The Norfolk post. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 1865-1866, 1865-10-03
The Test Oath in Missouri.

4
| st. Louis papers publish two imp0r
| prescribed by the Constitution of the
State, and which is now enforced by the
| arrest of clergymen, lawyers and school
teachers, who have neglected to take it.
These letters are written by Hon. Il.
Gratz Brown and Rev. Henry \. Mel
son, both well known radicals, and adj
dressed to the Governor Of the State
Mr.. Brown writes as follows:
ST. Louis, Sept Il, 1865.
G0vEpyoR-I inclose you a letter from
Rev. Henry A. Nelson of this city, now
temporarily absent in the city of New
York, which has been sent to my careto
| be delivered to you on your return from
the East. 1t comes from one who has
been eminent for his loyalty throughput
the rebellion--eminent both as thinker
and as Il worker, not only in the walks
of private life, but also in the line of his
ministerial duty-and who has done as
much to vindicate the true principles Of
freedom and Union as any man i'll Mis-
souri,. | therefore the more cordially
commend his letter to your careful. con-
sideration. You will see that the pro-
vision in one of the clauses of the'New
Constitution, requiring the quailiea-
lions of an oath from ministers of the
Gospel, involves other matters than
the mere question of 'disloyaity. rms
no one perhaps would have failed
to recognize but for the excited state
of public feelings consequent. on
the rebellion. The protest, however,
OF such men as Or. Nelson, anu others
[ could name, is in itself sufficient proof
that the bearing of the requirement. runs
deeper than some aliege, and trepcnes
anon what many believe to be their lib
ertv of conscience as regards the minis
terial function. Under snch circum-
stances. and invested as you are with
authority to stay or remit the execution
| of nenalties, it will be for you to deter
mine how far respect shall be had by the
| executive of our State for that liberty
| of conscience when it deems itself in
| vaded. and when in 10 wise connected
with disloyal courses. For my own pari
| + feel if right to say to you that / am moi
one of those who believe the present
| Constitution to be perfect instrument
and | shall be glad to see it amended il
several important respects at an earl,
day as practicable and, especially, il
all those respects that place Limitations
upon the right of suffrage predicated OIL
| distinctions of race and color, and tina
undertake to re-establish i'll our LAM
the connection between Church an
State, and to use the power of til
latter to purge the former, throug
the instrumentality of test oaths.-
oaths. am devoted to civil and rel
gious liberty on principle, and canno
consent to violations of either, no mai
ter how dear they may be to the ruins
prejudices of the time, and ii IS the III
tial of such infractions that should o
opposed, for when once hedged aoou
by other interests, and connected eve
in imagination with the retentiom "
political power, they become dlii nc sto J,
uproot. What is required by tne 30.
to-day as qualification Tor pLe n'gad y
may tomorrow be further eAte ad "a =
! a Qualification for worship; anu u,
state, undertaking to say WHO may WIl
: shin nnblicly. and who may not, mgr
0o I stem f1rther, requiring all to wol
sbT and prescribing the mode OF t n,
v,nTpS,h in There is no assurance again
snch ending, except the repression
s'i o beoNning. Standing, as l q
for antire. absolute liberty of conscien
W 10, oSo N a total severance between Chur'
ond State-for the right of each man
= approach God, in behalf of himself al