The Hillsborough recorder. [volume] (Hillsborough, N.C.) 1820-1879, 1866-11-28

Many OF our people deemed some OF
these terms hard and injurious to the we'll
being Of the state but regarding them %
the conditions 10 restored amnesty. pre-
scribed by our conquerors. they were &C
cepted with remarkable unanimity, and
have since been observed with strict hdeh-
ty. One Of them reduced from affluence to
proverty large number Of our people ID
no wise responsible for this sectional war.
We accepted them because we thought
these terms.we required BY the victors
from the vanqsished. as all that was re-
quired Of us, IS preliminaries 10 the res
toration Of concord between the late belh-
gerents.
We elected senators and representatives
to Congress with all the qualifications pre-
scribed 10 the constitution. We we're NOT
ignorant that congress. during the war, had
prescribed an oath Of Office, commonly
known as the /" test OATH" which very few. !.
If any, Of our people who had remained CT.
tiEens Of the state during the war, could
conscientiously take. We regarded this
act 40 Unconstitutional. Article 6. section
3 of the Constitution Of the United States
provided that senator's and representa-
tives and other officers. shall be bound BY
oath CT sfhrmation to support the constitu-
tion Of the United States" IL Congress
has the power to add 10 this oath, such
further oath as It may deem expedient, il
is manifest tia, any party. having Temporal
ry ascendeney IN congress, can prescribe
an oath which will exclude from congress
all who do not agree in sentiment with the
dominan, perty. This principle would des
stroy the very basis of our national gov
ernment. Itwas never intended that a par
". having temporary ascendency, should
have authority y make its ascendenee per-
petual.
We believed from the resolutions Of con
sress passed during the war, and the mani
fest requirements Of enlightened policy,
that the north was willing 10 restore friend
ly relations with the south. and nobod J
could expect any eordiality TO be restored
while this statute Was held 10 be in force.
We expected II TO be repealed or to be de
clared unconstitutional aud void BY the su-
preme court Of the United States, in which
tribunal, fortunately for the cause Of civil
liberty, partizanskip has as yet made but
slight inroads. We believed that the
constitutional guards, aud the virtue and
intelligence OF the electors, were snffi.
eient protection sgsins; disloysi men find.
ing their way into the national councils
OF. il experience should indicate the neces.
sity Of others. they would be provided 10
smendments'of the constitution, and not in
parIizsn Legislation.
la the matter Of electing our senator's
and representatives TO congress, every CT.
tizen who bad advocated the doctrine oi
secession before the war. or taken eonspi-
cuous part in the military conflict, deli
cately fsrebore 10 ask for seat 10 con
gress. Although human experience has
taught tha, those who fright or wrong.
have exhibited manly courage IN militar,
conflict. rarely disregard the terms OF ca.
pituslion when conquered. in this state Nc
one who had favored the initiation Of tire
war. or distinguished himself in the field
during its progress, asked TO be made q
uieuber Of congress. Every senator and
representative elected had always oppas
ed secession until the United States could
10 longer protect his person or property.
Up TO this time We thought the wise and
msgnaniinous policy ef the President wss
about 10 produce. at an early day. the be-
nifieent results he contemplated. a few
days before the meeting Of Congress, after
we had complied with all those supposed
pIeimiDariss 10 national reconciliation,
speeches oi distinguished partiIsn leaders
Of the congress-, soon 10 assemble. gave us
premonitions Of the purposes OF the dormi-
nant party. need not remind you Of the
chilling shock we received when the action
Of the dominant party in congress an.
nounced that our members. irrespective Of
their qualifications. wonld not be received,
aud that the Union, for The preservation Of