Lynchburg Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1829-185?, 1851-05-12
Fson tie Republic.
W. Rheff and the Constitution

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There are some oaths which have pass
ed into proverbial disrepute. Custom.
house ostbs are of this nature. cat lovers
PERFUMES, they say, Jove laughs" So
there IS much merely ceremonlous swear
ing established by law. The constable is
sworn into office. The attorney swears,
and the counsel-each after his fashion
and to all this swearing the idea attaches
of greater or less sanctity, according to the
character of the uan who takes the oath
upon his lips. The jurors oath has been
regarded as one Of high import, though we
have lately heard ofadvice given from the
pulpi; assuming that it would be virtue to
violate it. But there is one oath required
by the Constitution of the United States
which has hitherto been considered OF the
most solemn nature and the most stringent
obligation. Every Senator on taking his
seat is required to bind himself, by oath
or affirmation, to support the Constitution,
Not many weeks since Mr.. Rhett, OF
South Carolina, in the presence OF the SEN
ate and of his country, bound himself by
solemn oath to support the Federal Con-
stitution. He took this oath voluntarily;
it was not necessary for him to become
Senator. What did itmean Was 1t a
mere ceremonious jargon : Was 1t
smuggler's oath to false invoice Or
was it solemn pledge, in the face ofheav-
en- and the world, that he would sustain,
uphold, support the Constitution of his
country against all foreign and domestic
enemies ? How has he redeemed his
oath -?
He has redeemed it by industriously
seeking to overthrow the Constitution he
has sworn to support. He has redeemed
it by seeking to stir up revolt and rebel
lion against the Union, which rests upon
that Constitution. He has redeemed itby
the most open and fragrant violation of it.
Worse than this-he has confessed that at
the very time he took that oath upon his
lips, and for five and twenty years before
that time, he has been nursing his internal
schemes for the dissolution Of the Union.
By his own boast, he is a traitor Of FIVE
and twenty years standing. And are we
to Gull dainty and holiday phrases to COW
err up such bold avowals Of perjury and
treason ? When the Parkers, and CARR
sons, and Philhpses utter their insane|de-
nunciations of the Union, we call them by
the name they seem to covet, and invoke
for them the fate they deserve. We knew
ofnothing that should induce US to treat
more tenderly the bold and undisguised
treason of the honorable Senator from
South Carolina.
To the storm now raging in the Palmet-
to State day of calm will succeed. The
patriotic attachments of her wise and good
citizens Will triumph over the councils Of
the bold, bad men, who seek the dIsmem-
berment of their country. This is not the
first time that politicians and public jour
nails have acclaimed after the fashion of
Mr.. Rhett. There have been as loud and
as i'll founded outcries of grievance and
calls for separation and secession in other
States than South Carolina, and in earlier
times than these.
We did not suppose that the fame or
fate of the men who had been concerned
in them had been such as to give large en-
enlargement for the repetition of the ex-
pertinent. Nor are we now apprehcnsive
as to the result. The day of peaceful
reckoning will surely come, when the
Rhctts and the Seabrooks will 90 the way
of all who, like them, have sought distinc-
ton in the paths of sedition and treason.