The Ashland union. [volume] (Ashland, Ashland County, Ohio) 1854-1868, 1864-10-26

the voters is the taking of the following
oath, provided the affirmation of the oatl
shall not be disproved by other testimony
'I solemnly swear that will hence
forth support the Constitution of thu
United States, and defend it against the
assaults of all enemies that / am an &C
tive friend of the Government of tn
United States, and the enemy of the 90
called Confederate States ) that 1 ardent
ly desire the suppression Of the present
rebellion against the Government of the
United Sta :es; that / sincerely rejoice
in the triumph Of the armies and navies
Of the Unired States, and in the defeat
and overthrow Of the armies, navies, and
of all armed combinations in the interests
of the SO called Confederate States, that
l will cordially oppose all armlstlces OF
negotiations for peace with rebels in arms
until the Constitution of the United
States and all laws and proclamations
made in pursuance thereof shall be estab-
lished over all he people of every State
and Terrific, embraced within the Ma
rional Union, and that I will heartily aid
and assist the loyal people in what meas
ure may be adopted for the attainment OF
these ends; and further, that I take this
oath freely and voluntarily and without
mental reservation. So help me God"
Now, as the conservative platform de-
clares in faVcr of negotiations for peace
upon the basis of the Union, so soon as
the rebels are willing ito accept peace up
on that basis, and as General Mcclellan,
the conservative candidate for. the Presi-
dency, approves the declaration Of the
platform, the prescribing of this oath is
virtually requiring every voter, asa con-
dition of his exercise of the right of suf
frage, TO sieear- that he ,riW not vote for
Gen. Nc C1ellan This requirement would
o nthave been palmer if it had been made
in terms. The oath DISTINGUISHES every
Nc Clellan voter in Tennessee. Such is
its design. And such of course
will be its effect.
And all this, be 1t observed, in the
face Of the fact that Mr. Lincoln less
than three months ago sent Horace Cree
y to Niagara for the express purpose of
bringing rebel commissioners to WASH
ington with the view of opening "nego-
tiations for peace with rebels in arms"
the effect falling only because the repu-
ted commissioners of the rebels turned
but t, be no com mmissioners, and, further
more. in the face of the conspicuous fact
hat Mr.. Lincoln, on the failure of the
effort we have mentioned, forthwith made
| public and formal offer to open "nego-
iations for peace with rebels in arms"
ind only with "rebels in arms" which yet
stands ready for the acceptance of such
'ebels whenever they say the word, the
Inference in this respect between Mr.,
Lincoln and General Mcclellan being,
hat, whereas Mr.. Lin colin offers to open
regulations upon the basis of the de-
truction of slavery, General Mcclellan
,ffers to open negotiations upon the basis
If the preservation of the Union. This
8 the difference. And it assuredly is a
vide one. But it is altogether in favor
# General Mcclellan. If favoring "ne-
,otiations for peace with rebels in arms"
S disloyal, Mr.. Lincoln is much older
md ranker offender than General McCIel-
an is, so that tie oath in question, if ad-
ninistered impartially, would disfranchise
lot only every Mcclellan voter in Ten
'essee, but every Lincoln voter 1t of
curse will not be permitted to have any
uch effect, however. Though the oath is
oublc barrelled, it is single charged, and
8 leveled exclusively at the Mcclellan |
oters. But the shameful inconsistency |
re have pointed out here is simply an
gcravation of the enormity of Lincoln |
nd johnson IN the case.
The enoIn-ity consists in the naked at
empt of Lincoln and johnson to manu-.
icture electoral votes for themselves in
he name of State that, owing to their
'achinations, is incapable of lawful ac-
on on her behalf. And this enormity |
, itself is so monstrous that its agg1ava
ons ara of little consequence The
mpIe statemet of the simple enormity Is
nficient to arouse the indignation of
very right minded citizen Of whatever
arty. Let he freemen of the Republic
,ark well this lasless and infamous ex-
edient to cleat them out OF their sufra-
es at the Presidential election next
,onth. Let them mark the expedient.
nd strike down its authors with the
freeman's weapon" at the polls.
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