Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1867-04-16
From the Richmond Dispatch.
Another Order-Oath of Office.

The following order prescribes an oath to be
taken by all officers hereafter elected or ap-
pointed under the provisional government of
Virginia 1t is said to be issued ''in pursuance
of the acts of Congress of March End and Odd,
1867" which are the Sherman law and the sup
Elementary act. There is nothing in either of
these acts which requires such an oath to be
made the duty of the commanding general to
see that no man is elected to Office under the
provisional government who cannot take it, and
as he does not himself know who these disqual-
flied men are, he has doubtless adopted this as
means necessary to the end in view.
This oath is, as far as it goes, precisely the
one which every person offering to register will
be required to take. Each person also swears
that he has resided in the State one year, and
does, at the time, reside where he asks to be
registered. There are still some people who
quires them to swear that they have never en-
gagged in instruction or rebellion against the
| United States, or given aid and comfort to the
enemies thereof" But it requires no such
thing. 1t simply requires them to, swear that
| they never as officers, took an oath to support
| the Constitution and afterUards engaged in
instruction or rebellion" &c. General Ma
hone, for instance, can take this oath. He has
| engaged in rebellion but he had never pre-
| viously taken an oath to support the Constltu-
| ton Mr.. Segar can take it. He, before the
| war, took an oath to support the Constitution,
but he did not afterwards engage in rebellion or
| lnsurrection. 1t requires two acts to disfran-
chise man. And every man who has not per-
| formed both of these acts is legal voter. and
| may conscientiously take the oath, unless, in
deed, he is still disposed to disobey the laws
Further Naturazed citizens who once took
the oath to support the Constitution, and who
afterwards engaged in the rebellion, can take
the present oath, just as any lawyer may take
| it; for none of these persons took the oath 'as
| officers. This is an important matter, and
| therefore we reproduce here Senator Wilson S
letter to a gentleman in Texas:
My Dear Sir: In reply to your question,
Does the law as it now exists disfranchise the
| rank and file of the soldiers who had never ia
ken an oath to support the Constitution of the
United Statess,' | have to say that it does not
disfranchise them.
The constitutional amendment disqualfes
from holding office certain persons who have
| taken an oath to support the Constitution of
the United States and then engaged in the re-
bellion, or gave aid or comfort to it. This class
of persons are disfranchised, and all other per-
| sons are entitled to vote.
| These persons are mentioned in the constitu-
| tional amendment, so that all persons will know
who are disqualified and are DISTINGUISHED.
Yours truly,
HENRY WILSON.
OF course General Schofeld will give proper
printed instructions to the registering officers
upon these and all such points. We now give
| his last order:
| HEADQUARTERS FIRST DISTRICT,
STATE OF VIRGINIA,
RICHMOND, VA, April 5, 1867.
| General Orders No 9.
| In pursuance of the acts Of Congress of March
and %, 1867, all officers hereafter to be cleo
| ted or appointed under the Provisional Govern
ment of Virginia will, in addition to the oath of
office prescribed by the laws of the State, be re-
quired to take and subscribe the following oath :
| Il, -, do solemny swear, in the pres
ence of Almighty God, that [ have not been
| DISTINGUISHED for participation in any rebellion
| or civil war against the United States, nor for
| felony committed against the laws Of any State.
| or of the United States; that [ have never been
member of any State Legislature, nor held any
executive or judicial Office in any State, and af
| terward engaged in insurrection or rebellion
| against the United States, or given aid or COM
| fort to the enemies thereof; that have never
| taken an oath as a member of Congress of the
| United States, or as an officer of the United
| States, or as member Of any State Legisla-
ture, or as an executive or judicial officer Of any
State, to support the Constitution of the United
| States, and afterward engaged in instruction
| or rebellion against the United States, or given
aid or comfort to the enemies thereof; that |
will faithfully support the Constitution and obey
| the laws of the United States and will, to the
best Of my ability, encourage others so to do;
| so help me God. p"
| By order of Brigadier and Brevet Major
| General j. NJ. SCHoFIELD, .. S. A.
S. E. CHALFIN,
Aco:,+o,t A1;,to,4 Gonoro1