Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1864-12-29
CONG r Z S S.
Special oAIHs FOR TEE CITIZENS OF
WASHINGTON.
In the Senate, en- the 2lst December, the FOL
lowing resolution was called up:

lowing resolution was called up;
P,o,psd That the COMMITTEES on the Dsrc, Of Columbia
re- instructed 10 into The e1pediency ana poPsb ~
requiring all RESIDENTS OF inc ~ I'D Derrt an ooth Of
neuIance or fidelity the Cover nmen OF inc oien States
y, IN. cath touired by law OF Members and Senators
- rrss. and other officers OF the Government and also
The q, Ssdiepcy and poprety OF pronoDg a persons from
me- ns % Psss in said District with the several Depart
@ - rho Government who have not or may not take aud
Az inch oath ard that said COMMITTEES have eaYeto report
by bill or otherWise'3
Mr.. SUMNER. wish to thank the Senator from Iowa
49, introducing this proposition, and at the same time 10
IN The attention Of the Senate to bill which ls on their
sIendar hch had the honor OF introducing at the last
session. but which, for some unaccountaoe reason IN
enown 10 me- has been reported upon adversely by the
Committee on the Judiciary requiring that same oath to
81 taken by the practitioners in The courts OF the United
States told that there are lawyers IN the city OF
washington who decline to practice IN the courts here be-
sna ttev are unwilling to take the oath which you
have taken and which the Chief Justice OF the United
States only the other day took before ne entered upon his
nctions; and vet these lawyers aunt in the SUI
Court of the United States. That ought to be
stopped and give notice therefore that carrying OUT
the spirit of the resolution of the Senator from lows
bs ask the attention Of the Senate as soon as possible 10
MT SALISBURY. 1t is not my intention to discuss
AZ snv length this resolution would take that oath my
elf yerv Willingly although believe, as far as relates
tanbara nj Congress il is wholly unconstitutional.
do moi oh ect to it. far 1t could relate To myself be-
cause OF any thing other than ts unconsutionay but
oard;t lboud OF those acts OF uDneces
rnrs.sIon on the part Of the Government which in
times lie these ought TO be avoided Is there any ev
dence before this Senate that the old inhabitants Of this
ctn those of them who are living here, have given any
ouhe TO this Government even TO this Administration
Ihey are without voice IN the Government, and they
have been sitting quietly at home dong naught as appears
from sny evidence, that is wrong toward this Govern
nent and shall not this Administration and its supporters
ust coming into power sgan flushed with victory and
dreaming perhaps of the perpetuaon OF their power Tor
10 come satisfied with present victory over poll
.l onppneD but shall they pursue them into the quiet
walks OF hfe seek out the heightened honorable men and
women Of this city and compel them TO subscribe to any
form of oath that may be dictated by member OF this
Senate or by supporter OF this Administration by
BODY else When man is quietly pursuing his business,
viii you not LET him rest IN peace ne Is dong naught
against you will yeu hunt him down WIN you try 10
drive him out from The community
Sir do not say that the honorable Senator who inro
duced this resolution meant 1t an act OF oppression but
lis such in It's aud IN It's character and ought
not IN be tolerated by this Senate The honorable Sena
tor must very high appreciation OF the enemies OF
this Government whom he regards as traitors he sup
posa. that simple oath would bind them Does the hon
prsble senator think that who would be guty of
treason would be bound by an oath What is the object
therefore, of introducing II
Sir when frat 10 this city six years ago. the
nopuation IN it very different from what it 10
Geptemen engaged here in business it may be, enVed
of their BY persons from distant States and dis
ant sections of the country, who think they living
and who suppose that by their removal from
busess their private stores viii be Increased III the
object be- therefore TO give TO the supporters OF this Ad
n,n,traton all The business Of this city, II il be 10 drive
op1 every body from this city who Will amely and qui-
ety subj TO take any and every oath which may be
senled them that be the object submit that the Sen
sor oupbt 10 reflect before he attempts TO force
the passage of such measure through this body. Re
QardDQ II simply act OF oppression, believing that
eorsbe good but only evil result from it, shall
tent myself simply Directing TO lie passage and
cordIg my vote in opposition TO IT,
Mr.. HARLAN ] think the Senator from Delaware
nsspprehends the purpOrt Of the resolution. 1t only
resolution utructng the committee TO make inquiry
mi. subject 1t is barely possible that the committee
elV IN any lpQiRl am frank IN
,taIs however that think some such legislation s
.ary and ought be had 1t not intended to require
oppnpepts OF the Administration per TO take oath OF
fidelity TO the Administration as political organization,
but an oath fidelity 10 the Government Itself during the
eIist-uce Of giganuc rebellion. am inclined TO think
th,t casual listener the speech OF the SenstOr would
snnnose that be regarded himself implicated in the 10
uiry; that because be opposed some OF The political mes
ures Of the Administration therefore he must be consd
red "A An opponent of the Government itself and there
fore is 10 alliance in sympathy with the rebels He
argues 40 supposed all opponents oil The Admnstra
ton were rebels spprehend that Senator ths floor
yroud maintain for q moment that alien enemy has
rh m remain here and do business capital the
nation in time Of war and that the Government would have
no right 10 Of the necessary means to expe him
And II 40 why may the Government eIpel from the
capital domestic enemy during the existence Of crest
armed rebelhonl The right to do 80, 10 my opinion, IL
clear The only question OF e1pedency and pro-
nriatv / do not think such legislation be properly
denonnated measure Of persecution against political op
popepts OF the party power; and think the Senator
doe. hmse aud bs political friends gross injustice IN
sire the mass OF the people Of this country to understand
that he and bis political associates are opponents OF the
oyerument OF the United States and sympathy aud
alliance with the rebels And yet be argues ~ bis
Judgment opposition to the rebels IN way detr.
mental 10 the Democratic party But II that IS noe what
be means bis whole speech is without pertinence.
think this inquiry would be well enough, and in my
opinion such legislation would be proper The committee
NAV differ with me in opniOD and If the committee should
apree with me in opinion, majority OF the Senate might
differ with me. think that evil at leIst grow out
~ tha i therefore
resolution.
Mr. SALISBURY. Mr. President, shall make re-
ference TO the personal illusions Of the honorable Senator
10 myself If he really panied at the idea that by any
remarks have made public suspicion or even private
pciop may be aroused that not true to the Govern
ment Of the United States and IN sympathy with those
whom he styles rebels let tell him that his sympathy
lie wasted. Those who choose TO regard me and my pO
cal associates in sympathy with rebellion are welcome
to the indulgence of their very charitable opinion shall
do naught as member Of this body IN private life 70
remove any such suspicion from their minds know very
well the distinction between the Government OF the United
States and the Administration at the present time know
they are asunder the poles that they approach
each other than heaven and earth approach each
other but know the doctrine attempted to be nculcated
At present day large number Of people in this coun-
try aDd by very influential press that the Government 10
the Administration and the Administration s the Govern
ment see no objection all proper occasions to any
man and every man the United States taking oath to
support the Government the United States aud the Con-
stuton Of the United States But sir the honorable Sen
ator does not live the section that some OF us do lie
progress these have made
he has not heard announced perhaps we have that
10 tatorous 10 oppose the acts OF tue Administration 10
fnAs ha Ia Eaa haar yntQr N