The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1863-11-21
The Oath OF AlleEiance,

Every person has heard . great deal
about the oath Of allegiance. 1t has
become household word, so frequently
has reference been made to it since the
rebellion, and so often has it been ad-
ministered % traitors. Those who have
been afflicted with more impud ence than
brains in denouncing the Government,
and IN their direst fits of lunacy bave
declared there was no Government, have
found themselves suddenly arrested by
the strong hand of that defied power,
and taking solemn oath to support it
thus stul.ifying their own vain and
boas ful dcclara ions, By calling God to
witness that they we're liars before
Heaven and earth.
Many have attempted to regard the
oath Of allegiance as an oath not binding
or their conscences--as an obliga ion
forced upon them. This is about as
lame an excuse for perjury as could well
DO devised. No NAN is compelled TO
take the GA b of allegiance to this Gov
ernmen contrary to his own free will.
any more than he is obliged to testify in
court of justice in civil or criminal
case. In the latter case, if be refuse to
take the prescribed oath he is in danger
Of being punished for contempt OF
court. lie cannot collect claim BY pro-
cess of law without . declaration Oh
oath Of its business In all those cases
it is optional either to submit to the SOL
empi les Of an oath, or to the inconven-
ienoe or loss, as the case may be, Of re-
fusing. But because this penalty is at
tached to the noncompliance with the
established forms Of law, what man in
christian land will assume that an oath is
not binding, and not to be regarded be-
cause i. has this show of compulsion be-
longing to it! Wherein consists the diff
ference in regard to the oath of allie
glance There are certain objects to
DO at aimed in the cases above cited,
which require the administering Of oashs.
So also, there are certain objects desired
by The party who takes the oath Of allo-
glance to support the Government Of
tho Uni cd States, He either wishes to
deposit ballot for some friend at the
election poll, or he wishes some pecu-
mary advantage from the Government.
or be is suspected Of disloyalty 20, and
plotting with the armed enemies of, the
nation. For the privilege Of voting, Or
the desire to reap some pecunlary gain,
or escape being sent beyond The jurisdic-
ton of the Government be processes to
disown, be is desired to take an oath Of
allegiance to support and CONFORM to the
requirements of that Government. 1t is
no more compulsory in the latter case
than in the former. And the crime OF
perjury attaches in either case to him
who violates the oath, taken deliberately
and Of his own free will.
One of the ehoru,it'es of this rebellion
is it's teaching that IN oath loses its
ssnoti y and binding force, when admin
istersd for purposes Of defense against
midnight plots, aud hell,sh devices to
uproot popular Government. Yet, how
often do We see men who have had the
advantage of christian training, who
don't regard an oath which they dcliber-
ately take as Of any binding force on The
conscience. Such, We now behold, is
the oarbarism that slavery was leading
us,-a free and enligh ened people
back to. Il has been truly said that it
il The sum of all villainies.
No ear has ever heard an excuse or
an argument from seoessioniss, or he
who site npts to excuse the rebellion,-
that gr,ste,t crime since 81 an levoltsd
against the Governmen. of Heaven-tbas
could deay or psiliats the lightsst OF
these charges His excuses and reasons
for The bloody crimes it is guilty Of are
bulwsrks Of lies, and his charges against
the Government are composed Of sneors.
When The history Of this rebellion is
written in future years, not among the
least of its crimes will be numbered the
systematic attempt its deolples made to
sap the very foundations of christianity
by teaching their doludsd followers that
the cause of revolt and slavery had q
higher claim upon them, than their obli-
cations to the Creator and that solemn
appeal to the Divine Being to witness
the truth Of their declarations, should
be set aside, if such obligation prejudioed
the interest Of the rebellion. The
crimes Of this slavery conspiracy rise
like Mountains, when oa!wly considered
Nothing in history will compare witt
them in cporwity.
- DELAWARE ELtcrIoN. election II
roE>I.vero veepltad in tha choica nj Mr.