The Bolivar bulletin. [volume] (Bolivar, Hardeman County, Tenn.) 1865-1888, 1866-09-08
Now and Then.

Col w. 3. Stokes, the head and front of
Radiealism in this State, is beautifully shown
up by the following articles The first Of
which is a letter written by himself, the sec
ond, the test oath which he subscribed to
before taking his seat in Congress:
LIBERTY May 10, 1861.
Mr. JllC. Duncan, Nc NiHHUiIle, Tenn
DEAR SIR: ] have Just learned from
friend there is some gross misrepresentation
going the rounds IN your section in regard
to my position IN this trying crisis, and, for
the benefit of yourself and others, write
this:
have been Jealous advocate of the
Union up to the time of Lincoln's call for
$4,000 troops; that being in violation of law,
and for the subjugatOn of the South. / COM
mend Governor Harris for his course, and
for arming the State and resisting Lincoln
to the point Of the bayOnet, and have enrol
led my name as volunteer TO resist his
usurpation. / have IN Congress and out,
opposed coercion-and all forced measures
believing that it was better to recognize
the independence of the q" Southern Confede-
racy than to attempt to coerce them back
have always opposed secession, but claim
the right Of revolution, and the right to re-
sist the oppression Of the Federal Govern
ment and to throw off their allegiance to the
same when that oppression becomes intoleT-
able. That time has now come. / have been,
and am now, for standing by the border slave
States, for they are to be the great sufferers
during the conflict 1 am opposed to being
tackled on to the Southern ConfedeTaey at
present, Except as a military league But
when peace is restored if the two nations
cannot live in peace let all the fifteen slave
States elect delegates, meet in convention,
/ frame their constitution, and submit 1t to the
| people for their ratification.
The South ought to be unit during the
war by all means. l had announced myself
as a candidate for reelection but on seeing
! Lincoln's proclamation for troops, abandoned
/ the canvass at once, and I am no candidate.
1 claim to have done my duty in trying to
/ heal our difficulties and restore peace. That
having failed, l shall now march forward in
/ the discharge of my duty in resisting Lin
coin, regardless Of false charges, or what not,
/ by those who try to put me down. Time viii
tell where we ali stand and who have been
| faithful
Hoping to hear from you soon, remain
| yours truly, VIM b. STOKES.
Having read the letter Of Col W. B. Stokes,
a pure Southern man in 1861, now read the
oath which the same individual swallowed
in 1866:
/ y a ~ NO oO4GAlAAA1 swear VI aA1Llu J
that have never voluntarily borne arms
against the United States since have been a
citizen thereof that have voluntarily given
no aid, countenance, counsel or encourage
ment to persons engaged in armed hostility
| thereto, that / have neither sought nor ae-
cePted, nor attempted to exercise the flIne-
tiOns Of any Office whatever, under any au-
thOrity, IN hostility to the United States; that
have not yielded voluntary support to any
/ pretended Government, authority, power, or
constitution within the United States hostile
or inimical thereto. And / do further swear
that, to the best of my knowledge and ability
| will support and defend the Constitution
Of the United States against all enemies, for
1 eign and domestic; that viii bear true faith
and allegiance to the same; that | take this
obligation freely, without any menta! reser-
vation or purpose of evasion; and that viii
well and faithfully discharge the duties Of
the Office on which ! am about to enter So
help me God"