Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1866-03-15
Fest Oath

Fest Oath.
The New York NetgS makes the following sensi-
bic remarks upon the test oath. The President,
says the NsgS is perfectly that the test oath
is opposed TO the Constitution, both in letter and
spirit lie has declared openly that he is in favor
OF its repeal How, indeed, could he have done
otherwise, seeing that the principle of the oath
strikes at the very foundation of his policy Of re
construction? II the TACT fhaving borne arms at
the bidding Of overwhelming power against the
United States, be recognized as 4 political dsa-
bihty the recognition sets aside, at once the eff
.cacy OF the proclamation Of amnesty. The exclu-
sion of men from seats in Congress because they
have held Office under the de facto government Of
tle Confederate States, is al emphatic condemna-
ton of the suffrage, which has been made by the
President the basis Of his policy Of restoration.-
Mr.. johnson could not, III fact, do otherwise than
set his face resolutely he has DONE against the
test oath without stulhfying himself. The reno
val of the oath is in truth, essential part of the
policy of restoration.
The people Of the South cannot afford to Weld
TO any dictation outside the terms on which they
have been invited to accept their place in the
Union. The proclamation of restoration binds
the Executive Government of the United States
othem IN q solemn contract As he cannot afford
without personal and official dishonor, to abrogate
the conditions of that stipulation, so, surely are
they bound, Ill Justice to themselves, to stand
resolutely even the least of its obligations If
they to consent to a violation of even the
smallest OF its provisions, they would thereby
throw open the door for its total abrogation.
The test oath underlies, have said, the
whole superstructure of restoration It goes be-
hind not only the presidential amnesty, but behind
event the o2ths of the southern people. The low
atty of the men of tho South who have taken the
oath of allegiance to the United States is distinct
ly questioned by the institution of the test OATH
1t the men who have sworn allegiance to the Fed
eral Government have been honest in that solemn
obligation, then are they undoubtedly oyh. The
test oath Is however, ordered a test of loyalty
and consequently cannot be admitted by any hon
est man who does not hold that the southern peo-
pie, IN pledSinG then faith to the United States
have been foreSNorn.
Acquiesence in that factiOuS formulary of Con-
gress is therefore, not only forbidden by sound
policy, but, SO far as the people of the South are
concerned, is forbidden by their self-respect The
entering wedge of revolutionary innovation in
Volving, 1T does, the abandonment of the
underlying principle of restoration, protested
against by the spirit of the Constitution, remon-
strated against by the Executive, forbidden by
the good faith of every Southern man who has
sworn allegiance to the United States, we trust
earnestly, even though they be excluded forever
from representation III Congress, that no man of
the South shall consent to disgrace and betrav
himself and his constituents, by crincine to the
faction which attempts to press the test oath down
his throat.