Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1863-03-12

tor, and spirit and nothing Ii this was test oath,
then that to support the Constitution test OATH For
himself he desir to take it, w other Senator's 10
order 70 qnsly hmseif as requir By the statute.
Mr. DAVIS replied, il the lew oath was 10 its object,
tuition, why shou it agan be taken Had Congress the
power TO administer the oath second tim.7
Mr.. SUMNER, knowing the loyalty of the Senator,
thought he would r. joce TO take the oath
Mr.. DAVIS lad no doubt be- was more loyal man than
the Senator from Ma sacbusetts. Laughter He fur
Their argued against the of the OATH
which to appeal We have nothing to do but comply with
the law You talk about ting at defiance law which
Congress has passed
Mr.. DAVIS 1t is no law
Mr.. TRUMBULL Was tho Senator going to pass here
upon the consttutionaity IF the law We might
that the Senator from Kentucky fhal not speak
than fourths of the tme aud the Senator would have
TO abide by It, All the f. dera Judges had taken oath
IN addition TO that to support the Consultation The
Senator, he presumed, had member of the Legsa-
ture of Kentucky and taken oath not only to support
the Cons uon Of the United States but the Constitution
Of Kentucky. How could he do that?
Mr. DAVIS replied the Consultation of Kentucky re-.
Mr.. TRUMBULL asked him bow he could do so, &C.
cordng to The principles be hid announced in this debate
We rave law which requires certain oath 10 b admia
istrred and it was the duly Ut tie Presiding Officer TO adj
mibistrr it to any one who would take it.
The PRESIDENT pro tenn. Mr.. FooT) sad he was
prepared to take the oath, and requested Mr. FOSTER to
administer il, which he did. II is as follows:
~ foemny Tor affm) have never voluntarily
borne against the United stree have
thereof that have voluntarily given aid countenance,
10 persons engaged IN armed hoe
ug thereto that hive ither soug accepted
attempted TO exer the tu ci office whatever
der any uthorty preen ed horty in hos iiy to
Unnd Stats at have yielded voluntary support to
pIeen ed Goverum ty, power constitution
W thin the Unled Siaes hostile mimic =, thereto A,
do further Tor firm the best of knowledge
aud al ty will suppo and defend the Constitution of the
I'm ted States against all enemies fores and dom site that
Will bar true faith aud al eglance to the sans tn take
this obligation eey without any mental vaon pur
poss evasion and that will well and faithfully charge
me God"
The PRESIDENT pro tenn. then directed to be called
the OF nitors elected and reelected the pas
ssgs Of the law namely The second day of july 1862
1t then administered to the following named Sena-
tors: Me. BowdeD, Buckalew, Morgan, Sprague,
Wrigh, Morrill,, Wade, Sumner, Dixon, Hicks, Chandler,
and HarGing.
Mr.. JOHNSON explained, according to bis interpre-
tat0n OF the Constitution Senator not civil ocpr
and therefore did not fall within the limits Of the statute
and besides the act retrospective in it's operation He,
however, lad not the slightest becLon take the OATH
IL wa accordingly administered
Mr. HENDRICKS, adopting the explanation Of the
Senator from Maryland, also subscribed to it.
Me,srs DoOLirTLE aid BAYARD (re-eected since the
passage of the iaw) alb ent from the chan aud
Messrs. RAMSEY and CONFESS have not yet reached
Washington
M.ssrs. SUMNER and JOHNSON had short colloquy
about their respective views.
Mr. SUMNER withdrew his resolution, its purpose hay
ing been accomplished
And then the Senate adjourned