The Cadiz Democratic sentinel. [volume] (Cadiz, Ohio) 1854-1864, 1863-09-30
Reconciliat ation-The Plot TO close
the DOOr-Its Success hitherto.

fore casting his ballot at the October
election, to look squarely and calmly
at the condition of the country and tht
prospects ahead. 1t was said after
the President issued his first Emanci.
patton proclamation one year ago, ant
is still repeated with emphasis, that
call the Southern people have to do il
to lay down their arms, elect members
to Congress, and take their old places
as States in tho Union"
Many people who use this language
are honest in it, and are sincerely de-
sirous of seeing peace restored and the
old Union maintained. But many
thousands of upright and at heart pas
triotic citizens in Ohio and other States
and especially many thousands of SOL
diers in the army have been grossly
duped, deceived and defrauded by the
Radical, Republican and Abolition
leaders. Above all else the fraud
practiced upon the soldiers should be
Reproduced as most infamous, and held
up to universal scorn and detestation.
According to reports published in
Administration papers, thousands up
~ H., 30 snha11,n,,o Il, AZ 70
at the South are really to elect mem
bcrs to Congress; and it is represented
that in some OF them a large proper
tion of the people would do so if they
could. But the radical leaders took
care more than year ago to prevent
the possibility of such result. 1t
was deep laid scheme, and every man
who protested against it was denoun-
ced either as traitor or sympathi-
ger with treason. The conspiracy was
so far successful that the following act
was passed by the radical majority in
Congress and signed by President Lin
coin. 1t has been often published, but
its republication at this time is impor-
tant Let it be carefully read and
preserved for future reference:
ACTS OF THE % SESSION 37TH Con-
GREss, Chapter CXXVIII.
An Aet to prescribe an OaM Of O@ce, and
osher Purposes:
Be it enacted by the Senate and
House of Representatives of the Uni
ted States of America in Congress as
sambled, That hereafter every person
elected or appointed to any Office of
honor or profit under the Government
of the United States, either in the
civil, military or naval departments of
the public service, excepting the Pres
ident of the United States, shall, be-
fore entering upon the duties of such
Office, and before being entitled to
any of the salary or other emoluments
thereof, take and subscribe the follow
ing oath or affirmation: 81, A. B., do
solemnly swear or affirm) that [ have
never voluntarily borne arms against
che United States since / have been a
citizen thereof; that | have voluntari~
ly given no aid, countcnance, counsel,
or encouragement to persons engaged
in armed hostility thereto; that | have
neither sought nor accepted nor at
tempted to exercise the functions of
any Office whatever, under any author
ity or pretended authority in hostility
to the United States; that I have not
yielded voluntary support to any
pretended Government authority, pow-
er or constitution within the United
States hostile or inimical thereto
And do further swear (or afirm) that
to the best of my knowledge and abil-
ity, I will support and defend the Con-
stitution of the United States against
all cnemies, foreign and domestic; that
I will bear true faith and allegiance to
the same; that take this obligation
freely, without any mental reservation
or purpose of evasion, and that | will
well and faithfully discharge the du>
ties of the office on which [ am about
to enter, SO help me God;" which said
oath, SO taken and signed, shall be
preserved among the files of the court,
house Of Congress or department to
which the said Office may appertain.--
And any person who shall falsely take
the said oath shall be guilty of perju>
ry, and, on conviction, in addition to
the penalties now prescribed for that
offense, shall be deprived of his office
and rendered incapable forever after
of holding any Office or place under
the United States.
Approved July2, 1862.
Few men--probably not one in the
so-called seeded States, could be
found, who could conscientiously take
the test oath prescribed by this act.--
AT all events the oath was made pur>
posely so broad as to cover the case of
every man who might hereafter, in
any possible contingency, be elected q
member of Congress by anything like
popular vote in any of the States
or parts of States designated as rebel
lious in the Presidents Emancipation
proclamation. The radical policy.