Daily Ohio statesman. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1855-1870, 1863-03-05
The Abolition Oath Bound Clubs or AS
sOciatiOns

One of the tricks resorted to by the Aboli-
tionists to keep themselves and their party In
power and to further carry on and perfect their
partisan measures, is the formation OF political
oath-bound clubs or societies. The Cincinnati
Gasstte OF the 81 Inst. publishes the Constitu-
tion. Obligation and By. laws of such an associ-
alton recently formed in that (tiamilton) county,
preceded by an address to the "loyal citizens
Of the State Of Ohio" by persons Atyling them
selves Executive Committee OF Hamilton
county" The address recommends "the loyal
men of the State to organize themselves into
county and township societies and leagues"
upon the same plan, and invites correspondence
upon the subject.
The Constitution pledges the members to sus-
tain the Federal Government, meaning the
present Administration, against all its enemios
et home or abroad, to sustain the said Govern =
ment, or Administration, in ALL its measures
arbitrary arrests, Abolition edIcts, armiDg ne
groes, defiance of State Constitutions and
laws, ETC., all included-for putting down the
EouoiiUus hb uhu ptObcuSO VI
putting out fire that is consuming bis neigh
boris dwelling, pour upon it ingredients that
will only add to the fury of the flames; SO, these
Abolitionists under the well affected mask of
putting down the rebellion, are striving and
conspiring to put an end to the Union.
The obligation to be taken on becoming q
member Of this bogus Union Association is, as
prescribed in its Constitution as follows:
OBLIGATION.
do solemuly swear (or affirm that | will
support, protect and defend the Constitution and
Government Of the United States against all
enemies, whether domestic or foreign, and that
will bear true faith, allegiance, and loyalty,
to the same, any ordinance, resolution or Law OF
any State convention or Legislature, to the con-
trary notwithstanding; and, further, that do
this with q full determination, pledge and pur.
pose, without any mental reservation or evasion
whatsoever-so help me God.
Some may be deceived by it, as it is the In
tention of its contrivers to catch the unwary;
but no man with his eyes open can fail to un-
derstand the intent and meaning of the first
part of the above oath and how 1t will be inter-
preted by those who will control these political
associations. They will be managed and be
under the strict guardianship Of men who make
Aboltionism and loyalty to mean one and the
ssme thing, and who are sworn enemies to q
restoration Of the Union with slavery in 1t, such
as our fathers made IT, They know that to at
tempt the sudden and Wholesale destruction Of
that institution is no less than war upon the
Union itself; yet they will not desist from their
malignant partisan and sectional designs, but
will bind unsuspecting men by oath to aid in
carrying them out,
The second clause In the oath exhibits
most revolving feature. Civil and military Of
fnaFs in Ohm required to tako an oath OF
office and to support the Constitution Of the
United States and of this State. Every one
understands that the National Constitution Ia
the supreme law, and that all provisions in
State ConstItut;ons.or State laws prohibited by
it to the States are void. But the oath pre-.
scribed by the political society named above
introduces q new word" the Government"
which Abolitionlats interpret to mean the Ad
ministratIon--and binds the members to "sup
port, protect and defend" the Administration
"sgainat all enemies, whether domestic or Or
eign," to "bsar true faith, allegiance and 10y.
atty" to the Administration, "any ordinance,
resolution or Law, of any State Convention or
Legislature, to the contrary Notwithstanding. I"
The object Of thus swearing in members is
obvious. Ii is to make the States and people
subseFvient In all things to 3 central despotism
at Washington. Il Ia to crush ont State
rights and State individuality so far as these
may conflict with the ultimate deagns of the
party in power. The argument is that States
must yield before the /" war power" Of the Ad-
minststion. The wise and genuine lovers of
American constitutional liberty, State as we'll
as National, will take heed and warning.