Daily national Republican., 1866-03-20
THE OATH OF ALLEGIANCE.

The catharsis Of the rebellion has purged
our country Of the radical heresy which was
the root Of the matter--the extreme State
rights doctrine. And that the oath of alle-
glance to the United States Government has
new and stronger meaning than it had be
fore the war, will become apparent to any
one who shall bestow little reflection upon
the subject.
The paramount obligation of citizens each
to his own State was n controlling idea
throughout the South, and it likewise had
prevailed extensively at times in the north
ern section. The doctrine had been asserted
in certain emergencies, in nearly every State,
and many of the leading men Of the North
had acted upon 1t. Governor CHASE, sena-
tor WADE and others have, at various times,
put their foot in it," This was peculiarly
the doctrine Of the South, where it was
warmly cherished and firmly believed almost
universally, having been sedulously taught
by politicians of CALHoUS's school, and
having been fortified by eminent examples
at the North.
We cannot wonder then that the citizens
of the South, when they took the oath of
allegiance to the United States, did it either
consciously or unconsciously) with a mental
reservation that their allegiance to their re-
spective States was paramount to all other
political allegiance; that while they acknowl
edged and were prepared to fulfil their OBJ
legations to the general Government for GER
tain purposes, they would yet feel bound, in
case of disagreement between their own
States and the national Government, to yield
unhesitating obedience to their State. 1t
was through this the rebellion originated; 1t
was this which enabled the rebel leaders to
carry with them the thousands who were
satisfied with the Union, and who even loved
1t, but yet felt that they must go with their
own State. This heretical doctrine was, in
fact, the foundation or the keystone of the
rebellion.
Now, If the war settled any question it has
settled this one which had become radical at
the South and had also troubled the North.
1t has proved that the authority of the Gen.
eral Government must be held paramount to
that Of State governments, and that, too,
for the good and the safety of the States.
The so-oalled Confederacy itself killed the
extreme State rights doctrine within itself
during the struggle, and it is n dead duck
everywhere. There will never again be that
confusion in the minds Of men on this ques.
ton that existed before the war.
1t Is within our own personal knowledge
that Southern men who fought bravely fol
the Union were in serious doubt upon the
legal question Of paramount allegiance AZ
between their own States and the General
Government, and were actuated finally in
throwing their swords and their lives into
the scale for the Union by the consideration
that the Almighty Ruler Of nations had des-
tined this to be one nation of States, and not
q set Of petty republics that should become
the prey ofioreign Powers. No more doubts
on that subject will ever cause men to hesi-
tate Is to their duty in another such crisis.
The flames Of war have burned to ashes that
old doctrine of Calhoun.
We say, therefore, that when the oath Of
allsgianoe 10 taken over again by those who
were In the rebellion, and whom it is taken
BY newly made electors, who are yet to come