The Van Buren press., 1866-10-05
u. s. Senator.

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our Federal relations are concerned,
which will call for the action or the next
Legislature, will he the election ofa Uni
ted States Senator.
Our State occupies, like the other Sou
thern States, an anomalous position. We
present TO the world case of State
having Constitution in all respects re-
publican in form; we have laws passed
by a Legislature elected according to law
under that Constitution, in fact, all the
political machinery of State govern
ment is under full operation. Internal
IL we are without a naw.-all is complete
So far as the Federal Government is con
cerncd, we pay our ratio Of taxes for the
support of the common government, the
mutual protection of all that govern
ment has her regular civil officers in our
midst her postal arrangements are COM
plcte, and yet we are outside OF the Union,
and entirely without representation in the
common Congress. Not so much as a
delegate is allowed US, s,.t.f,.
In word, we present the marvellous
instance, never before found in this or
any other Republic of being taxed for
the support OF a common government,
and being deprived Of voice in the fra
ming the laws that govern us, We are
an INSTANCE unheard of before Of taxa
ton without representation, while living
under a Republican form of govern
.ment 'A DO"
Had such a thing been hinted to the
heroes of the Revolution, they would
have scomed the idea They could not
believe that all their privations, and the
shedding Of so much precious blood be-
cause of this very injustice inflicted upon
us by foreign government could result
in transferring the sceptre Of injustice
fom Britain to their beloved America
Yet such is the case The question now
before Us, and one peculiarly worthy OF
the attention of our next Legislature, is
how can we soonest effects change in this
anomalous condition? In the choice of Q
Senator, of course we want man Of abil
ty, integrity and true patriotism. But al
these will be no passport to place ir
Congress. The Test Oath stands, lk,
Cirberus, to prevent the entrance of nj
Wao otconscientionsly take it. Ma
ny good men are spoken of for the Sena-
torship, and some of them, we think car
consistently take the required oath. i
is useless for, us to say we want no mar
to represent us who can take the oath, fol
if we choose to obey the dictates of oul
feelings instead of our judgments, and
elect q man who will not take the oath
then the seat will be declared vacant. and
our precious Governor will appoint
some fellow, not only of Radical politics
hut one who has no sense, decency or pa.
triotism. Then wewill be ina pretty fix
represented by a simpleton or a scamp
perhaps both, when we might at least have
had the qualification of the choice of who
should be our Senator Some man can
certainly be found who can take the test
oath who is an honorable man, and,
by the way, opposed to all such oaths.-
And this is the only way we can help the
President, and also secure the repeal OF
these obnoxious laws Wesincerelv trus,
that ali may unite in the Legislature in Ell
deavoring to find and elect the man who
everhe may be, who embodies as many
good qualities as possible, and who can
: be admitted
From private and authentic sources,
we are informed that there is no proba-
blity of repeal of the test oath, soon,
and we must get men into Congress who
will repeal it. Our country is in danger
the President is trying to prevent impen
ding anarchy and ruin and we must help
him. We can only do so by sending men
who can take the test oath. Our feelings
must give way to reason and the necessi-
ties Of the situation. o. ,fT
5.s We hope the members elect win pom
der well these things. Being debarred
from Congress, VIC can do nothing with
out representation. We are useless to
the President in his present struggle for
Constitutional liberty.