Semi-weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1853-18??, 1861-12-21
TEST OATHS.
"He who makes an Oath and takes il,
Is apt to be the first who breaks It."

"He who makes Oath and takes il, -!
Is apt TO be the first who breaks it. ..,FraE
We demand an interview with the Fool Killer"
He has not been doing his duty-no, he has not
He has permitted some fellow, fit subject for his
death dealing club, to slip in the Convention of
North Carolina, who has proposed the passage Of
an act administering Test Oath to every body in
the State not in the Army Now, this fellow, no
doubt feels the need of such an Oath, or he would
not have proposed it; he had better take his oath
and ask for Corporals Guard to make him keep
it For our part feel inclined to slap the jaws of
any man who approaches US with "test oath"
for his audacty He who would doubt our loyalty to
the South-the land of our nativity and the graves
of our fathers-is himself traitor and dastard--
We your test oaths, and defy the world,
the flesh and the devil to cram them down our
throat. We will resist to the death Not that we
object to the oath-for it would be harmless-but
we abhor, Scorn and detest the impernnence that
proposes it, 1t may be necessary for those who ad-
Vocate it. but We have idea It would be barrier
stronger than q rope of sand If they took notion
to commit treason. Such fetters may suit the YAM
kee nation, but Southern freenen scorn them
They tend more to make traitors than unmake them.
If man is against u.s. in this crisis, "test oath
will not make him for us. forced or extorted
oath is to the moral law, what forced or extorted
bond is to human law-at least regarded by
many conscienceS But whence the necessity of such
an oath ? Who needs it? Will it cleanse the cor
rupt heart of treason steep it deeper in? There
would be about as much use in requiring to take
it as to exact oath from us that will breathe
the breath of life if we can, that we will never
girdle cafrope about our neck and hang ourself.
IL would be as insulting as proposition to admin
lister oath to an honest man that he will not turn
highway robber or steal the coppers off q dead
negroes eyes. -,
Our loyalty to the South needs not the benefit OF
"test oaths" And he who doubts it is bastard
aye black-hearted traitor. We have son in the
Army who volunteered private ere the roar OF
the cannon that swept Fort Sumter had died away,
and that too at personal sacrifice apart from paus
ing to complete profession which he expected
to rely for support in life and while here not
only struggling to supply his necessary wants and
comforts in the Army, but ready at moments
warning to pitch into the fight if it becomes necesr
ry, some fellow, who doubtless needs test oath
and close watching to keep him from breaking it,
'gravely rises in the Convention and proposes to
swear to be tue to-ourself and all that we hold
dear We say while we are ready to attest our
Southern loyalty by pitching into the fight at mo-
ment's warning-but do not understand US to say
that pecuniary circumstances such as to JUS
tify US in leaving home. No, when We leave home
business that we have to rely exclusively on for
the support of our family stops, and with it would
stop the support of dependant family. But for
this-had pecuniary ability enabled our family to
live without hard labor part, or the "sweat
of brow in the decline of life. long this,
would we have hed to the battle field, nor once
paused to attest our Southern loyalty by noseing
around for fat Office in the Army or a cushioned
seat in the Convention to vote for "test oaths."-
Milton Chronicle. .-..s- s .s.e.-fa b