Indiana American. [volume] (Brookville, Ind.) 1865-1872, 1868-03-06

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an appearance for the Republican party
of Indiana, and plead the general denial
to the whole complaint.
Although the burthen of proving these
propositions is on the Democratic party,
by whom they are affirmed, l take upon
myself, contrary to the ordinary rule in
such cases, the duty Of disproving the
sfirmations and establishing the denial.
This | shall do, not by an exhaustive re-
view of the evidence, but by such a ref
erenee to the principal links in the chain
as will suffice for the end proposed.
First. then, did The people Of the South,
after the close OF the war, yield obedience
TO law and respecl TO the authority of-she
United States?
In entering upon this inquiry, it should
be borne in mind that there then was and
still is on the Statute Book of the United
States an act Of Congress entitled ian act
TO prescribe an oath of Office, and for OH.
er purposes. approved July 2, 1862, by
which every person elected or appointed
TO any ofice OF honor or profit under rie
Government of the United States. (the
President Only excepted,) is required, be-
fore entering upon the duties Of his office,
to take and subscribe an oath that be had
never voluntarily borne arms against the
United States since becoming q citizen
thereof; that he hso voluntarily given no
aid, counteDance, counsel or encourage
ment to persons engaged in armed hoslil-
iiy to the United States; that he had not
sought or accepted, nor attempted TO ex-
ereise the functions of any Office whatever
under any authority or pretended author.
iiy in hostility to the United S,ales; that
that he bad net yielded voluntary cup
port to any pretended government, su
thoriiy. power or Constitution within the
United States, hostile or inimical thereto"
Before proceeding TO show how much
obedience the defeated rebels of the South
yielded to this law, aud how much respect
they manifested for the authority of which
il was enacted. desire TO express my
qualification that NIr. Hendricks seems TO
approve this oath, aud to have faith in its
efficacy.
lie said, in bis late speech. that that
man is TOO stupid or TOO dishonest to merit
the confidence of the people who now tells
them that red handed rebels could be re-
stored to power. "SIuce 1862. il has been
aud now is" continues be, ''the statute
law ti Congress that no man shall be a
member of Congress. or hold any Office
under the United States, who engaged in
or gave aid TO the rebellion"
AS no doubt is here expressed of the
cousiiiutionalily OF this statute, no desire
expressed TO repeal il, no want of couf
dence siguifcJ as to its propriety or ttii-
cacy, am constrained To believe that the
Seuator has changed the opinion he for.
megly held on the same subject.
l we'll remember that in 1864, in his
place IN the Senate, he most emphutically
condemned this oath by comparing IL with
the odious religious test oaths formerly
required 10 be taken by members OF the
British Parliament. But be that as il
may, Mr.. Hendricks now relies upon this
oath 10 keep Congress uncontuminated by
the presence OF "red handed rebels" aud
thereby admits the validity Of tho act pre-.
scrlbing IL.
CONDUCT on rnE SOUTHERN PEOPLE.
How much obedience, then, did the
people Of tho South yield TO this lawS
How much respect 10 the authority of the
Uuited States by which il was enacied2
Under the Presidential plan Of recon.
slraction, aud under the lead OF Mr.
johnson, oil the rebel States, except Tex
as, proceeded. In the fall Of 1865, TO elect
Senators and Representatives IN Congress
When they did this thoy were fully In
formed OF the existence oil the act OF Con.
gross prescribing tho "iron. clad oath.
How much obedience did they yield to
that law2 low much respect did they
oyinco for that oaiLY Le,a n few facts an.
swer the question:
Georgia chose Alexander II. Stephens,
late Vice President OF tho rebel oonieder.
aey. aud llersehel V, johnson, late Sen.
ator Ia tho rebel Congress, TO represent
her reconstructed loyalty In tho Senate OF
the United States; aud her people elected
two rebel eenerals to seats ia the House
Of Representatives,
North Carolina sent, as her Senators,
William A. Graham, fresh from the Con.
iederale Senate, and Mr.. Pool, member
OF the rebel Legislature of that State dur.
Ing the war; M
La the House, the people Of the samo
State elected a member OF the rebel Con-
press, a Colonel In the rebel army, aud o
member OF the Convention which passed
her ordinance OF secession.
South Carolina chose, as her Senators,
Confederate States Judge, aud n staff
officer Of Beauregard In the rebel army.
Virginia elected 10 ,he House two mem.
bers OF her Secession Convention who had
acted as members of that body after the
commencing OF hostilities.
Those arc more samples Of tho kind Of
men which tho South chose as members
Of the. Thirty ninth Congress, aud Il Is
perfectly notorious that, Us general rule
IN the elections which resulted In the
choice Of such men, loyalty 10 the Gov.
erument Of the United States was pro-
seribed, while service In tho Confederate
cause was sure passport to popular Ia
yor. t.f'l
With facts like these staring US In the
face, IL IL not difficult TO determine how
much credit Is duo 10 the Senatorial M.
sumption that these people yielded obedi-
enco 10 law, and respect TO tho authority
OF tho United States.
But this Is not the only evidence Of the
continued rebsllious temper aud spirit oi
the people OF the South, aud their utter
want Of respect for tho authority Of the
United States. Month Carolina, for In
i l..