The Nashville daily union. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1862-1866, 1863-03-10
Extra Session OF the Senate.


Extra Session Of the Senate I
WASHINGTON, March 6,-Mr Sumner
OF Massachusetts called up the addition
al rule Of the Senate proposed yesterday.
This rule prescribed that the loyal oath
passed in July last shall be subscribed
TO by The members of this body,
MrS4ulsbury of Delaware moved that
its further consideration be postponed
until tomorrow.
Mr.. Sumner replied that the statute
required that every officer, civil military
or naval, should take the oath before en-
teriDg ON the discharge of his duties.
Mr.. Salisbury said the oath could not
now apply, because Senators had al
ready entered upon the duties of their
Office hence, il was utterly impossible
now to administer it before doing so, and
consequently it was not applicable to
this body.
Mr.. Davis of Ky, regarded the law as
llagiuously unconstitutional IL impos-
ed test oath If they had right TO
administer such an oath ia one manner,
tney had right to administer il in an
other. The majority of the Sena'e had
great aversion to Copperhead Demo
Gratis but suppose in three or four years
these COpperhead Democrats should OBJ
tain possession of the Government, in
Guiding the executive and legislative
branches, and should come up with
their test oath, TO sustain their political
school of politics. Were the gentlemen
ready 10 admit that these Copperhead
| Democrats bad the Constitutional power
to administer such an oath. Yet they
would have as much power to impose
their form of oath TO promote their par
| ty ends as the last Congress had to pa IS
this law. lie trusted he could take this
oath with as clear conscience as any
man; bat he held that Congress had no
power TO pass a law imposing such an
oath. He proceeded to argue that it
would be setting most mischievous pre-
cedent.
Several messages were announced from
the President.
Mr.. Harris of N. Y, hoped the Senate
would go into Executive session. De-
bate was improbable.
Mr.. Sumner Of Massachusetts, repeated
that there was a statute of Congress re
quiring the oath to be taken The qnes-
ton was whether they would obey IL or
not. To 60 into executive session before
taking the oath was TO disregard ihs law
Of Congress. The Senate then went into
executive session.
The President pro tenn, MIR. Foote, said
he was prepared TO take the oath, and
called upon Mr.. Foster to administer it,
which he did. 1t 10 as follows: 81 sol
EMMY swear that have never voluntarily
borne arms against the United States
since j have been a citizen thereof; that
have voluntarily given no aid, counten-
ance, counsel nor encouragement 10 per-
sons engaged in armed hostility thereto
that have neither sought, nor accepted
or attempted to exercise the functions d
any Office whatever, under any authority
or pretended authority in hostility TO the
United States. That | have not yielded
voluntary support to any pretended
Government, authority, power or COnsti.
tuition hostile TO the United States or in.
imical thereto; and do further sweal
that, 10 the best of my knowledge AnC
ability, will support and defend th'
, Constitution of the United States againe
all enemies, foreign and domestic; that
will bear true faith and allegiance 70 thl
same; that take this obligation freely
without any mental reservation or pur
pose of evasion, and that / will wei
and faithfully discharge the duties O
the Office in which am about TO enter
SO help me God"
The President pro tenn, then directed
/ the names TO he called Of the Senator
elected OF reelected since the passage Q
the law, viz: ID of j uly last. II was ad
} minist,red to the following named Sen
) ators Messrs. Bawden, BuckaleW, Nor
. gas, Sprague, Wright Morrill,, Wad
| sumner Dixon, Hioks, Chandler an
| Harding.
. Mr.. johnson explained that, aeeordin
8 to his interpretation OF The Constitution
= a Senator was not a civil officer, an
: therefore did not fail within the limits
the statute, and besides the act was rel
? respective in its operation. He, howeye
I had not the slightest objection 10 TAX
tue oath. II was then administered
J, him.
Z Mr.. Hendricks adopting the explains
ton Of Mr. johnson, also subscribed
g it.