The western Democrat. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1852-1870, 1862-07-01
mAKING AN OATH TO THE ENEMY.


The passions which attend state Of war aud
which increase in violence with its progress warn
us to exrect that our conflict with the Lincoln
government will grow in bitterness. So long as
our enemies entertain hope of .subiugating US,
each defeat or disappointment which We infilct up
on them add to their malice; and ID proportion as
their affairs grow desperate, they will have re-
course to violent and desperate expedieats.
What we have probably soonest to antici pate of
them is the attempt to impose the oath of allegiance
to the United States the citizens who may fall
under their military power.
Under ctte form or another, may expect, If
the war continues, that the enemy will repeat, and
more universally, these attempts to extort the
oath of allegiance from our people. 1t is proper
that leople and Government should to
determined course and policy wherewith to meet
them
If our citizens in every community will hang to-
sethcr in solid body and every man refuse, under
whatever extremity, to take the hated oath, they
will find in this course their best security. 1t will
be impossible to arrest or imprison place under
surveillance, whole community The fidelity Of
all will thus prove the safety of each. But if
some Weld under the influence of threats or perse
cutions-if ii single man i'll nei9 hborhood show
himself false in the hour of trlal-it will excite
hopes and stimulate efforts that will prove the
source Of much annoyance to the rest Additiona:
appliances will be brought TO bear to force others
to do what two have done.
The citizen, them who, to save his property, or
to secure any privilege takes the oath of allegiance,
is traitor not only to his State and country gen.
orally Jut is traitor to his neighbors. They
have right to hold him as their personal foe; for
he separates himself from them, and stimulates
against them the malice Of their enemies. We
have heard of some who, without bad design, but
under terrible mistake Of Judgment, decided to
take the oath Of allegiance to the enemy. They
are of all men the most miserable; and they
show it in their sad countenanccs and hanging
heads They have lost their self. respect They
have lost the esteem Of their neighbors. And we
are happy to add that in almost every instance
they have failed to get the price for which they
sold themselves. They have been deprecated
upon in most cases fully much as their faithful
neghbors; in many cases more. The honorable
minded men among the enemy dcspise them, and
suffer them to be plundered IN contempt And
such abandoned creatures constitute Bleukers
command, do not stop to distinguish between
friend and foe. They do not trouble themselves
about niccties--When they see thing that they
fancy, they take it, careless whether ''secesh" or
Cuffy is the sufferer.
We are aware that men differ as to the rig hit to
take oath under durcsse, with the inteuiion not
to observe it. For ourselves We can not approve
the swearing to do wrong, under any circum-
stances, and with whatever mental reservation.
We do not understand how be really
forced to take al oath. lie may be greatly per<e-
cuted and injured if he refuse, but his will is his
own. You may lead horse to water, but you
can't moke hin. drink, is Spanish proverb that
applies to this
The policy which government should pur-
towards citizens who, tor whatever motive,
have SWORN allegiance to the enemy is, think,
very correctly set forth in the course pursued by
Governor Jefferson, under similar circumstances, in
1871. The British, exasperated by the continued
resistance Of the coonists, ard rendered desperate
by the gathering difficulties, made sweeping re-
QUESTIONS upon the citizens over whom their lines
advanced to forward and give their parole.
number complied.
Jefferson issued his proclamation to the people
OF NirgniG declaring the nullity of such parole, in
point of fact, but requiring those who considered
it binding forthwith 10 repair to some Of the
posts, cncamrments, vessels of the forces of his
britannia Majesty, aud by surrender of their per-
sons, to cancel such engagements; aud not to
join the Commonwealth but in state of perfect
emancipation from its enemies, and of freedom
act as it becomes good and Jealous Citizens
here he no doubt that should be our
course towards those soil who have taken
the oath Of allegiance to Lincoln and acknowledge
its obligation. They not only unable to serve
us, but they are sworn enemies, and unGues
tonahy have right to lie among They
should be required to repair to the camp or ter
ritory Of the enemy and there rcnouncc their oath
and surrender their persons and should be denied
the privilege of return until freed from the selas
sumcd shacklcs which prevent them from dis
charging the duties of good citizenship. Let it
be understood throughout the Confederate limits
that the man who swearS allegiance to the enemies
of his country swears himself az exile from his
home-Rtchmond Enquirer.