The Jeffersonian. [volume] (Stroudsburg, Pa.) 1853-1911, 1865-01-19
GEN. BUTLER ON SECESSION CON-
SCIENCE"
Am Interesting Correspondence

GEN. BUTLER ON SECESSION CON
SCIENCE"
An Interesting Correspondence.
J The Norfolk New Regime publishes
the following correspondence -
"EAsTvILLE, Dec. 10, 1864.--Gensral;
will you allow me most respectfully to
appeal to your clemency ID behalf of three
cases Of nonjurors which, think, justly
merit your attention. They decline ia
king the oath of allegiance, not from OBJ
stinacy or any feeling of hostility to the
North, but their sympathies being with
their friends and relatives in Virginia,
they cannot look upon the oath but as
perjury mistaken view, admit. l
have exhausted argument in vain to in
duce them to comply, but argument is
lost when it comes in the way of con-
science. Many pious Christian has suf-
fered at the stake for conscience sake.
"The first is that of young lady, Miss
Juliet Nottingham, who keeps here a
chiliren's school, living with au aged
mother, her only stay in life
"The second is young student of d.
viuity, whose great desire is to enter the
Theological Seminary in Pennsylvania.
''The third is that of three young men,
considering them as one case, named Cor
bin, two Of them mere lads, the support
Of an aged father, who has implored them
with tears to take the oath, but their answer
is Father, would you have US commit
perjury 2
The parties are nearly strangers to me;
my only motive for thus engaging in their
behalf is the hope of doing good.
every respectfully, your obedient SER
want, "F. A. SMITH.
"Major- Gen B. F. Butler
"H. G. CLARKE, Capt. and A. D. c."
Reply Of General Butler.
"HEAD-QUARTERs DEPARTMENT OF
VA. AND N. c., ARMY OF THE JAMES,
IN THE FIELD, VA, Jan. 2, 1865.-Sir:
[ have the honor to acknowledge the re-
ceipt of your communication in relation
to the cases of conscience in certain peo-
pie at Eastville, as therein set forth, who
have conscientious scruples against taking
the oath of allegiance to the United States.
"If their objection is to taking an oath,
then they may be admitted to their sol
emn affirmation but [ do not understand
you to put their cases upon that ground,
but that they have relatives and friends
in the South, and they think it would be
perjury to take the oath because of their
relations.
II do not understand their reasoning.
IF they are well disposed and loyal to the
United States Government, it is no mat
ter what their relatives are. If they are
not we'll disposed towards the United
States Government, then they have no
business to live under that Government,
and should go to some country to whose
Government they are well disposed
There is neither conscience nor honesty
in living under Government to which
they are hostile, receiving the benefit of
its protection and laws and returning no
equivalent.
"You say one of them is divinity stu
dent, and desires to go to Pennsylvania
Theological Seminary. To his case [ an
swer that he had better make himself
more thoroughly acquainted with his du-
ties under the human law befor he studies
the Divine law.
"You say that another is a young lady
teaching school, If she is so blind to her
own duties to her country she is not fit
teacher of others.
"Your other case is of three young
men who have been entreated by their
father with tears in his eyes, to take the
oath of allegiance to their country If
their respect for their father, if their du-
ty to their country and their obligations
to its laws will not conquer their love of
Secession, they will be sent to Secessia.
"You urge, as reason why the orders
of the department should not be enforced,
that many martyr has gone to the stake
for conscience sake. To that | answer
that many Hindoo widow has burned
herself on her husbands funeral pile f;
but that by no means proves that woman
burning is highly meritorious, moral
and teligious act, and, were [ in command
at Hindostan, [ should feel it my duty to
interfere with such exhibitions OF Hindoo
conscience, precisely as | am compelled
to do with the exhibitions you speak of,
of Secession conscience.
I will forward this communication, un-
sealed, TO the Provost Marshal,at Eastville
with directions that these parties either
take the oath Of allegiance or be sent
through the lines.
~ am, very respectfully, your obcdent
L
servant, BENZ. L. BUTLER,
"Major General Commanding.
"H. Smith, Esq, Eastville, Va.
"H. G. CLARKE, Capt. and A. d. C."