The Placer herald. [volume] (Auburn, Placer County, Calif.) 1855-1991, 1863-03-28
MARK THE USURPERS.

Oath making has always been faV0rltc TlcK
with bigoted, corrupt, inlolerant revoutionists.
The French Revolution presents scenes Of oath
making and oath taking. which oaths men vio-
lated as surely as taken, until all respect for
such obligations were lost upon the people.
The civil wars of Great Britain were no less
fruitful of such evils. As parties changed, the
oath changed. The dominant party for the time
! forced the minority to swallow any extra judicial
oath they might hatch up.
Those who called on God to witness their dcvo-
tion and truth to Charles |, beheaded him, aud
placed Cromwell in the Protectorate.
Among the statesmen and warriors who bore
chief part in restoring to the throne OF England
Charles the Ii, were very many who had repeat
! eddy ahjured him,-nay, some of them boastiully
affirmed if they had not a1iured him, they never
could have restored him. TIE solemn league
and covenant. a test of the days of Cromwell.
WAS Il few years after its vitality burned by the
common hangman amidst the huzzas of thousands
who themselves subscribed it. Those who plight
ed their allegiance in the most solemn manner to
james the II, plotted his downfall and placed
William and Mary at the head of the Legitimate?
government The chronicler of those events, in
speaking to posterity of them says do not
hatter yourselves that the ingenuity of lawgivers
will ever devise an oath which the ingenuity of
causists will not evade. What indeed is the
value of any oath in such 4 matter? Among the
many lessons which the troubles of the last gene
ration have left us, none is more plain that this,
however precise, no imprec0ton, however awful,
ever saved or ever will save government from
destruction"
This is the teaching of history, but it is also
the teaching of history that ignorant, intolerant
rcvolutonists will never be benefited by such
learning.
The most violent sccessionist black or white,
may float between the camps of the contcnding
armies in the Atlantic States by taking the test
oath at each black mith's shop he passes In the
North. they have, in some instances, added the
gratuitous injury and insult to such of the pris
oners as they have released test oaths from
the Bastiles, clause 10 the effect that the swear
er will not prosecute for false imprisonment, the
parties instrumental in perpetrating the wrong
upon them.
The people of this State seem destined to
pass this moral scourging of ianatlcism. We
have test oath laid down in our Constitution and
it is expressly declared by the same instrument.
that no other test shall be required.
A bill has been introduced embracing the fol-
lowing test oath to be taken in our Courts and
by attorneys practicng therein:
Il. -, do solcmnly swear that l will sup
port the Constitution of the United States and
the Constitution Of the State of California; that
will bear true faith and allegiance to the Gov
ernmcnt of the United States any ordinance.
resolution or law of any State or Territory OF of
any Convention or Legislature thereof, to the
contrary Notwithstanding; that | have not since
the (here insert the date of the passage of the
Act knowingly aided. encourag ed, couutenanced
or assisted nor will hereafter aid, encourage,
countenance assist the so called ''Confederate
States or any Of them, in their rebellion against
the lawful Government of the United States; and
this | do without any qualification or mental
reservation whatever so help me God"
The bill passed the House under 4 suspension
of the rules, and will probably pass the Senate
and receive the sanction Of the Governor
"Smith, of Butte OF wardrobe bribery notoriety,
and who says he is a lawyer, urged the passage
of il. j. W. Owen. of Santa Clara, he who de-
cared negro barber in his county, the superior
of Oue-third OF the members of the Assembly,
grew eloquent in favor of it, Sanderson, of Ell
Dorado lawyer, and aspirant for seat on the
Supreme Bench, went in might and main for it.
These men-Owen eXcepted-well knew when
they voted for the BILL that they were voting for
law which violates that Constitution they had
sworn, when they took their seats, to hold sacred.
If Mr.. SandersOn expects to advance himself in
the respect Of citizens, as candidate for Judicial
position by giving such palpal lie proofs OF his
utter contempt of the highest and most sacred
obligations, he makes great mistake. man
who will disregard the rights OF the citizen as
Legislator will not hesitate to violate the same
oath when on the Bench. This will be the rea-
soniug OF the people OF ali parties, and we predict
the gentleman has cooked his goose"
Lest we should be accused of partiality to
these worthless we will give the other lawyers
and solons !of the Assembly. the benefit OF the
! record of the vote given on the OCCASION
! On the passage OF the bill the ayes and noes
! were ordered. and the vote resulted:
| Ayes Adams Addison, Ames Andrews Banks,
Barclay, Barsow, Barton, Beeson, Blanchard,
Butler, Chappcl Clark, Collins Crawford, Davis,
Dodge, Dorc, Dudley OF Solano. Duncombc,
! Dunno Fitch Gunnson, Harrington Harrison,
Haswell, Irwin, Keys. Kincaid Lux Martin,
Moore. Meyers, Orr. J. j. Owen, J. W Owen,
Palmer. Pcrsonette, Rider Robinson, Rule, San
derson, Sargent, Scott, Sears, Simpson, Smith of
| Butte. Smith of Sierra, Sutton, Torrance, Wheat
on, Whpple. Wilson. Wright of Contra Costa,
Wright of Del Nortc, Mr.. Spcaker-57.
Noes-Allen, Freeman, kcwen, Robertson,
| Swift. Waker-6.
So the bill was passed.