Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1866-04-15
MEMPHIS APPEAL
MP HIS.
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THFTEsT OATH-WHO CAN TAhEAI
The New York Post, in an article oy
no means Of the rabid, radical type
touching Federal offices in the south
e-n states and the maintenance Of the
test oath. which it advocates, admits
that Cd II there were no men IN the South
capable fulfilling the duties Of Fede-
"ral officers, and able to subscribe to thi'
81 the test oath, it might be advisable tC
change or repeal it" as asked fOl
bv the Secretary Of the Treasury and
the Postmaster General. The Post how
ever, Is Of the belief, from assurances Of
Southern Union men, that there is an
abundance Of men In the South to I'll al
federal offices, who can honestly sub
scribe 70 the test oath and, therefore
that it should be adhered to in order TO
strengthen the loyalists Of Ia South
with the mass Of the people there, and
81 to appoint them 70 federal offices
" is to do Just that" 1t may be
well in this immediate connection
TO reproduce the test oath:
a. A p, do solemn5y sSesE .qI al 5.t Ise
7 have never voluntarily pgIL ~
TDirss s-a-es since j have been a citizen mere
81. thai I have voluntarily gwen ~
renanca. counsel or ncoulasenel -
e-ge-eF IN ar1ei hostility thereto hal LAY.
uaffla- -HuEhr nor accepted noE hAe2PteL ~
a---r-srv OF pretended authority IN
E-rrff-v u tie United seates; That nave 4o4
T1eIs-d s. voluntary support 70 ~ pIs.--5S-
--v---ment. authority power OF cons-I41oA
$500 ne United states, hostile or lnlutte
thereto And i oQIalL4e sNeL $3.50 ~
support snd defend rs 1olst
T1fe1 states against al enemies lo-esl
gcmss-icf rhatl VII pea Ll1e
Qsnce 20 the same that AGAr t
5-asIv without any mental ueservauon or puf
- Fl evasion. aud that VII vel ana L.G
NIv Gi-1Earge the duties sfthe ome1 On NDeI
Ta1a about 70 enter, 80 help me G2d
What honest man-we ssk-0f fit ca
nsrirv TO ill the greater part Of the Fed
ersI Offices in the Southern States, how
soever much be may have been opposed
10 secession, howsOever strong may have
bssu his desire ~througout the struggle,
for the restoration Of the Union IS it was
before the rupture, is prepared to swear
that he /" has voluntarily giuea no AID
oo1rrteuance, counsel or encouragement
70 ne-s5us engaged "a armed hostility 10
IL United Satcs"2 Who viii come
forward and say that they can conscien-
tiouslv subscribe, under oath, 10 such a
declaration! The fact is, thestruggle for
INDEPENDENCE on the partof the Southern
States after 1851, involved, in way or
another. the whole manhood and inteli-
gence Of the Southern people and
M men labored with more bravery
or devotion 10 secure the success Of
the cause than the leaders and the
masses Of the old Union party, including
those who in the outset believed seces-
sion 10 be wrong in every sense Their
section. by no fault Of theirs, but as they
bsIisved through the impOIcy Of Others,
had heen drawn into the vortex OF q
sresd civil war, and al their sympathies
naturally wsre thoroughly reused and
gfven a. freely IS was their blood subse-
oueutlv. in 20 many instances, on the
battlefield. OF this class we need men,
ton 70 Tennesseesns, only Generals OL-
and HArTOS. Lieut. Gen.
EARLy OF Virginia, who left the country
and went fortha voluntary exile, rather
than seek amnesty, IS a member Of the
s5vereizn convention Of his State opposed
the ordinance OF secession at every stage
vita the utmost resolution and even
after It had passed, sought to make II
nusstory by g legislative device Yet
when foued in that, and his State was
finally cut loose from It's relations with
the Federal Union, he st once took ser
vice under the authorities Of the land
Of his blrth-and no man gave more
jealous service than he. Blood Is
onr than water" we all know, and
in dimes Ike those we have passed
through Il =zs impossible for the natives
Of the South not to sympathize, heart
and soul, with a cause in support Of
which the entire flower Of the South
were in arms, showing on every heid a
vslor, combined with martial aptitudes
that won for the men Of the South the
admiration, respect aud sympathy Of the
civilized world.