Daily national Democrat., 1861-07-14
11ailp slational1 1tmotrat.
The Oath of Allegiance.

nalll) Wall0llal llfllUlldl.
The Oath of Allegiance.
vrny REV. AND REV. EDToRs:-I would
.,isb TO know whether in your opinion nat
.roiizad citizen, even in the South can take
aart with the Southern Confederacy without
iha ruilt of perjury? In becoming citizen,
he swore featy, not to any State but to the
1rrited States Does that oath mean any
ching? If not, to take it was sin. If SO, it
must bind to fidelity to the constitutionally
elected President and Congress.
CONSCIENCE.
REPLY.
An oath binds ta1an under penalty of per-
iurv to do what he conscientiously considered
his words to promise. Apart from ignorarce,
nreiudce, or false representation we believe
that every naturalzed citizen has, according
70 the intent of the form of naturalization,
sworn to support the legally constituted Gov
ernment at Washington. Many poor man
NAV have been taught however that his obli-
cations were not of this character, and may
therefore, without being willing to perjure
himself, be carried away by the waves of
public opinion about him to the wrong side.
--EDs. Tel.
Catholic Telegraph and AdUocate of May 2Sth.
We may add to the very just answer of the
distinguished and learned editors of the 7eLe-
graph, that it becomes the duty of every cler-
gyman in the seeded States to abstain from
any dctiUe act that may lead their people to
believe that they are released from the obli-
cation of their oath of allegiance. The ap-
pointment to chaplaincy in a rebel regi-
ment does not imply that the chaplain sane
tions the violation of the OATH He only
lends his services to reconcile with God, a dy
ing soldier, who may have been guilty of
perjury.-BoSton Pilot
A TRAVELLING CoNFLAGRArloN.-The follow
ing novel occurrence is related by the Saera-
mento Union:
A teamster named George Belts, no re-
turned from the mountains a day or two
since met with singular disaster while alb
sent. While travelling homeward from Fd-
Getown with a wagon containing nothing
but about half a bale of loose hay and the
wagon cover, he was disturbed while engaged
in figuring on the profits of his trip, by an
uncomfortable degree of heat in the rear.
As he looked backward into the wagon he
found the contents enveloped in a blaze. lie
stopped the team Immediately, and released
drive, if possible, to water a mile distant
with the other horses but after running them
q portion of the way, found the project to be
impracticable. He then Intentionally upset
the wagon, and managed to detach the run
ming gear from the body and save the weels,
aXles, etc. Belts had used no mathches about
the wagon during the trip, but had on a for
mer trip. He supposes that one of them had
lodged in n crack and became ignited by
friction. AS he took on the upward trip
several kegs of powder, it is probable that
he ran a narrow risk of a much greater dis
aster than that which really occurred.
TIE New WAR DEDr CoMMrssdoNGR-We
stated the fact yesterday, that the Governor
had appointed a new Indian War Debt Com
missioner in place of S. b. Smith, who was
supposed to have failed to leave for Wash
jngton within the sixty days named in the
Act. The Commissioners were "authorzed
and directed" TO proceed to Washington
within sixty days after the passage, unless
otherwise provided in the Act The Act
creating the Board of Indian War Debt
Commissioners, contains no section declaring
that it shall take effect from a"d after its
passage but the last section reads as follows:
This Act shall not take effect until the said
Commissioners have delivered up to the
Treasurer of State all the coupons belonging
10 the State of California that they may have
in their possession that they have received
since their terms of Office as said COmmis-
sioners, and the Treasurer IS hereby authori
zed to cancel and destroy the same" The
Act was approved on the 9th and the cou-
pons filed on the 9th Of May, 50 that admit
ting the general law does not apply to this
till, the law went into effect on the 9th of
May. Therefore if the Commissioners started
Neore the 9th of July they would have pro
ceedcd" to Washington within the sixty days.
II is due S. B Smith to state that he left sun
day, July 7th, for Placeryille, and took the
Overland stage at that point on Monday. 1t
IS also stated that he purchased a ticket for
the last steamer but did not go because his
commission was not sent TO him in time. 1t
is evident from these facts that the Governor
acted hastily and without authority in ap-
pointinga new Commissioner The appoint
ment is calculated to embarrass the action of
the Board I; it muy lead to defeat for the
season of the entire olic cct for which it was
created and to obviatc all danger of such IL
result. the new Commission ought TO be re-
voked. 1t can be done 10y Pony before Nord-
heimer reaches New York.-Sae Union
PERSISTENT ATTEMPT AT SUICIDE BY LU-
NArrc.-The Sacramento News of Friday has
the following:
Capt. McClory, on entering, about Q o'clock
this morning, the cell of VIM. Lewis, the lu-
Hatic, in company with an attendant 20 give
him suitable repast discovered Lewis in the
act of ndeavoring TO straDgle himself with
sis shirt, which he had twisted and tied
around his neck, the unfortunate being de-
tected tugging Justify at either side Upon
their entering the cell he was much exhaust
ed, and as soon ae he could recover breath,
very cunningly placed his arms across his
throat, and said that he had wrapped the
shirt around it TO keep it warm. Were it
possible for person to strangle himself in
that manner, he doubtless would have &C
complished the object but for the opportune
arrival of the attendant with his breakfast.
About two hours afterwards, "a brother having
called, Capt. McClory, on accompanying hin
To the room, discovered Lewis in the same
condition, having on this occasion attempted
to garrOtte himself with strip of his blan-
ket which he had torn off for the purpose
Thereafter the blanket was removed from his
cell, and strict watch kept upon his move
ments. His wife visited him about O'Clock
this afternoon, and remained with him some
time adjusting his toilet. At that time he
was quite calm and composed, and promised
to rest quietly there till tomorrow morning
when he will probably be removed to Stock
ton.
New MATERIAL FOR PApER.-The cry
abroad and at home, is evermore, paper
paper, paper!" We learn from the Resu
I/nrflPD/o ,yo pYSie hat ,I..o 81