The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1855-05-05
rHr soLEMNlrY or An oArn.

The most potent engine Of the demagogues who herd To-
gether In secret conspiracy al least over weak mQ
~ impressive obligation OF an oath But there two
nd ~ oath There Is the oath sacred taken 10 the eye
Of God for Just purposetbe oath that Blackstone calls
a illegal oath 2 there Isl again. The false oathhe oath
taken 10 betray ones counyhe oath Of an Arnold or
Catne The great weapon Of the latter the hideous
and shameless oaths be enforced upon his conederaes
Robbers take oahs for their mutual protection but there
is no law hupan Or divine that the violation
of these oaths. The crime is in taking them
10 hke an oath befray friend Is IN s highest sense g
he cord MORAL PERJURY. How such oath outweigh
sacred obligation recognised sacred by the law2
OATH for PERSONAL or party, or corrupt purposes
cannot the tie that commands us TO be faithful TO
God our country the truth family our friends
To attempt this is TO contemplate perjury,
Says Blackstone:
tn crime of wlful and corrupt perjury is defined by
Sir Edward Coke be crime committed when ia,rfut
oath administered in Judicial proceeding TO person
pho ,5y, absolutely and folseiy, IN matter mate
rial 10 The issue point IA question"
We leave conscientious say how far oath
the sight of the living God but in midnight con-
clave 10 make religious difference the nativity of a
neigh or or a friend of persecution can be main
tancd without moral perjury 1t is simply choice Of obli
gahpDS-Wnetntr we Will Wy opHshhoHs iSNpb
Missed binding and just or whether we viii annul
these by accepting those which are unjust and cruel
Sacred history tells OF of the most cherished dis
cpes of our SAVIOUR who denied his Master three times.
We ask the Of those who believe in the system Of
secret betrayas to this instrucivepassage
Mat 60. Now Peter without in the palace; and a
damse unto him. saying Thou also vert with Jesus
of Gailee
go. But he denied beto,e laen, all saying: NOT
II. And when he gone out into the porch another
naisaw him. and said them that there This fell
low was also with Jesus Of Nazareth.
"72. And again he denied ,cih oath, DO KNOW
THE MAN.
.7s. And after awhile him they that stood by
and said to Peter Surely thou also art of them for thy
speech betrayeth thee.
"74 Then began he b and seear saying hNO
NOTthe man.
The commentator upon this impressive passage in Scrip
ture speaks of Peters conduct $50 amply atoned mmcdi-
ately afterwards) in the following
Peter his Master nth oaths and There ia
nothing important for learn than weak
Who that Peter Wanting but the day before
though all foresake Thee, yet will r could
supposed that short time he could haze forgotten
teast have broken ali his promes Here, twill be seen,
the higher obligation get against worldly oath II
'sWhat apostle prevaricate and lie! Yea, and curse
and swear A
he had fought and nearly committed murder? Alas how
weak The question of silly dansel confused and
terrified Peter and the fear of being taken for of the
followers Of Jesus led him prerarcaon, lying and per-
jury
Now although Peter had taken solemn oath TO support
his great Master he owed obligation which he could
not seems violate without being accused of perjury.
This recalls the point that there is obligation due
the State and to friendship and to good morals inn
pressed upon all men, which cannot be set aside by any
worldly obligation, and least of all by midnight oath
wrung from the fears and the preudiccs Of without
staining those who resort to this oath with the guilt of
moral perjury. To betray henetactor as Peter ddte
betray with kiss Judas did--to prosecute neigh
Dor after professions of kindnessal these belong
the science which plots in secret and strikes down the
wsest and the brightest without notice charity
But Peter repented his false oatrepented il in
in He denied his Master after that He
allowed his fears to msead him. He stood fast
his holy friendship lie scorned the oath and the
midnight cabal He became light and leader and
Tested his faith in the midst Of dangers and doubts He
afterwards said, /" know not The man"
Let those who have taken the oahs the present day
which defy the law and nstgate persecution and
age hypocrisy, and finally lead TO perury-le them
member tina, obligation be binding which is in IT.
self an insult to God and wrong to man.