The evening Argus. [volume] (Rock Island, Ill.) 1861-1871, 1866-08-02

Mr.. Stokes, of Tennessee, recently admit
tod in congress as a representative from that
state, is loyalist of so straight sect that
he could not possibly consent to the nodih.
cation of the test oath in the case of Judge
Patterson in the senate. In the debats in
the house Stokes vowed he would never--no
never-consens to the modification of that
oath. He regarded it IS the salvation of the
union men of the south. Following this out
burst of Stokes, Mr.. EIdrsdge, of Wisconsin,
inquired if Stokes would allow him to send to
the clerks desk and have read a letter writ
ten by Stokes himself, to which Stokes rather
ungraciously consented.
Mr.. Eldredge thereupon sent to the clerks
desk and had read letter from Mr.Stokes to
John Duncan, of McMinnville, Tenn, dated
Liberty, May 10, 1861, in which the follow
ing passages occur:
II have been a Jealous advocate of the Un-
ION up to the time of Lincoln's call for rs, 900
troops. That being in violation of law. and
tor sne supiugation of the south, commend
Gov. Harris for his course, and tor arming the
state and resisting Lincoln at the point of.
bayonet, and tender my name a volunteer
and out, opposed coercion, and all foreed
measures, believing it was better to recognize.
the independence of the southern confed.ra-
cy than to attempt to force them back. +" AZ
am now for standing by the border slave
states." II am opposed to being tucked into
the southern confederacy at present, except
Us q military league, Il shall now march
forward in the discharge of my duty, IN re-
sisting Lincoln regardless of false charges"
Mr.. Stokes admitted that that was genu-s
inc letter, every word was written by him. !
Mr.. Eldredge asked then how the gentle
man, in the face of that letter, could take the
oath, and suggested whether it would not be
better for him, in order to take the oath with
out violation CT conscience, for congress to
modify the tsst oath. Applause in the gall
1eries.
The speaker directed the assistant door
keepers to remove from the galleries all per-
sons who made manifestations of appreciation
or disapprobation
Mr.. Eldredge remarked that he would be
very we'll satisfied to have the order obeyed.
although he had often had to submit to that
sort of thing
1t Judge Patterson had been as devoid Of
conscience as Stokes, who did not hesitate
moment In swallowing the test oath when
presented to him, Stokes would have lost this
opportunity to vent bis loyalty. Such is the
character of these modern-day loyalists of the
south generally. In eontradistlnotion 10
Stokes, Mr.. Taylor, another of the Tennessee
representatives. said that there was not. with
IN this house, or within the United States, one
VINO could present a clearer record of devo.
ton to the country than Judge Patterson.
a meeting OF conservative republicans to
organize an "A. Johnson club Vas held i,
Jacksonville, in this state, a few da,. 800
Hoping to prevent any numerous ,,,snda.oe
the radical disunionists called a maa.;a. &C.
the same time. The result was soraa..L ~.
amusing. The johnson meeting was 49,
ed by large audience, who listened astsn.
lively to able speeches by Messrs. Ketchun
and Atkins, hitherto acting in the black re
publican organization. The radical meeting
was divided, q small .number Of persons listen
ing to speech in favor of negro suffrage.
but the larger number finding greater inter.
est in the performances of q man with I'D
die engaged in the mercenary occupation of
dispensing :" Flags Relief for considera-
ton. Advocates of negro suffrage in
sold Morgan" would find il profitable to
hire the Flags Relief man to fiddle for
their own relief 7sasr2----