The Nashville daily union. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1862-1866, 1864-06-04
Questions and Answers.
The Press Of yesterday contains tie
follnrrirr

Does the l mon DeueYc, according 10
the authority Of Horace Maynard, that
q citizen of Tennessee, who takes the
oath Of Amnesty, thereby emancipates
his slaves, absolutely and forever
Does the Union think that the oath
Of Amnerty should entitle every one 10
vote, otherwise qualified under the
laws Of Tennessee
These two questions being answered,
the first in the negative, and the last IN
the affirmative, we will gladly hail the
Nashville Union "a a co-wOrker with.
ourselves in the important business OF
State restoration
The Press not only asks questions, but
IS kind enough to tell US h0sc 70 arsarer
hem. As we have frequently defined
our positions on both of these subjects,
we do 30 again cheerfully. Pardons,
and amnesties, are either absolute or
conditional and the proclamation of
the President is Of the latter character,
and both parties-the country through
its Executive, and the recipients Of par
don-are bound 10y its Professionally
all is provisions.
The applicant for the Amnesty stands
in the attitude Of a criminal He may
be prosecuted, and made to pay az the
penalties attached to treason; but if
he prefers to avoid them he can do so
By subscribing to the following oath:
81. --, do solemnly swear, IN
the presence of Almighty God, that !
viii hencefoFth faithfully support pro
teet and defend, the Constitution Of the
United States and the Union Of the
States hereunder, and that / viii in
like manner abide by and faithfully
support all acts Of Congress passed du-
ring the existing rebellion, with refer
ence to slaves, so long and so lar as not
repealed, modified, or held void by
Congress or by decision Of the Supreme
Court, and that / will in like manner
abide by and faithfully support all proc
lamations Of the President made du-
ring the existing rebellion, having refer
ence to slaves, 50 long and so far as not
modified or declared void by the Su
preme Court So help me God
When one takes that oath, he is GER
tainly bound by it; he agrees to abide
by, and faithfully support the laws
which declare the slaves Of traitors
free; and he cannot do this, without
carrying out its provisions. The eman-
cipation proclamation did not apply to
Tennessee, and therefore it is not ne
cessary to discuss its constitutionality
but of the constitutionality Of the con-
fiscation law, we entertain no doubts,
and therefore Tennesseans who accept
the Amnesty are bound by tin other
words, their slaves are free. We were
not aware, before, that Hon Horace
Maynard had given the opinion accred-
tied to him by the Press; and we are
happy to learn from our neighbor that
he stands on such solid footing.
And now in reference to the second
question. The people Of the United
States, through their agent, the Presi-
dent, are likewise bound by their part
Of the contract. They agree with the
pardoned traitor as follows:
And | do further proclaim, declare,
and make known, that whenever in
any of the States Of Arkansas, Ala
bama, Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi,
Tennessee, Georgia. Florida, SoutlfCar-
oil 4 g
persons, not less than one-tenth in
number of the votes cast in such State
at the Presidential election of the year
Of our Lord 1860, each having taken
the oath aforesaid, and not having since
violated it, and being a qualified voter
by the election law of the State exist
ing Immediately before the so-called
act of secession, and excluding all
Others, shall re-establish a State govern
ment which shall be republican, and
in no wise contrayening said oath, such
shall be recognized as the true govern
ment Of the State, and the State shall
receive thereundar the benefits of the
provision, which declares
that the United States shall guaran
tee TO every State in this Union n re-
publican form OF government and snail
protect each of them against invasion,
and on application Of the legislature, or
the executive, when the legislature can /
not be convened, against domestic yio-
lence
We hold, then, in brief that the man
who takes the amnesty proclamation,
agrees to free his slaves that is his
part Of the contract We also hold |
that a pledge has been given that he
shall on taking that oath, be allowed |
o.vote-be restored to all the rights Of
and the President is bound
to protect him in them. We assumed |
this position long since, and are now, as
ever convinced that it is the correct |
one.