Daily Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1865-1869, 1865-09-18
RICHMOND WHIG.
MONDAY MORNING.. SEPT. Is, 1865.
THE CONGRESSIONAL TEST OATH.
KING GEORGE COUNTY, September l3, 1865.
Tn IIis ErceILn1icl L II Petrnn:ut

KING GEORGE COUNTY, September l3 1865.
To His ErceHency +. II. PeirPoint.
Gorcrnor Of Virginia
sr-It is deeply to be deplorcd that, whilst the
re pie OF Virginia are striving, in good faith, to
renew their ieaty 10 the Union of the States ard
to enjoy its benefits obstacle exists which
may deprive them of representation in one Gf no.
both Houses of Congress.
] ooking to the Constitution OF the United
States as his guide, the undersigned. when asked
by portion of his fellow citiz3us 10 offer his SER
vices to represent them in Congress did not enter
tain nor does he row the least doubt of his eigi-
bility The % ecton Of the lsJ article prescribes
every qualification, or r.ther disqualification, and
no lower can prescribe any othef, so .ong as the
present Constitution exists, without amendment
in this particular.
No person shall BE- a representative who shall
not have attained 10 tie age Of twenty-five years,
and been seven years citizen OF the United
States ard who shall mo-, VIXEN elected 10 an
inha ab.tans of that State in which lie shall be
chosen"
The fifth section OF The same article, which pre-
scribes. leach House shall be the Judge OF the
elections returns ard qualifications OF It's own
members was not designed 10 give p woT 10
Congress TO crlain other qualifications, but Lim
ply l. determine who was legally elected, and 90
decide between contestants Tor the same seat.
ANY other construction would give power to 20
gress 10 pre- cribe any other Disqualification what
sOeyer-a pr0vi-ion for instance, that members
shall possess a certain annual income-or shalt
profess or disavow certain religious iaith-or
any other accumIstye - the briet Pr visions ol
the second section above cited.
The Yogers Of Congress are enumerated plainly
in the Constitution. There is none giving au-
thority 10 prescribe tie Qualifications OF It's mei"-
bprs-tbcse are estab ished By the Consli, utiOu
itself No power to this el5Ct can De- s! o"n. 1t
does not exist ans, therefore, by the tenth arti-
Gle of the Amendments, this is among the
uoWerg not delegated 90 the United States, but
reserved 10 the States respectively OF to tie pco
ple," and he exercised only by amending the Coz
stituton In the mode therein prescribed.
During the excitement OF the recen. strife be-
tween the North ana South, au ACT Of Concross.
or a Joint Resolution. vas passed, IMPOSING DIS
qualifications 9on those claiming seatS in Don-
gress additional to those prescribed by the Const-
futon. II was TO shat OGt from the nails ot Con-
gress Northern men supposed to syGpathi2e WIN
the South in is STR gyl-. 1t was not easCed iof
Southern meu, because there were nSnc upon
whom il could operate. IL is not therefor, to De
expected that the next Congress will allow II to
stand as barrier to exclude from lis halls every
Southern mSa IL is uniya sally admitted, that
tu!s must he It's necessary effect. II VIII certainly
dsrr!ye the First Congressional District oil rep
reseptatiye in the House. \ distinguished legal
gentleman gives il as his cOnsderate opinion, that
the only inciyiluali Of his large col'ty wno could
take the test oath prescribed py tins act are two
men whom he saved within the two last years
from the summary punishment which their crane
merted.
the Southern States 10 representation, ITS first act
must be to remove this XistDg barrier. It would
be unjust ard ungenerUGs TO Impute to 1t any
other pufpose Ii is fair to infer that the States
Of the North will welcome the states OF the South
to the National fraternity with cordlalty and
good viii. Thcse are, IN good faith, taking the
.r.ar aiflgT4 q
Union. Let the North, in like good falth- well
come them g. the floors OF Congress.
Your EXcellenCy knows that Virginia las never
swerved from " hat She cOnce!Te' u he her dufy.
I; IS conceded universally, that her present duty s
TO restore and to maintain the Union ofthe states.
She is now pursuing his course, and with no lac
tious spirit of any sort. Her citizens are striving
% represent her on the t5or OF Congress in order
TO cement this Union; sympdlhiZng with you IN
your own patriotic laboI5 to effect this good, snd
.eady to give efficient aid 10 the Chiei Magistrate
in the conduct of his delicate and arduous duties
with 10 other view, is the undersigned Il candi'
date to represent this strict in Congress. The
same patriotic spirit which induced Inn to enter
the field would now impel nim II Withdraw, If
any good result could follow. But as the case
now stands, he humbly suggests TO your Excel
lencv that the continuance OF candidates in the
field would be less harmful than their withdrawal,
inssmuch as the inevitable result of this cour
wou ne to dep i've the Sta'e 0l representation,
and 10 defer indefinitely The renewal olthe Union,
for il is obvious there can be no Union without
representation.
The undersigned is iupe'ied to submit these
views your EXcoi!ency in yindcation Of him
self and many Others inspired by like patriotic
motives, and to invoke your influential interposi-
tion with the National au horItes 10 remove
barrier which impeoeS the progress oi union ana
con .ord. The South is doing its part with per-
feet go, faith, and is too just to suppose thai
the like coed faith will Iot be Observed by the
Ncr,h. Upon different Hypothesis II would be
the parpose of the North no! to restore the Union,
but to defeat it.
With high consideration,
/ have the honor to he
Your ExcelleEcys ob't ssry't
ED. 4. TAYLOE.