Daily union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1865-1866, 1866-03-18
TEST OATHs AND THEIR PE2NICI-
Gus INFLUENCES.

In the business Of restoring the country to
the happy condition in which the war found
it, extra-judicial and test oaths serve only
as barriers TO prevent true and patriotic men
from taking part in the Government; while
dishonest and false men overlap such OBJ
structions, and, in times of trouble, discord
and dissension, bound into power and high
places. Such persons, after tasting the
sweets of Office, and, as they too often think,
Hnrestrained naEssr. ~ sitemnst 70 nerpetnaie
their authority by the enactment OF laws,
conscientious observance and strict ad.
ministration Of which, would not only ex-
olude them from all participation in the
government but subject them to the pains
and penalties which they so carefully and
Indignantly prepare for the punishment Of
Others less guilty, perhaps, than themselves.
Let us give few cases in point:
The Franchise Law now pending in the
Legislature Of Tennessee, was framed by
Mr.A.J. FLETCHER, our immaculate Secre-
tary Of State. He applied to the late So
Ne@AN1 OehA1ANA1N1 III a COAAAAllh7iOu W ltAloC
a regiment Of men to fight against the Union
which be now processes 10 love SO ardently.
The test oath which he inserts in his famous
bill, were il to-day the law of the land,
would exclude him from the ballot-box !;
taking into consideration even the lame ex-
PLANTATION he has made, in which he declared
IL was his intention, il he had raised rs-
giment for the rebel service, to march 1t
across the Kentucky border under the flag
Of the Union. Our dc Gacio Governor cannot
get out of this "rebel business in SO easy
manner A thirst for Office power and
the thrift which follows office and power in
the hands Of such men as our Secretary
Governor, was the motive which instigatei
him to make application to JEFF. DAVIS for
commission in the rebel forces.
Nor is our Governor de jtre in a much
better condition than Mr.. Fletcher 10 meet
oonscienhously the obligations required by
the oath contained in the Franchise bill
His later letters to Pryne, together with
other testimony, written and unwritten,
might present obstacles that would deter
man Of tender conscience like our Governor,
from swallowing Mr.. Fletcher's test oath.
And then what would become of Arnell
To save his life, he cannot without base
perjury, take the oath which he is 20 anxious
70 impose upon Others, many of them far
less guilty Of treason las be defines it, to
the government Of the United States, than
himself
Then, there is Mullinsl How many rep
utable witnesses can be brought from his
own county to testify in any court to the
eloquent treason uttered by him on the
STUMP in the beginning Of Che great rebel
lion
For giving aid and comfort, by word and
deed, 10 the enemies Of the Government to
say nothing of small gsaRine enterprises, en-
tered into for the purpose of aiding the re-
bellion, four-ffths of the leaders Ct the Bad
ical party in Tennessee could be convicted
before any court of competent Jurisdiction
by overwhelming and indisputable evidence,
from the mouths Of living witnesses.
What commentary upon the truth and
honesty Of those who seek 10 rule the State
upon the ground that they are the only truly
loyal men Of the country