Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1866-04-09
ANOTHER TEST.

Inc radical majority in Congress have al
ready demonstrated fully that they care more
Tor the continuance Of their own power than
they do for the restoration of the Union. and
that every measure which tends to vsaksn
their numerical strength and decrease their in.
nuence must be opposed at all hazards, right
or wrong. But still another test is to be an
piied, and as the proposed measure Is neces
sary ior successful setting the wheels of Gov
eminent In operation IN the southern States
we Will see how far Congress Is willing 10 aid
Prdeucaiiy IN the work of reconstruction We
refer to the message transmitted by the presi-
oenI 10 congress on Friday. containing cum
municatlons addressed 10 him by the Cabtn.,
suggesung modlfic Ition OF the test oath pre-
scTioed oy the act of July 2, 1862. in which he
luiIy concurs. As the subject affects the rev
enue and postal administration of the Govern
meni, ne commends II to the early and earnest
conslderation OF Congress. He SAYS the Officers
appointed 10 superior and So bord nate posi-
lions In these departments. in the sonfhern
States, have not been able literally to take the
prescribed oath. and, as a CONSEQUENCE thev
nave served thus far with great fidelity. bnt
without compensation, as their accounts couId
not De audited by the accounting officers OF
the government, and many Of them are now
In great distress by reason OF their disabi,it;.S
Inc President then goes on to state the dim
cuIt.es attending the collection of the revenue
IA sne Sontn, ana the absolute necessity which
existed for equalizing the public burdens and
therefore OF appointing Southern men as OH
GERS OF the GcYernmentin this particular So as
- maAe Ine burden as light as possible on a
people VINO had suffered so much during the
war, and who, at its close, were left in a state
OF utter disorganization. In such a pressing
emergency the President assumed the task of
reorgahfzing the different State Governments
witnout waiting for the meeting of Cong
and it was thought that the test oath might i'm
some cases, be dispensed with, or rather that
persons might be permitted 70 hold office who
could take IL only in q qualified form
Noone could have regretted more than the
PRESIDENT, the necessity for such a course but
tnere seemed no alternative, and he therefore
hoped the measure would be approved by Con.
gress.
The present very stringent test oath was
passed while the war was in progress, ana
however useful or essential then, is now In the
way OF perfect restoration of harmony A
test oath after the granting of a pardon was a
contradiction in terms, and the South had been
so fully committed TO hostility 10 the Uniep
that u was found impossible 70 select suitable
omcials there, who could take an oath that
they had voluntarily giveE no aid, coun.e-
nance, counsel or announcement 10 persons
engaged in armed hostility thereto: that they
had neither sought nor accepted, nor attempt
ed TO exercise the functions of any Office what
ever, under any authority or pretended an
thority in hostility TO the United States; thar
they had not yielded a voluntary support 10
any pretended government, authority. power,
or constitution within the United States, hos
tile or inimical thereto, for such were the terms
OF the test. This difficulty has been a very Sc
rlous matter with the members OF the Cabinet
VINO had hosts of minor Offices to fill, which
must be filled with residents of the locality
The President suggests a very slight change
in the oath, and says" II is difficult to con-
ceiye of a more unfortunate course for the
Government Of the United States 10 pursue
than TO make tax-gatherers at the South of
men who are strangers 10 the people. 1t needs
no reference to history. although il is full of
lessons upon this SUBJECT to illustrate the fatal
consec uences OF such q policy"