Holmes County farmer. [volume] (Millersburg, Ohio) 1857-1926, 1862-12-04
"IVonornbIy Discharged"


Whenevcra citizen is discharged from n
Government Bostilo the Telegraph in
forms us he is "honorably discharged y
These mon are nearly all citizens OF 10y
al States, and they wesc clandcstincly ar
rested in the face of open courts and un-
obstructed laws and carried to unknown
prison houses without knowing what were
the charges against them, or by whom
preferred. They are confined for months
in loathsome cells, denied communication
with their friends, refused the privilege
of counsel, and speedy, or even a trial
at all, is withheld from them, and with
out any evidence of guilt, orcven chance
to prove their innocence, they are "hon-
oraJly discharged" after subscribing the
following oath:
Il, do solomny swear that will sup
port. protect, and defend the constitution and
government OF the United States against all enc.
mcs. either domestic or foreign, and that will
bear true faith, allegiance and loyalty to the same,
any ordinance, resolution, or law of any State
convention or Legislature to the contrary notwth.
standing; and further, that do this with the full
determination. pledge and purpose, without any
mental reservation or evasion whatsoever; and
further that will neither enter any # the State,
now in insurrcctiOn against the authority of the
Federal government, nor hold any correspondence
whatever with them or with any per.on in then
during the present rebellion, without permission
the Secretary Of War. and that will in all thing
deport my self as good aud loyal citizen Of tn,
United States, and that ,riH not at any iatur
fit8e cow0,sBcs aBy nciion Or SHH agdiHS
Hcoficcrs oCaHy 0yaI Staic, or ofhe Unhed States
far causing myarrest or imprisonment,
There is of course nothing objcctiona.
in the simple oath of allegiance. Every
good citizen stands ready to take that
provided the circumstances under whcl
he be required to take it do not impugl
/ his loyalty. The objection to it in the
case Of n citizen arrested without cause
held contrary to law and "honorably dis
charged" without trial is, that the re
quircment to take it does impugn hi
loyalty. Tho smallast rcparation whicl
the government could make for the wron!
done the citizen, in his arbitrary, iIlega
and causelcss arrest and imprisonment
would be his honorable discharge withou
any conditions whatever. But, as is seen
it is not alone the simple oath Of allegi
ancc that he is required to take. Iii
loyalty is still further impugned by thu
requirement that he shall swear that h,
takes the oath without mental reservation
or evasion and that he will not hold com
munication with the rebels Nor is thi
all. TO the most shameless insult and
outrage is added the grosscst injury by tn,
requirement, as condition for his release
from arbitrary, Illegal and cansclcss i'm
prisonmcnt, that he shall swear that "hl
'oW not, nj any .t"tare Time, commence o,
cdase any action or Sud oqojaSt tie odrcrS
IV a"y loyol state, or ofHc N"icd Stotes
Ior causing lis arrest or Imprisonment, s,
help him God."
If, in the annals of despotiom, in tn
old world or the new, there be anythiu,
which eXccls the inlamy Of this despotam
we arc not familiar with it.