Abbeville press. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1860-1869, 1866-01-19
TIE TEST OATH.

Whilst there is q universal feeling at the
South to acquiesce in the results of the war,
and to accept the situation as it is. large par
ty exists at the North who arc seeking 10 per-
petuate the fratrcidal strife, and to continue
the contest under the forms of legislation.
After having waged four years war, avow-
edly for the preservation Of the Union, they
would discard the fruits Of their dear-hought
victories, and perpetuate all the dissensions and
animosities which cmbittered the contest The
life Of the party il agitation-restiess aud un
ceaslng; and now that the war is ended in
the field, they would transfer the contest to
the halls Of Congress. They are the real dis
unionists, since they ure the constant oprosers
Of that peace and harmony which the Union
was designed to promote, and which arc essen
tia! to its preservation.
In pursuance Of their policy. we find this
party, nt an early stage Of the present session
of Congress- moving and carrying resolution
that the oaths of Office required by the Acts OF
1862, aud adopted at period of the greatest
civil strife should still continue III force-,hc
design being to interfere with tho reconstruc.
tion policy Of the President, and to disfranchise
all Southern sympathizers in the late war be-
tween the sections. In furtherancc Of these
views, resolution was also adopted asking in.
formation of the Secretary of the Treasury in
relation to persona i'll the employ of that De-
partment who had not taken the oath OF Office.
The Secretary. in his reply, admits that persons
had been appointed, and were still holding
office under the Revenue Lave, who had not
taken the prescribed oaths, but urged various
reasons in justification Of the appointments:
that it was Of great Importance that Revenue
officers should be appointed in the Southern
States; that it was equally important that
citizens, and net strangers, should receive the
appointments That men Of competent charac-
ter and intelligence at the South had al par
ticiputed in the war, and were hence unable to
take the oath that it was not supposed t. be
the design of Congress to impose upon the Soutl,
the humiliation, or upon the Revenue system
the od;um, Of employing Northern men to col.
lect Federal taxes at the South that without a
modification of the oath. the Revenue could not
be collected in many Districts of the South
and hence suggests the necessity of immediate
legislation by Congress TO provide remedy
for the evil.
lie secretary well describes the oath ns nj
net of gratuitous humiliation to the South
since it disfranchies her best citizens, and max e
nugatory the results of the general arnnesty
which has been proclaimed by the Executive
Its effect is to elnbtter the feelings Of brave
people. aud to keep alive the memory of q
struggle which cannot lie too soon forgotten
Originally enacted for the purpose of prevent
ing persoEs hostile to the Government from
holding Office under that. the oc
casion for its continuance has passed away
The effect Of its enforcement is to prescribe
from the public service the great mass of South
ern men-rncn WHO will prove as true and loya
as any Ill its Jurisdiction. In the meaatimc
inconceivable damage and onveniencc result
to the public interest from the want Of cvrnpc
tent aud efficient officers.