The weekly north Iowa times. [volume] (McGregor, Iowa) 1857-1867, 1866-05-09
The ssInfa NOUS, Test Oath.

The "Infa NOUS" Test Oath.
The 'test-oath'' of Missouri is stigma
tizcd very generally rs Infamous" be-
cause every minister in the state is arrest
cd and thrown into prison if he attempt
to preach without taking it. Its friends
assert, per contra, that it is not "infamous,"
but just, since it excluded cx-rebels from
the pulpit, the bench, the bar, &C., as well
as the ballot-box. This ''tcst-oath," mas
much as it refers to the past, and not to the
future, cannot be upheld, in our opinion,
as anything but an act of grossly unfor-
giving, vindictivc Christianity. To
insist upon the future allegiance of every
man who proposes to enjoy the benefits of
American citizenship is perfectly legiti-
mate. 1t is both prudent and proper to
demand such guarantee for the public
security. But to 90 back and stamp with
a political mark of Cain all who, in a mo-
ment of excitement, happened to follow
the criminal example of those around them;
to brand as perpetual fclons all who erred
in times gone by, no matter how sincere
their subsequent repentance, is manifestly
impolitic, unjust, and rcvengeful. Our re-
ligion teaches us that there is ''more JOY in
Heaven over one sinner that rcpenteth"
than over ninety and nine who have not
needed repentance. The ''test-oath'' sets
that cardinal Christian principle utterly ut
defiance, and hence we do not perceive how
earnest Christians can defend it. 1t is er
post .tacto latter the act) in its character,
and therefore distinctly intcrdicted by the
federal constitution. How, then, can it be
sustained by honest constitutionalists
The ''tcst-oath'' has been well and ably
dissected by David Dudley Field, of this
city, and he has characterised it, in all its
features, as an outrage upon American
laws and American institutions. He de-
nounces it as especially obnoxious in its
action upon the clerical profession in Mis-
souri,. The minister, in that state, ''can-
not ascend the pulpit and preach to de-
vout congregation, of the dead, and of the
life of the wolrd to come; he cannot teach
the forgiveness of sins at the bedside of
a dying penitent; he cannot bless the bride
at the altar, without calling God to witness
that he is superior to all those tests.' And
when we remember that the Supreme
Court of the United States, the highest au-
thority known to our form of government,
has actually declared all these tcst-oaths to
be unconstitutional and invalid, what arc
we to think of either the ''loyalty" or the
sense of justice of their clamorous advo-
Gates? What are we to think of the wis
dom that would, sans law and sans right,
say: ''Once rebel, always rebels"
that would find no '.balm in Gilcad' for a
wounded patriotism that would chastise
the prodigal son into return to his faith
ers house, and then expect to restore his
alienated affection by excluding him from
his fathers table?
We confess that, to our judgment, an
act is truly Infamous which SO disgraces
the spirit of reason and of true religion.
1t is especially infamous when it steps
in between the pulpit and the people, and
consigns minister of the gospel to loath-
some Jail because hecannot conscicntiously
swear that he never did a wrong thing
never temporarily walked in a wrong path
in company with his congregation. He
may war against the Almighty. He may
forget his allegiance to the Sovereign of
the Universe, and do battle against his con-
science and his Creator. He may "follow
after false gods'' and provoke the VEN
gcance Of the Infinite. Yet Eternal JUS
tice will not only forgive him, if he repent
of his iniquity, but will restore him all
his heritage Of redemption. 1t will invest
him with every right possessed by unway-
ering and loyal Christians. But not SO
with this ''test OATH" There is no pardon
in it for those who once sinned against the
federal authority. There is no allowance
in it for human inirmity. There is no in
diligence in it for human sympathy, hui
man impulsiveness and human enthusiasm.
1t takes into no account human affections.
1t spurns at the beseeching plants of con-
triton, and disdains sobbed-out pledges of
remorse. 1t stands like Moloch, gasping
only for vengeance. 1t rests upon the
statute-book only as a revival of the an
Gent reeletta. 1t stamps its authors with
barbarity, the nation with disgrace, and
the age with irreligion. Is it any wonder
that they denominate it ''infamous.''-N.
Y. Sunday Times.