Brownlow's Knoxville Whig, and rebel ventilator. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1863-1866, 1865-06-21
Judge Trlgg's Court.


In the last issue of our paper, in which this one
aorse concern was referred to, we stated that the
Test Oath prescribed by Congress for Attorneys
practising in United States Courts was being discus
ed, or gas on trial in the Court.
The oath prescribed in the act of Congress is in
the words following
Il do solemnly swear that have never volunta-
riy borne arms against the United States since
have been citizen thereof; that have voluntarily
given no aid, countenance, counsel or encourage
men 10 persons engaged in armed hostility thereto
that l have neither fought nor accepted nor at.
tempted 10 exercise the functions of any office what
over under any authority or pretended authority in
hostility TO the United States; that / have not
yielded voluntary support to any pretended gov
the United States, hostile inimical thereto and
further swear that 10 the best of my knowledge and
ability, will support and defend the Constitution
Of the United States against all enemies foreign and
domestic that will bear true faith and allegiance
to the same that take this obligation freely, with
out any mental reservation or purpose of evasion
So help me God
The SUBSTANCE OF this oath, required OF lawyers
practising in the Federal Courts, is that they haze
not rolaltar{y aided the late rebellion, Or rolt,ta-
Rig acknowledged the socalled Confederate gov
eminent. Judge Trigg decided that this law Of the
oO.7-os. Of tho United States is unconstitutional
nun ana Void, ~ ajmiited those LAWYERS 10 pruc.
Use in his Court who not only volHaftty gave aid
and comfort 10 the rebellion but were original Sc
cossionis,s and leaders of the rebellion in East Ten
uessee
We have not space to publish, in full the opinion
If Judge Trigg Ii would occupy about seven col
unns Of our paper.
The concluding portion Of the decision, or opinion,
we give herewith in his own language.
Upon the whole after no inconsiderabc labor, and
the most anxious inquiry and for the reasons stated
in the foregoing opinion, have arrived at the con-
clusion that the act OF Congress approved January
a. 1865, is repugnant 10 the Constitution of the
United States, and is therefore not a valid law.
This decision OF Trigg will not surprise the peo-
pie Of East Tennessee or of any other section, who
b.or tire nun, and we publish the result of his trial
.: the laws enacted by Congress simply because it
i. expected we will advise our reader, of what is
going on.
A stranger who could have heard Triggs furious
and vehement charge to the Grand Jury 10 indict
the senior Editor of this paper would have supposed
be was some pumpkins on enforcing the acts Of
Congress. Not SO with those who h,otc personally
he eminent ond Wnstrious patriot ~ who wears the
judicial ermine.
In hi charge against ". u. Brownlow, he de-
carcd that he was s,cor 10 enforce the La,cs and the
jurors were sworn TO enforce them. Therefore, il
was the duty of the jurors to find an Indictment
against Brownow for dsregardng law of Con-
gre5s,
The Judge can accumulate authorities after no
lnconsiderabe labor, and the most anxious inquiry
to establish the unconsttutionality of law which
injuriously affects his rebel and copperhead admir-
ers; one by which he hoped to break down or in.
jure the editor of this paper he regards as Aremu,
Ward would say, Con-ste-too-tin-al.
Much to the surprise and chagrin Of the eminent
patriot choSe erery thought is as pure as az 1agers
5.oth y he failed TO bully the grand jury of hi.
Court 10 lind bill against the editor of this paper
Several days since the grand jury of the Federal
Court Wa discharged, and the juror, departed for
their respective homes without making the present
inent which Triggs heart yearned for. The Court
Mt this writing has not adjourned, but will do so in
few days, when, we suppose, the Judge will depart
from Knoxville 10 relieve hs rebel friends nj Nash
Vile or Memphis, and charge against loyal men and
coufscaiion laws. The country would loose nothing
il be would depart to another world instead Of
Nashville Memphis. Some men have nobly
served their country by dying On the battlc-feld-
AL mon like Trigg would serve their country by
dying anywhere.
We don't know that he could ill any station there
with credit 10 hmself or profit 10 his employers, bu,
We suppose he could on the hypothesis Oh which the
fellow sold the "coOn dog He declared he "knew
bis dog 10 be good coon dog, and worth ten dol
lars, though he had never tried him in freeing
cocns' Said the man about 10 purchase a. If YOU
have never tried him, how do you kto,q him 10 be
good for this purpose. Well" said the dog man,
Il have tried him for everything in the world but
coon, and he has not been worth damn for any
thing. I suppose, therefore, he is good for coons"
Trigg has been tried for great many things, and
if he has shown himself useful or profitable for
good We are not aware of ii.
In East Tennessee with all loyal men, he is
played out Like Cromwell, he might well repeat
the soliloquy; Farewell long farewell ~ all my
greatness. As a Federal Judge he is swinde and
cheat upon a loyal community.
A very intimate personal friend OF Triggs says
the Judge was very much out of humor and very
much disguised with the jury because they would
not do as he ordered them. We don't know how
the jury felt about their incorruptbe Judge, but we
do know that ninety-nine out of every one hun