Daily Ohio statesman. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1855-1870, 1863-12-13
rhe Prociama,lon Oath.

rhe Proclamation Oath.
The srs part Of The ,Pfesldsuvs late mes
s.es Ia said 10 have been written, or q least
vssssi By Nc. Secretary slwAsD But the ist
AR p.r,, including the appendix, 10 generally
tcoooeded 10 bs Mr.. President LINooLS's own.
This portion csrt,inIy bears ssrong internal
marks of its paternity. II 10 mot cay to SUP
nose that there is another brain In America
,ba could have conceived such an oath as
.Fs,her Abraham" prescrlbes 10 be taken BY
,,ssoh r,sidsDtof the nine Southern States named,
before be can be allowed any personal or civil
,lrbss. Until better advised, therefore, We
shall take u for granted that Mr., LiEo'LH 10
entitled TO a patent as the sole and original
inventor Of that remarkable oath.
The oath consists Of two p,rss or divisions
In the fsst Il swssrs q man TO faithfully sup
mart. protecs and defend the Consiltutionlof the
UuI,ed States snd the Union Of the States
tbsfsusdsr . 1In the second part, the oath
taker swsars ain likeimarnsF 10 sbideby and
faithfully supper. all sc,s Of Congress passed,
during the existing rebellion, WITH hryEnEscE
TO sIAyss, and In like manner to abide by and
faithfully support ell proclama,ions Of The
President, made during tho exciting rebellion,
nAyIHe RksIREHoE 10 sLAvEs"
az Nov those sets .pith sffsrsnss % slsv's"
sud these psocsms,ious "hsSin9 sst'Tsnes 10
slsves," provide for and are designed 10 effect
smancipasIon In the States In which this oath
4. 10 be taken. Yetths President says himself
iusbishis Last message that, according 70 our
Vs'poIIsioal system as o matter Of civil admins
trssion the Government had no lawful power
40 effect emancipation In any State" II Was
E, ,vssor,ed 70, he says, ssra. military measures"
but he does rot claim that II had any wsrsant
or authority 10 the ConstltutIon. 2 t'-
49,. Taking the Presidents own word for 1t, then
b shsss acts and proclamAtions designed to effect
~ emancipation 10 certain States we're clearly nm
constitutional; Jet, BY the oath prescribed, q
man in one breath sWsars 10 faithfully sup
port the Constitution Of the United States, u
y and in the nsxs TO "iaithfully support" admit
ted unconstiu ionsl acts and proclauations.
Ia brief, 10 one part ofthe oath, o man is sworn
10 support the Constitution, and In the other to
violate IL.
lBy the oath man binds himself to support
the Copstiiut on and the Uuion Of the States
thereunder; and at the same time sWears 10
q support unconstitutional acts Of Consrsss, be-
cause "passed ioah reference to slaves" !" and un-
constitutional, proclsmstions, bcca1se "having
reference 10 slaves but not 10 support one
single act or proclamation specially designed to
restore and cems mt the Uoion Of the States 90 !!
existed before The rebellion unIer the Federal
re-. Constitution. .- --
l6s The taker of Ms. LiscoLH's oath swesss to
support allAfts of Congress and all proclsma
sions Of the President, In reference TO slaves,
passed and issued during the present. rebellion
mot only those already passed and issusd,
bat those that may be hereafter. while there
s bellIou lssts.. Tins be ls made. 70 swear to
suppor. be knows not what. who knows what
e Q Psesiden, and Congress-. under r-dioal inau-
ence and Jacobin detation may do, in these
dsys Of revolution and the upsetspgs Of all
{ thIuRs heretofore held sae,ed7 The President
may, % an alleged "military necessity" de.
elre himself BY Proclamation Supreme Dicia-
Tor above all Consultations and ell lavs, and
Congress may pass an act sustaining the u'urp
, alton, becsuse, Il has been assumed "toifh re-
fsysaes 10 slspts." And By Mf LrHo,Ls's oath
man 10 sworn in advance to faithfully support
these or any other measu'es having reference
~ 10 negro slaves. e6&sT Gg84 a.
This swesrlng q man TO support acts to Be
doua bereaftef invelyes also the palpsble alb