Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1868-06-18
Attorneys Oath.


the Legislature Of IVES, yir-iuia, has she'd the
-osiaree Of his luminous mind on tie question F.
Of the test oath required Of practitioners Of law.
Price has expressed bis own opinion and that
Of his eonpeers 10 the Senate on this subject,
in the following lucid terms:
Present Appearances indicate that numer-
prs pe,itirrs viii he presented at the present
sitting of the Legislature bv persons required
T. take what Is commonly known as the At
torney's Test Oath,
And now. whereas. those characters nave
generally been the direct cause OF their own
calamitv-aud although we SlncereF aPP'c0'
a,e the christian principle ut forgiveness we as
strenuously adhere 20 the requirements Oh JUS
lice. ,r.,...-.
If West virginia. That we viii not receive
or fverably consider the petition OF any person
WHO'S disqualified hy reason NJ participating
in rebellion acaiust The United States. 20 prac-
ti,e bis profession except such petlton ne ac-
-companied by written remuneration OF former
wrongs and an acknowledgement OF errors
describing and abandoning the false dogma Of
exclusive States Rights Sovereignty.
Price is evidently an aiep, in the use Of the
EngIsh language, and has the happy faculty Of
being. when be tries, rs clear as-mud.
We win not attempt to Gitbom the meaning
Of the profound remark that those characters
have generally been the direct cause Of their
own calamity" Whatever may be the solu-
ton Of the dreadful mystery looked M 70 the
observation. we have the satisfaction Of know
iug that it is not alrays So but only generally
50. Price, Ike Shylock we would think. bad
not very high estimate Of the christian prin-
ciple Of forgiveness. lie appreciates il, but
still " he stands f.- judgement" lie wants
Justice. Iudacdhc "s.reuuous'y adhereSt 90 the
requirements Of Justice" What that justice is,
we suppose. is TO be found in the resolution
which follows the remarkable preamble
Il is tba. an who may hereafter approach
the Legislature Of IVES. Virginia, asking TO be
relieved from tie application Of the attorneys
test oath, shall no, have their petitions re-
ceived. " or ayo-lb'y considered, except such
petitions te accompanied by a written re-
"nu0ciatj5a Of former wrongs, and an acknow-
'ledgment of err5rs-j.scarl.ns and ahaui-
"ouias the false dogma Of exclusive States
rights sovereignty" Price is f.r making a
clean breas. Of IL, He viii accept Of no half
way at1nemeut Sins. Of whatever grade.
heretofore committed. and howsoever commit
TED. mus. be rsuou1cei. Whether they are
marked by the positive Nervousness Of wrongs,
or have taken on the miIlar form Of errors.
they must be coufessci-uot as sins are usual
Iy c9nlesssd-jat az rr..ja7. It must be a
written remuneration" Pr.-o wants it oil 10
black and white!
r. ,.-rfao- ,.,1. r'-t s- s,''1--. 90 ~,
dealt with IN a more serious vein. Il Is amat-
ter that goes to the very foundations o.! the So
cial as well as the political organization. Such
legislation. in principle. asserts the right Of
tle State. not 90 o par, Of the frujts Of mems
labor. wtcbitbas right Co claim 10 Che way
Of taxes for the promotion Of Uncommon good
--bg: 90 exclude a, wilI from the pursuit OF
an honorable occupation, whom It pIeasss. an.
on whatever prstext &C. may choose 90 assign
for the morstrous oppression. The test oath
imposed on attorneys I'm this State amounts to
TIA, and nothing less, Or, we ho'iitto De I'M
de-iat,c ,lat the Legislature Of the State has
the same authority, and can rs well cxerciseit.
80 p-7A.i., the physician from the practice Of