The weekly North-Carolina standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 186?-1869, 1867-01-23

We entirely agree with the views OF Gov.
Swain, in regard to the oath referred to, but
not in regard to the legality or necessity of
some test OATH That which suits our mind
best. is the one adopted by Congress, July 2,
1862. We have no malign or hostile spirit
toward those who would be excluded by
this OATH Union Register.
The following is the Language of President
Swain, endorsed by the Register:
~ object to it as setting dangerous
trap for mems consciences and offering the
most tempting bribes for the commission of
perjury. object to it as having tendency
to array neighborhood against neighborhood
and man against man, for years to come,
and lastly, object to it as impracticable
and absurd.
have no hesitation in expressing the
opinion that if the question could be pro-
pounded on oath tomorrow, nine-tenths of
the voters of North Carolina would be COM
PEELED to swear that on the 4th OF March,
1864, they did not know that the President
of the United States had issued any Procla-
nation on the Sth day Of December, 1868;
nay more that at the present moment they
did not know what were the conditions OF
amnesty proposed by that proclamation.
And now, first as to our friends of the
Register We are ready to return to the Un-
ion on any terms that may be prescribed by
Congress. If that body says we must return
under the oath of 1862, we reply agreed
If it says return under the oath in Mr. Ste
ven's and Mr. Ashley's bills we say agreed
If it says return under new and different
oath from the above oaths, we again say
agreed Mr. Stevens and Mr.. Ashley have
both accepted the oath which is so objection
able to President Swain. They seem to think
it sufficiently strong, without the aid of the
oath of 1862. These gentlemen are certainly
good radical authority. We do not see
why we should be more exacting or more
radical" than they are.
But our friends of the Register do not
perceive, it seems to us, the design of the
Sentinel. The object of that paper is to de-
feat the work of reorganization on loyal
basis by producing the impression that there
is but handful of Unionists in this State.
1t thinks, if it can possess Congress with
this idea, that that body, if it must direct
re organization, will adopt universal am
nesty and universal suferage, thus placing
traitors on the same high ground with 10y
alists, and putting it in the power of the Sc
cession leaders to infame, influence and mis-
lead the colored voters. Hence it is con-
stantly declaring that there are not more
than five thousand white Unionists in the
State. 1t is pleased, therefore, with the test
oath of 1862, because that oath would, in its
opinion, reduce the Unionists to that num-
ber Now, we belieue there are ten thousand
white voters in this State who can take the
Congressional test-oath as it stands, in letter
and spirit, and there are thousands more who
can take it in spirit, but who are debarred
from doing so by its letter; but is it not ev-
cry way advisable that the State should be
re organized by the thirty thousand who can
take the oath in Mr. Stevens and MIR. Ash
ley's bills? 1t seems to us it is. Let us take,
for example, the case of the Hon. A. H.
Jones, member elect to Congress from the
mountain District of this State. Mr.. Jones
was conscripted and forced into the army in
1864 He subsequently, escaped, and crossed
the lines But, while he was in camp,
his friends voted for him in Henderson and
Pennsylvania for the House Of Commons
They did so for two reasons, first, to take
him out of the army and thus save his life;
and secondly, in order that he might take his
seat in the Legislature and aid Mr. Pool Mr.
Mr. Dick, and other Unionists in the work
of stopping the war by State action and re-
storing the Union. unsupported Mr. Jones
in this journal, and urged the people to vote
for him. He was defeated by small major
ity. Now, if Mr.. Jones "sought" that Office
"under State in revolt" he cannot take the
oath. But he says he can take it, and we
think he can, honestly. But would it not be
hard, under the circumstances, while he was
allowed to take part in ,re-organizing the
State, to ban and exclude from the polls
those friends of his who thus supported
him9 We think our friends Of the Register
will agree with us that it would.
But President Swain objects to this oath,
and, we presume, to any oath, as I" danger