The evening Argus. [volume] (Rock Island, Ill.) 1861-1871, 1865-11-11
General Blair Refuses to Take the New
Constitution Oath.

General Blair Refuses to Take the New
Constitution Oath.
General Frank p. Blair appeared yester-
day at the Sixth Ward poll, held at the en-
CINE house Washington Avenue, to re-
cord his vote. for the anti-constitution candi
dates for auditor and county court Judge
Peckham and Daley, when his ballot was
rejected by the judges of election, Messers
Stephen Ridgeley and John ). Thompson,
because the general refused to accept the
Drake infamy known the new constitution
oath, but offered instes of 1t an oath pre-
pared by himself covering the whole ground
of constitutional allegiance TO the United
States and the state of Missouri.
the scene was one of marked interest TO
the bystanders, and not unamusing, from the
contrast exhibited In the astonished and very
serious faces of the radical judges, aud the
composed and determined purpose as shown
On the brOnZed features of General Blair. Ii
! was evident to all present that the initiative
! was being taken to overthrow the Infamous
vi la'ion of great vested right-the right of
! franchise uushackled By the test outrage of
/ the new constitution.
General Blair, after waiting for several to
| cast their votes said 'Gentemen, | offer to
cast my vote, and am ready to prove to you
/ am twentv-one years of age, and have been
resident citizen of the state of Missouri for
/ over twenty years, and that | am otherwise
! qualified TO vote at the present electIon.-
Here is nv ballot 1.-THE general here present
en- to Judge Ridgeley his ballot.) l have
prepared and now offer you an oath of allgi-
! ance which | have subscribed and sworn TO.
| decline TO take the oath prescribed by the
new constitution of Missouri, and desire you
TO decide that | am entitled to cast my ballot
without taking said new constitution oath"
Mr. RidgeIey replied-'We can't decide
so, general, bu, mus. decide exactly the re-
verse" to which MIR. Thompson assented.
General Blair then said-"Gentlemen, |
equire you TO say whether my ballot is re-
jected only because | have refused to take the
ne constitution oath ?"
The Judges overwhelmingly so, for
no other rsason-becsuse you refuse to take
the constitution OATH
General Blair inquired, "Do you regard
/ me in all other respects qualified yo-
ter?''
Messrs Ridgeley and Thompson replied
Certainly, your vote is rejected upon that
ground, and that ground only"
The ballots for Messrs Peckham and Dali
ley were then folded by Mr.. Ridgeley and
marked by him rejected" and General
Blair quietly left the poll
The following is the oath as offered by
Genera! Blair. to be taken by him in lieu of
the new constitution oath:
|, Francis P. Blair, Jr. do solemnly swear that
will protect and defend the constitution of the
United States and OF the state of Missouri against
all enemies and ePPosers, whether domestic or
foreign; that | will bear true faith LOYALTY and
allegiance to the United States and will not di-
lectly or indirectly, give aid and comfort or
| countenance TO the enemies or opposers thereof,
nor OF the government of the state OF Missouri,
any Jaw. ordinance resolution of any s.ate con-
venuon or Legislature, or of any order organi-
ration, secret or otherwise, to the contrary not
outstanding and that do this with full and
honest determ alton, pledge and purpose faith
fully to keep and perform the same, without any
mental reservation evasion whatever; and that
do further solemly swear that will support the
constitut and laws of the United States, the
supreme law OF the land, any law or ordinance OF
any state to the contrary Notwithstanding; and
that WILL to the best OF my ability, protect and
defend the Union OF the United States, and not al
low the same to be broken up and dissolved or
the government thereof to be destroyed or over
thrown under any circumstances, if IN nv power
to prevent it; and make this oath without any
mental reservation or evasion, and hold It TO be
binding on me.
FRANEP P. BLAIR.
Sworn to and subscribed before me. a notary
public for the county of St. Louis, the 7th day OF
November, 1859.
A. }. MINOR, Mp.
[sEAl
General Blair was at the capture of Camp
Jackson, as colonel of the lst Missouri Infan
against the government of the state. He,
therefore, declined 70 swear that he was not
in arms as required by the new constitution.
lie rendered an oath of allegiance and 10y
atty to the government of the United Stat q
and To the state of Missouri. but this the
judges, acting under the infamous new con-
stitution, did not deem sufficient and fully up
10 the Draconiau theory, and the result is
known. This, however. Is only the begin
ming. General Blair has determined now to
test the power of the late convention to dis
franchise citizens by ex post facto laws and
attainders prosecuting them for acts inno-
cent, when done, and without judicial trial.
This il a question of vital import to the lib
critics, civil and religious. of the outraged
: people of this state, and will find its final
, ventilation in the supreme court of the Un'
ted States. In the meantime, as the initia-
; tive step. General Blair has instructed suit
: to be brought a. once against Messrs Ridge
, ley and Thompson, the judges of election in
I the sixth ward, for ten thousand dJllars dam
= ages for refusing bis vote.
; Ii this case should be decided In favor of
General Blair by the supreme court IF the
United States as there is very little doub
will be the case, suits will doubtless be insti-
; tuted by thousands whose votes have been
rejected BY ra'iIeal judges in this state.-T
, Louis Republican
Our Mistakes About Each Other.