Daily Nashville union. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1862-1862, 1862-04-20

such an oath9 II dates with the earliest
foundation of tbe Governments and, CT con.
sequence, had its origin in The declaration Of
the rights q the people Of tho United States
contained, as expressed by Judge Tucker, Of
Virginia in his annotations on Blackstone,
as carly as 1908,
"lst. In the unanimous declaration Of In
dependence by the Congress of the United
States.
02d. In the articles Of confederation and
peypauqi union, concluded between The sever.
al States
81. By the Constitution Of The United
States, as approved and ratified by the sew
eral state Conventions.
4th. By the amendments Of the Constitu-
ton OF the United States, proposed by Con-
gress In March, 1859, and SINCE rrtitied and
confirmed by the several States in the
Union.
9TH. BY the bill of rights, Ind the Consti
tuition Of the respective States and,
Gthly, and lastly, by legislative acts, aud
declarations Of the State legislatures"
Decides this, who does not know that al
legiance and protection are reciprocal obii-
gations Of the people and the Government?
/ All learned jurists, without exception, have
so admitted. The very etymology of the
term shows il. "Legiance or allcg ance to
the tie lliganea) which binds" the people to
the Government, in return for that protee-
tion which the Government affords the peo-
pie, aud upon which duty of allegiance rests
the right of the Government to require the
oath to support the Constitution of the Unit
Cd States.
But an, sey the Secessionisis, we do not
want the protection of the United States,
arc therefore, we decline giving it our ale
glance. If you do not want it, let US see If
YOU do not need It, What was the condition
Of your State when the Union army came
here? You we're then without any National
Government, and your State Government
had become so entrngled with the Southern
usurpation that it was only poweFless for
rood. but was incapable of executing even
the ordinary forms Of State authority. You
answer with quotation from JEFF. Davis,
al have only asked to be let alone )" and
you we're lei alone by JEFF. Davis, and we have
strled the consequence. You insist that you
receive no protection. Why, there are your
registered deeds made the unquestioned evi
dence Of your title to your property and
your persons held too sacred to be subjected
10 lawless violence2 You contend that 1t
il without precedent. We refer you to the
9Th article of the Constitution OF the United
States, by which the members of the several
State legislatures, and all executive and
iudlcial officers of the United States end OF
the several States, and all members OF Con-
gress are bound to take the oath. We also
refer TO the Constitution Of the State Of Ten
nessee, article X, sec /, by which every
person elected or appointed to any Office under
this Constitution, or any lao made In pursu
ance thereof" shall take the oath. But, you
say, you did not mean there was no official
precedent you meant there was no prtce-
dent where private citizGns were required TO
take such an oath. We answer there is such,
even by State (and you profess great re-
spect for State rights, and that, too, as ear
" as l777, less than one yeai after our de-
claration of independence. That, you grant,
is true, but insist that Il did not require the
aburation Of all other governments. conven-
lions, &c, like this oath. We know il did
and quote as follows
aBy the act Of May, 1777, C. 3, all free
male Inhabitants OF the State, above sixteen
vearq, we're required TO give assurance Of
ALLEGIANCE 10 The State; which consisted In
taking the following oath j do swear or
a0jrn1 that rcnOuuce and refuse all allegi-
auee to George the Third King Of Great
Britain. his heirs aud successors, and hat
will be faithful and bear true allegiance TO
thc Commonwea Nh OF Virginia, as a free and
independent State, and that will not AZ any
time do, or cause 10 be done. any matter or
Thing that will be prejudlclal TO the freedom
and Independence thereof as declared by
Congress and also that ] will discover and
make known 10 some one justice Of the
peace for the said State, oil ireasons, OF trail
iorOus conspiracies which / now or here.
after shall know TO be formed against this
or any Of The United States OF America"
You admit you preferred the Southern
Government. There Is nc such government
de 6ie,o, because Of the entire absence Of
physical power TO maintain ITSELF Il is not
a government de jure because It cannot Of
right exist without approphat nalioual re.
cognihon. You wish to I've here, occupy
and enjoy your property and accumulate
NOR, -exerclse all the rights aud privileges
Of other ciuzens-tll your hslds, sell your
productivity and sell goods manufacture
and dispose Of fabrcs- have voice 10 tho
e,ctiou OF every oGlcer Ia The State aud ia
lbe United Siates--and, ia addition to this,
secure total abtoutlon for al past offences +:
bui you are unwilliugto give your sworn "a