The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1867-01-10
Judge Thompson

This distinguished author, jurist,
nubIicist. moralist and philosopher,
having determined IN re-engage in the
practice of law, came into court last
saturday, and before his Honor, Judge
Caldwell, applied for and was granted
permission to take what is known as
the Lawyer test OATH" as condi-
ton precedent 70 having his name en-
rolled among the attorneys at the bar.
The test oath, among other things, re-
cites that the affiauE has ''neyer yolun-
tariIy given aid or comfort to persons
engaged in armed hostility to the Uni
ted States" by ''couuselIing or encour-
aging them in the same" and that he
has not yielded voluntary support
to any pretended government, author
ity, power, or constitution within the
United states, hostile or inimical
thereto"
1t will be remembered that the Judge,
about the time OF the formation Of the
restored government OF Virginia"
in this city in the year 1861,
refused to take the oath Of
allegiance to it, and came out in terri
bly, grammatical pamphlet against it, in
which he breathed out "threatenings"
and Nominations OF the most exciting
character against the movement. Soon
amer that incident, the Judgement to
Camp Chase, and after that to St Glars
Vile, as q repnted martyr to his hostil-
ity to the Government OF the zSaited
States and the restored government OF
Virginia. Most people believed that,
inasmuch as he would not yield a vol
untary support the Government OF the
United States, he must be yielding
some such support to some pretended
government, authority, power, or con-
stitution, hostile or iuimical thereto"
The act passed by the rebel legislature
at Richmond on the 4th of October
1862, entitled ian act for the relief OF
Judge Geo. W. Thompson" certainly
evinces that the rebels themselves,
not less than loyal people out
here, were under the same i'm
preston. It is not likely that
such an act would be passed TOR
the benefit of any West Virginian who
did not. at all events, pretend to yieldia
voluntary" support to their govern
ment- The text OF the act is as follows:
''Be it enacted by the general assem-
bly,, that the ordinance of the late con-
ventiOu suspendiug the payment of the
salary OF George W. Thompson, one of
the circuit judges of this common
wealth, is hereby repealed; and the
auditor OF public accounts is directed to
Z mr. nj q
salary due to said Judge, in the same
manner as il said ordinance had not
been passed."
1t would seem from this act that the
Richmond legislature had been salts
fed by competent evidence, that Judge
Thompson was, at the least, a secret
we'll wisher and helper of their
cause, and therefore they voted
him n salary as judge, and
still recognized him as an officer of
the commonwealth under pay. We
presume the Judge applied for the sala-
~, and took it as provided for. In view
of this somewhat inconsistent circum-
stance, it might be we'll enough tor him
in his opening effort at the bar to en-
tighten the public as to how u man can
act as the officer OF pretended govern
ment in hostility to the government of
the United States, and draw pay as
such, and yet at this day come forward
and take the test oath provided for by
the laws of West Virginia. We Confess
that the Judge in his last performance
has astonished US quite as much as to
his peculiarities, as he did when we read
the Category of the Infinite' and the
Temple and its worshipPers."