Daily union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1865-1866, 1866-04-10
aIniun and american.
MODIFICATION on TME TEsT oATH.


In giving the special message of the Pres
ident to Congress, covering communications
from the Secretary Of the Treasury and
Postmaster General, the latter was omitted
in our issue Of Sunday morning. We now
present the following synopsis Of It, as en-
bodying the reasons for modification Of the
test oath, and the policy and wishes Of the
President on the subject:
The Postmaster General, in his COMMUNE
cation, says: As a means Of restoring the
business interests Of the Southern States, and
of aiding in the re-establishment Of their
constitutional relations with the Govern
ment, Il was deemed important by the Pres
ident that the mails should be introduced
and the postofiices be re-opened in those
States as rapidly as possible; TO which end
the energies of the Department were prompt
ly and have been continuously directed. Va
rious causes have contributed TO the failure
in accomplishing all that was hoped for; but
that resulting from the oath prescribed by
the acts of July ID, 1862, and March Sd 1863
has not been the least; while it has been
the one TO which my attention has been
most frequently called. This, he is inclined
to believe, has not been owing exclusively to
there not being loyal persons who could take
the oath, but TO the limited compensation,
most of the Offices offering insufficient in
ducements TO persons TO act as postmasters
and TO the unwiilingness Of many who might
otherwise act, TO 30 so on account of the in
convenience and compromise Of their posi-
tons which they fear would result from their
taking the oath, when the majority Of their
neighbors consisted of those who had in
some form aided the rebellion. To obviate
these difficulties in the past, recourse has
been had TO the appointment Of women as
postmistresses, which has proved to be Of
doubtful utility 10 the service; and necessity
has also compelled the appointment Of very
many ignorant persons, incompetent TO dis
charge the duties Of their Offices.
As a remedy for the future, the Postmas-
Ter General suggests a modification of the
oath by inserting the word voluntarily" i'm
mediately preceding the word Sought" 50
that the clause would read, "That | have
neither voluntarily served nor accepted, nor
attempted to exercise any function or office
whatever, under any authority or pretended
authority, in opposition TO the United States"
This would enlarge the class Of persons who
could qualify as postmasters, and be in har-
mony, it seems TO him, with the general
provisions and purposes of the oath, and
thus facilitate the speedy re-establishment OF
the postal service TO the common benefit Of
all sections Of the country; for il must be
borne in mind that while the people of the
Southern States are more directly interested
in this, other States are also largely inter
ested.
II may be, be says, interesting to know
that Of 2,25S mail routes in operation in
disloyal States at the breaking out Of the
rebellion, the service Of 757 only have been
restored; and that Of 8,902 postoffices in
these States, only 2042 appointments OF
postmasters have been made, Of whom !, III
only have qualified for Office, TAI of them
being males and APO females. or S65 who
have not qualified, it is believed that quite
all Of them have not done so because of the
oath.
The Postmaster General adds, in justice
10 the Department in view Of the inefficient
services as shown by these facts, that nc
propositions for the transportation of mails
for fair consideration have been declined,
while postmasters have been uniformly and
promptly appointed upon reliable recon-
mendation.
The Postmaster General concludes by
saying that he need not enlarge upon the
evils resulting from so partial restoration
OF postal service in the Southern States, nor
upon the benefits TO the Government and to
the people Of all sections Of the country,
that would result from a more general and
effective restoration Of that service.