnrdly to be expeuted tbat tho President's associate on tho ticket vvould shock pubüe decency by so bok! an appropriatiün of the voting iorce of a State. Tbere aro men in the abolition party like Wads aïd Sumner, the_ men of ideas, nnd otbera like Col lam er and Ilurria, who are filedged by their past worda to rosist these exeeutive encroachmeute, and to oppose any attompt to abandon or disregard the landmarka that have been set for the guidanco of thoso who direct our public policy. Tt is reasonable to suppose that thcy will not iulter iu doiug their daty.

Article

Subjects
Old News
Michigan Argus