The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1866-02-03
The TEST Oafhs.

It Is fact worthy OF the cohs.ueia
ton of our law makers that not only
have many of the most prominent and
able men nthis State-men whose devo'
ton to the Union and the welfare OF
West Virginia cannot be called in ques-
ticn-spoken in,opposition to the sys-
tenn of test oaths which has been adopt
ed here, but some of the wisest and best
men in the nation at large have also
earnestly opposed such course we
published, a few days ago, the opinions
of Hon. MONTGOMERY BLAIR, member
of Mr.. LlNcoIN's Cabinet, in relation to
the registration law in Maryland and the
policy of test oaths- Hon. EDWARD
BATES, another member Of Mr. LINcoLNs
Cabinet, whose learning and statesman
ship well qualified him to fill the posi-
ton Of Attorney General of the United
States, which he held, is no less earnest
in his denunciation Of the test oath pol
icy than is Mr. BLAIR In recent let
ter to he Missouri RtpatlcGn ne says
Test.oaths, odious, oppressive and COW
ardly always, are always the resort OF
desperate parties who Gas valiant as
timidity can make them seize upon this
method to weaken their adversaries,
whom they are afraid to meet in open
controversy. It was Of frequent occur
renee during the French revolution, and
one remarkable instance has been pre-
served for our instruction BY the great
historian of that epoch The two legis-
latiye councils-The Ancients and the
Five Hundred-imputing to their adver-
saries the crime of Royalism, hoped by
en- adroit trick to get irid of their pres
ence in the councils, and their influence
with the people. And so. in the forged
name of Republicanism, they decreed
that all the members Of the councils
should, on certain day, take an oath OF
hatred to loyalty.
The opposi ton quite as good Repuhli,
cans as their political oppressorsJ resist
ed, as best they could, complained and
prOtested-b but they took the 0ah-for they
had no notion of deserving their place in
the Government and thus leaving their
unprincipled adversaries unresisted 10
work out their wicked will in the mis-
government OF the country. And the
philosopbie historian dismisses the sub
iect with this brief remark: This
fsrmality OF an oath, so frequently EN-
ployed by parties, never could be con
sidered as guaranty it has never been
anything but an annoyance OF the con-
auerors, who have taken delight in
forcing the conquered 10 perjure them
selves
Justice-that was the craft policy of
the French Revolutionary radicals-and
our revolutionary radicals do but follow
their example Aud we may indulge the
hope that the reign of our Radicals will
be made as brief as that of their great
examples, and by the same cause-their
follies and their crimes
Your friend
EDWARD BATE.
1t may be expecting too much of either
Congress or the radical members Of our
State Legislature to hope that they will
pay any heed to suggestions which
run counter to their passions, no matter
how venerable, wise OF distinguished the
source may be from which the suggeS-
tons come But there may be some
who are not wholly swayed by partisan
bigotry and passion who may be dspos-
ed to listen to the counsel of men promi-
nent among the supporters OF the late
administration, whose age and expert
ence in public affairs should entitle their
opinions to at least respectful hearing
Messrs BLAIR and BATES are men well
versed in American politics and there
are few men in the country who can see
farther ahead than they If Legislators
do not heed the warnings these wise men
havo uttered, the people will, and soon
er or later the advocates of the test oath
system will receive that popular rebuke
which their course demands.
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