The tri-weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1866-1868, 1866-07-28

We defy any one to show, Enthusiastically,
that President johnson has at any time said
or done anything, which fixes definitely the
position that he regards the . test-oath p" as
the true test of loyalty. We take the same
position in regard to Mr.. Seward, or any
other prominent Northern Conservative
Sentinel.
We answer, first, by the following extract
from one of the Presidents veto messages:
"Ihold it my duty to recommend the adj
mission of every State to its share in public
legislation, when it presents itself in the
persons of Representatives whose loyalty can
not be questioned under any existing consti-
tutional or legal test"
The test-oath is an "eristing ," legal test''
Will the Sentinel deny that9 Well then, the
President says that the members presented
for admission by the States must possess
loyalty which " cannot be questioned under
any EXISTING constitutional or LEGAL test"
We answer, secondly, that the President,
in his message which we publish to day, says
" In conclusion, I cannot too earnestly re-
peat my recommendation for the admission
of Tennessee, and all other States, to fair
and equal participation in national legisla-
ton, when they present themselves in the
persons ofloyal Senators and Representatives,
who can comply with all the requirements
of the Constitution and the laaos."
The "laao" is that members shall take
certain oath before they are admitted to
Seats This is the Requirement " of one of
" the laws" The President says the States
should be admitted L" aohe, they send loyal
Senators and Representatives, who can COM
ply with all the requirements of the Consti-
tuition and the Laaos." Could anything be
palmer or clearer than that?
But the Sentinel says Mr.. Seward does not
require the test-oath. To show that the
Sentinel is in error, and that we are right in
this matter, we quote as follows from Mr. Sew
ards Tammany letter:
Il desire that each of the two Houses of
Congress will apply the Constitutional test,
acith all the improvements of legislation upon it,
and thus admit those States and representa-
tivcs who are loyal, and reject only those
against whom the crime of disloyaity shall
be established"
Mr.. Seward, therefore, not only regards
the tcst-oath as constitutional, but an
improvement upon the &" constitutional
test"
We now go further and say, that in all our
conversations while in Washington, it was
taken for granted by all, that the States must
send men who can take the test-oath. Any
other view would have excited surprise
Even Mr.. Welles, the Secretary of the Navy,
who is regarded very friendly to the
South, seemed to take it for granted that
such men should be sent. Gov. Swain, (who
is neutral in politics,) knows what Mr.. Sew
ard thinks of this test-oath and of the cleo
tions in this State last November. If the
Editors of the Sentinel still entertain doubts,
let them write to Gov. Swain on the subject
What, then is our condition The Presi-
dent says North Carolina will be entitled to
admission when she presents herself in the
persons ofloyal members who can take the
test-oath. Has North Carolina done this
No. Is she going to do it2 The Sentinel,
Gov. Worth, and those who support him,
say she will not-that if she does it she will
thereby degrade and disgrace herself. North
Carolina, therefore, under the lead of these
gentlemen, refuses to carry out the Presidents
plan. They profess to be the best friends the
President has, but they deliberately refuse to
unite with him in restoring the State. They
are friendly with their lips because just now
it is popular in these States to be so ; but
touch them on that absorbing theme which
was the cause of the late rebellion, to wit,
office, and their conduct at once shows the
selfish and rebellious nature of their hearts.
What has the Sentinel to say in reply?