Washington telegraph., 1865-06-07

To- having fSifoleu O. an electlon
by the people in this State, Or in any
other of the United States, or in any Of
their Territories. or held Office in thi.
state. or in any other Of the United
States, or in any of their Territories, or
under the United States. shall thereafter
have sought or received, undsr calm Of
allegiance, the protection Of any forigu
government, through any consul Of other
officer thereof, in order to secure an er
smption from military duty in the mill.
tia Of this State, or in any other Of he
United States."
Tbs submission Of this to the people is mad,
a farce, which would be amusing but for its
grave importance. The very people to be .f.
fected by it are excluded from voting by tb,
following oath which is required to be taken:
81, A b, do solemnly swear thatI,n
well acquainted with the terms Of III.
third section of the second Article Of n.
Constitution of the State of Nilsson
adopted by the Convention which a.
sembled in the city of It. Louis, on the
9th day OF January, eighteen hundred
a1d six y-hve, and have carefully con.
sidered the same; that have never, ii.
rectly or indirectly, done any of the acts
in said section spec frd; that have al.
ways bs-n truly and Loyalty On the side
OF the United States against all enemies
thereof, foreign and domestic; that will
bear true faith ard allegiance to The
United States, and will support the Con-
and FL g Il
Law of the land, any law or ordrnancs Of
any State TO the contrary notEithstsnd.
ing; that l will. 20 the best Of my ability.
protect and defend the Union rf ths
United States, and not allow the sama 10
be broken up and dissolved, or the Gov
ernment thereof TO be destroyed or over
thrown, under any circumstances. II Ir
my power TO prevent il; and that max.
tins oath without any mental rrsery alton
or evasion, and hod II to DC binding OIL
me"
Ws earnestly desire the paei1ca,io4 Of or-
sister State IS well as our own, ia; Loy. iL,p,.
ltticai enslavement Of large portion of h-r free
population, before conviction, and fo- crimes
many Of them unknown to the existing LAVE, il
TO accomplish il, we st less 10 determine
What We have 10 say here Is not intended o.
expected 20 affect the conduct OF Missour;ars
now nor hereafter But A. similar causes nsv
produce ike effects in other Souther, States. !.
- hei improper TO call the minds Of all our pco
Pie, OF all parties TO serious consideration Of
the principles Of government, and Of hurnauns.
ture involved in these proceedings. Now tiu
the South mas failed in the last resort OF slpsc
pie, it becomes them gracefully to susuit to
the arbitTanent of the sword. As one p4rY0r
the other must necessarily have been overcome,
there Ia no dishonor in such q course Il FOL-
lows neIt thai the utmost possible harmony
should be restored, and old animosities Be- ba.
ned Governments should certainly be re-Or.
ganized with this view. Constitutions frsrsd
in haste, and manifestly affected by spirit Of
resentment are not apt to be most wisely adapt
ed to ttis purpose Most especially if thew 10
Supposed to be unjust and oppressive upon q
proud people, already Inundated more or less
by defeat.
1Ae history Of democracies teaches us thatit
is dangerous experiment at any time 10 cur
taii the elective franchise. by deprivng any
class OF Its exercise who formerly enioyed it.
Most especially is it So whilst the minds Of nrn
are subject to the most infammatory excitement
The elective franchise has a natural tepdencrts
enlarge itself, and reach new classes. elerstng
them to new privileges We are unable indeed
to recall single instance in which large classes
have been disfranchised, except on conviction
OF some definite crime We sincerely hope the
people (or rather the constant Union mem Of
Missouri will not now make the experiment.
Those affected by it will not be reconciled
large number Of them honestly believed in a'
night OF secession. They are net conscious 81
moral surpitude. They are willing to reinqalf
1t now To take the oath Of allegiance and oO
serve it faithfully henceforth We think thI
should be enough at least for the rank and NE