The tri-weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1866-1868, 1866-08-25

State. Here q test oath has not been aPpHeQ,
and consequently all the offices. with few
/ exceptions, are in the hands OF the dlsioyal
It is evident, therefore, that the second class
of lovaI citizens among us are excluded from
National Offices by Congressional Legislation
Tin which there is no hope of speedy alteri-
tion,) and by majority OF dlsloyal citizens
from aiding in the control of State affairs,
although such control was given to them in
conjunction with their more fortunate friends,
who can subscribe the test oath. So that there
remains at present but one class of people be-
low them, and that is the freedmen, who are
deprived of all political rights.
1t has been confidently assumed that every
truly loyal man entertains, and has ever enter
tanned. a love for and preference of the Union
to any and all other governments 1t IS as
serted with equal confidence that no disloyal
man can honestly subscribe this sentiment
And herein is the test-let each reader now
ask himself this question have I euer pre-
ferred and do l nOeo prefer the government of
the United States to any and all other govern
ments, and am determined from henceforth
to maintain my allegiance to said govern
ment inviolate 2n The heart of the conscious
loyalist will instantly respond in the affirma-
tive-that of the disloyalist be filled with
dark and damning doubts
Therefore it is probable that q test has
been discovered, which, like Ithuriel's spear
is potent to detect that devil of treason,
which, "squat toadlike at the ear" of trait
ors, ever whispers ''you are loyal, If he is
loyali' Then why should the loyalist hest
tate to apply it2
The following test-oath is now suggested
for the consideration of the loyal people of
ortll-Carolina. 1t does not pretend to be
infalible-there may be those who will slip
through its meshes. as Objectionable as the
vilest sccessionist but. if there be no merit
in it at all, it may at least serve to awaken
inquiry upon an important subject.
Test-oath to be offered to all voters and
office holders under the government of the
State of North Carolna-those who refuse
to take it to be disqualified as to voting and
holding office, as follows:
81 A B.. do solemply swear that do now
and have ever preferred the government of the
United States of America to any and all other
governments, either real or pretended. past
or present; and that will hcnceturth faith
fully protect support and defend the ConSti-
tuition of the said United States and the
Union of the States Hereunder. SD help me
God" ITO be in force for the number of
- years.
The Amnesty Oath which was administer
ed last Spring, Summer and Fall, was not a
test of loyalty, because the most disloyal per-
son could subscribe it readily as the most
LOYAL. 1t ensured protection to the loyal and
parole for treason to the Clisloyal. Some of !
the latter took it to recommence business, |
Others from fear of repatriation. and every
notable traitor, who dared refuse to take |
it, (there were none) at once became liable to !
arrest for acts of treason True, it was |
made qualification for voting. but who
will pretend to say that it was then regarded |
a test of NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. between |
the loyal and the disloyal as to acts of trea- |
son voluntarily committed2
So that it appears the amnesty oath did !
not touch the real question of loyalty. For |
the great majority of those, who subscribed |
it, neOer surrendered their disloyal ideas Of |
States rights, or their lore for and preference
Of tie late COn.tederacy tothe Union. This isap-
parent to every one, who has conversed with
them and watched their political maneuvres.
Those, who have surrendered such ideas and |
their disloyal preferences, are very few in
number that it is not impossible to name
them man for man in each County of the |
Commonwealth. MOSCOW