The Memphis union appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1862-1862, 1862-07-23
CITY COUNCIL, GENERAL SHERMAN
AND COL. SLACK.
HEADQUARTERS Q. S. Forces,

Mayor, City Recorder, and all other persons
discharging any official duty within the city
of Memphis, and under the charter thereof,
are required to come before the Provost Mar
shall ard take the oath Of allegiance to the
Government of the United States, within three
days, or in default thereof will be regarded as
sympathizing, aiding and abetting rebellion,
and will be treated as only traitors deserve.
By order Of
JAS. r. SLACK, Col. Com.
N. p. EVANS, a. A. A. Gen.
How maRy of the present and past Board of
Aldermen have coaformed to the requirements
of this order?
Has s. T. MORGAN, secessionist when Ten.
nessee was Union, taken an oath of allegiance
since he voted for the Southern Confederacy,
and since he Illuminated his house to honor
secession professions; and since he signed Sc
cession directory's to force Memphis. then
Union, to become ret slious Has he, we say,
taken any oath of atteSianee to the government,
that under it he presumes to lRgislate for city
in which all others are required to take one;
or did he, unelected by the people, smuggle
into the pseudo board to avoid taking an oath
of allegiance to government he had sought
TO shAtler
las Mr.. Alderman AMOS ever pledged his
allegiance to the United States since Rebellion
became improbable? Did he not also, I'M
elected by the people, smuggle into the Board
to avoid taking that oath of allegiance?
Has SAMUEL TIGHE taken an oath of allie
gauce yet? Has DR.. MERRILL? How comes
the latter in the Board at ALI How come any
ofthese in it in face of the order OF Col. SLACK
Was not the order published? Was it not
kept standing in our columns? Was 1t ever
levoked2 Did net Gen. SHERMAN's order,
published yesterday, make clear to the Union
men m that Board why in our same issue we
wished an investigation of eligibility De the
gentlemen imagine that, like the ostrich, if
they hide their heads in the dirt, they cannot
be seen
When it is found necessary, and is felt to be
jpst in the Government to require an oath of
allegiance from the I'm official, can it be believed
that it is not Of ten-fold more Importance that
it should be sxacted from those who aspire,
and even illegally dare to WELD under the
United States flag Official power and influence,
after having positively refused to swear allegi-
snce to that flag, when requested by Colonel
SLACK then commander of this post.
We and thousands of others have much mis-
taken the sense and justice of General w. s.
SHERMAN if such trickery is imposed upon
him.
On two different occasions, far removed,
We have warned that board of the ineli gibility
of many of its members of sufficient num-
Der indeed to render it imperative. 1t has
persisted in its reasonable evasion of tbs
order which forms the opening of our article.
Men in it had refused and would, ay and some
will, or say they will, refuse to take the oath
Of allegiance exacted from all, and yet for
sooth they hope to be permitted to remain
here and legislate for city over which w T.
SHERMAN holds chief authority
On other scores that Board is illegal. In a
few days we will publish the opinions of some
of the leading counsel in this city on the
question; and in the meantime we warn our
readers that no contracts made> by them, no
pretended ordinances passed by them can pos
sibly be considered binding on the City of
Memphis, nor is the city even bound to recog-
nizs or pay any appointees of their making
The only legitimate authority now in Mem
phi' is that of Gen. w. T. SHERMAN, and
under him the military authorities appointed
to various Offices; and, thank HEAVIER about
their allegiance, and their loyalty to it, hangs
no doubt
The smuggling into the pseudo board of
Messrs. MORGAN, AMOS, MERRILL and others,
unelected by the people, and in defiance OF
the order OF Gen. SLACK is most admirable
proof of the wisdom of the order itself, and in
the late order of Gen. SHERMAN, we find as
surance that such skulking treason will not be
tolerated.
1t needs NO great perspicacity to see what
future evil to the best interests of the city
would accrue from the continuous action OF
an illegal Board, whose doing would assuredly
lead to endless litigation. Still less foresight
is required to conjecture the dangers that
might arise to the national cause from the con-
tinuance in Office of men who ''can't take that
OATH" The troops now here, the position Of
the city, the presence of General SHERMAN
all point to the necessity of having no two
rulers here, no two codes of laws, no two corps
Of gems d'armerie responsible to different
authorities. General BUTLER saw the need O
united rule, and much as we admire his sa
gacity we have every reason to believe tina
the wisdom of General SHERMAN is in no wis,
inferior.
LATEST NEws.-It is generally concedet
that the Federal authorities are in possessicl
of Memphis, although the Arons week be