The Nashville daily union. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1862-1866, 1864-02-18
From The Knozr!IIs Wing. Fse. la.h.
Of the-Amnesty Oath

TheiVirtue Of theAmnestY Oath.
Much contrariety of opinion has exist
ed and still exists in regard TO the change
effected in the status of the rebel citizen
upon taking the oath prescribed by the
President as condition precedent to his
pardon. 1t has been thought By many
that the oath possessed both q present
and retroactive virtue, By which the
Juror secured not only reinstatement in
his citizenship, and consequently, full
protection IN future, but also a guaranty
of indemnity for all losses he msY have
sustained at the hands of the Govern
ment during the period Of his aliensge
from, or rebellion against it. This doc
trine so popular with repentant rebels,
and too readily assented to By numbers
of loyal men, we have never cOncurred
in. To accept it. is to agree that the
United States Government shall make
good the losses incurred by the rebels in
consequence of their own rebellious con-
duct, and offer = premium under the
semblance of pardon, for past dis
loyalty.
But we are spared the labor of =
further discussion of this question. We
have an official, if not an authoritative
settlement of it in the very pointed and
and positive letter addressed by Col
Keith, Acting Provost Marshal General
of East Tennessee, TO q citizen of this
place. The letter will be found in
another column and the careful perusal
of it may save many persons the trouble
of preparing, and the officials tue tedium
of listening to their demands sgaiEst
the Government for compensation. Oar
readers will no doubt think Col. Keith "a
plain, blunt man" in very trutb,-such
as the times demsnd-snd they can but
admire the "inex0rable logic" that forces
his conclusions. To all sOgrowing rebels
who may not like his decision we have
only to say-.make the most Of il! We
would, meanwhile, commend to all such
the problematical task of restoring rights
that have had no previous existence; and,
in the meantime, would tenderly suggest
to others that neither the President, nor
Congress has yet abrogated that inesti-
mable right-'he right to Be hung for
treason"
P. S. Since being furnished with the
letter above referred to, we have received
from Col. Keith the two following dOou-
ments since received at his office--the
one from the Office of the War Depart
ment, the other from the Quartermaster
Generals Office at Washington. They arc
conclusive upon the question discussed
by Col Keith and fully c0Troborate bis
position.
QUARTERMAsTER GENERALS OFFICE.(
Washington, D. c., Jan. II, 1864.
CAPTAIN E. B. WHrTMAE,-Asst Quar-
te7aqster, Knorvile, Tennessee Captain:
In reply to so much of your letter of the
14th ultimO, as relates TO paying accounts
for purchases made from parties in re-
belIion, or disloyal 10 the Government,
you are informed that nOpAyments should
be made TO such persons.
As to what would be considered sufi
Gent evidence Of loyalty, no specific in
structions can be given There are so
many cases of simulated loyalty pre-
sented in connection with claims, that
the mere taking the oath of allegiance is
not of itself sufficient proof Of loyalty
OhfSs5 your hHOHAeubo Vi Suo parry C1E-
rOborates the letter and spirit of the
oath, you should have the evidence Of
we'll known and undOubtsd loyal men
to support it, before paying money 70
persons whose loyalty has been ques-
toned.
Very respectfully,
Your obedient servant,
By order. CBAs. THOMAS,
Asst Q. II General