The Hillsborough recorder. [volume] (Hillsborough, N.C.) 1820-1879, 1865-10-25
Letter from Hon. w. A. Graham.
From the Raleigh sensinsa.
TIL T. TEST OATH,

Office under tho Government Of the United States.
Ii Mas now become question OF practi-
cal interest. what Is TO be the operation
and effect Of an Act of Congress al July I'd,
1859. which declares that u new oath. une
heretofore unknown in our history, shall
be exactrd Of every person elected Or ap-
pointed 10 any Office of honor or profit IN
der the government of the United States
(ercep,ing the President) in the civil. mil :
liary and naval departments. before snier-
lng upon The duties or receiving the emoi-
1ments .ol sueh Office.
The oath. 80 far as regards its new fea-
lures. j. 10 the following words:
II. - --, do soiemnIy swear. that have
never voluntarily borne arms sgarst ihe Uniled
states since have been citizen thereof thai hnse
voluntarily eisfa aid. rcuntrnsnee. eeunsrl en-
soufsg msni % persons engssed ~ srmed hostility
thereto; that have neither sought per seupsd ncr
ausmitei 70 exercise The Ianciion, 81 ans sfire wha
under afy authority. pretended authoi Ny iu
hn.liiy ,eihe Unissd stsses; that have 90 -,
I'd selan,ary saPpot 10 any prcirndsd Co utEifnI,
s1hofiiy ie~es os Constitution wilhlH Inc lriird
sisies hosu " inin,,esi shfislo. &e.
lasslmc, whar think cannot be denied
that Nulh Carolina Vas The least lnstie
u the government of The United States II
al he Slstss engaged in The late war Yet
u the ps1s suns ni this act be literally iu-
ietprfira sad enforced, u will operate
dislfaneillAf msnt ol iuur hilhs II her sot.
iAg polalplsgn 10 the extent ol excluding
them itrn seals IN Congress. or holding
any. the .sa,i Federal Office. She couirlb-
aisa 10 iAs Confederate armies one hun
,lrcd ana iueniy Thousand men. OF these
ninri, puu thousand were volunteers. No
cs,uistts 4 = presumed. could justify any
ot thee - lskiag this oath: and Of The re
msintisr ihere ate deubllr.s not few, who,
though subjects of involuntary cunscrip-
l,nn. ha,i1g donr their duty Ike men.
would Mt isel ssfe ~ making HE deural.
rrnnfserd IN iis provisions.
To the sursi,"rs sm"ns these men. the
very fi.aer uf her Chi,sIry. WHOSE sufirag.
- must cuntrol the dsslinies of the State
for n ltast one generation. may be added
llvndfrsl.. II not thousands. el others, mem
bers II hti Convention in 1861. ol the le.
g,slstures ai 1860. ga. O.. Of three sue
crssse Southern Congresses and other EN-.
lln,ses and private cit,IsDs. included IN
ae same condemnation. II may reasona.
blV be supposed that no less extensive
prescription will attend The enforcement
oi this &C, uron the people Il other States
Nhsn conseqnencrs 80 hishl, penal and
ierpgatuIy are thus ~ be visl,ed ~ shnlc
COMMUNITIES. when ubsinusly the remnant
excepted NAV not ~ many localities afford
I..r t,sl
gtrss ~ TO perform useially Official func.
tlans. when thousands of individuals who
never thought Of ran,assing for oiIice or
prcierment will frel themselves sggrir,ed
70 being made subjects Of exclusion. IL be.
comes matter Of srrious concern whether
I've policy Uf this act should not be absn-
doRed b, repeal. and il n.t, whether Il
eau bear The test ~ constitutional >cruiiny.
Mr.. Belts and Gss. pisrpunt II yirginia,
have IL published lrtlrts each expressed
The belief that Congress will adhere 10 this
law. and That hu Sspatot nr Representative I
Will br admIud unlrss he can taLr the
cath bur thst sll others will be excluded. |
Naat s"utcts 10 inlsrmation are IN the (
iussession oi these distinguished gentle. !
men. ~ re'crrnee Ia the probable action Of
. public bndS whose members have never
set convened. ~ whelherthey speak mere.
from conjecture. VI are not advised.
The President "f the United States in re-
sponse TO an inquiry on the same topic re-
plies, through his Attorney General. that
ne has no more mesns Of Knowing what
Congress may do in regard 10 that oath
fhsn any other citizen, but II Is his earnest
wish that loyal and true men. TO whom no
objection can be made, may be elected 20
Congress. Uniting most cordially in this