The weekly North-Carolina standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 186?-1869, 1866-08-01

We defy any one to show, Enthusiastically,
that President johnson has at any time said
or done anything, which fixes definitely the
position that he regards the " "test-Oath as
the true test of loyalty. We take the same
position in regard to Mr.. Seward or any
other prominent Northern Conservative
Sentinel
We answer, first, by the following extract
from one of the Presidents veto messages:
"Ihold it my duty to recommend the adj
mission of every State to its share in public
legislation, swhen it presents itself in the
persons of Representatives whose loyalty can
not be questioned under any eristing consti-
tutional or 6sdl test"
The test-oath is an ezistingn legal ties" "
Will the Sentinel deny that? Well then, the
President says that the members presented
for admission by the States must possess
Loyalty which cannot be questioned under
any EXISTING constitutional or LEGAL test. "
We answer, secondly, that the President,
in his message which we publish to day, says:
/" In conclusion, cannot too earnestly re-
peat my recommendation for the admission
and equal participation in national legisla-
ton, when they present themselves In the
persons floyal Senators and Representatives,
who can comply with all the requirements
of the Constitution and the tdUs.
The lewn is that members shall take a
certain oath before they are admitted to
seats This is the {" requirement of one of
- the laws" The President says the States
should be admitted " whea they send loyal
Senators and Representatives, who can COM
ply with all the requirements of the Consti-
tuition and the Aus." Could anything be
palmer or clearer than that2
But the Sentinel says Mr.. Seward does not
b require the test-oath. To show that the
Sentinel is in error, and that we are right in
this matter, We quote as follows from Mr. Sew
ards Tammany letter:
II desire that each of the two Houses of
Congress will apply the Constitutional test,
aoith all the improvements of legislation upon 1T,
and thus admit those States and representa-
tives who are loyal, and reject only those
against whom the crime of disloyaity shall
be established"
Mr.. Seward, therefore, net only regards
the tcst-oath as constitutional, but as an
Improvement" upon the constitutional
test"
We now go further and say, that in all our
conversations while in Washington, it was
taken for granted By all, that the States must
IL
other view would have excited surprise.
Even Mr. Welles, the Secretary of the Navy,
who is regarded as very friendly to the
South, seemed to take it for granted that
such men should be sent. Gov. Swain, (who
is neutral in politics. knows what Mr. Sew
ard thinks OF this test-oath, and of the cleo
tions in this State last November If the
Editors of the Sentinel still entertain doubts.
let them write to Gov. Swain on the subject.
What, then, is our condition9 The Presi-
dent says North Carolina will be entitled to
admission when she presents herself in the
persons ofloyal members who can take the
test-oath Has North Carolina done this
No. Is she going to do it9 The Sentinel,
Gov. Worth, and those who support him,
say she will not-that if she does it she will
thereby degrade and disgrace herself. North
Carolina, therefore, under the lead of these
gentlemen, refuses to carry out the Presidents
pIan They profess to be the best friends the
President has, but they deliberately refuse to
unite with him in restoring the State. They
are friendly with their lips, because just now
1t rs popular In these States to be so but
touch them on that absorbing theme which
was the cause of the late rebellion to wit,
office, and their conduct at once shows the
selfish and rebellious nature of their hearts.