The Van Buren press., 1868-09-04

| sician. In unler that health maybe restor-
/ cll do not say like the dose. ! am
/ nut called on to smack mv lips and pro
nouncc the medicine " very good. ac-
ccpt the fact ofthe sun pouring down up
on u> prefer il not 50 warm, bu, | am
, bound 20 acceJt il, because II i fact dc-
compijsLed and can't help il. Can you
not take this portion of the oath in good
faith. and with a clear conSciercef lou
do moi endorse the policy or injustice OF
the oath by taking H. You do not there
I by declare that it is consonant with the
spirit of repnblicani>m. The next OBJ
| >iacle presented by this oath 10 the minds
of honest, conscientious men Is ~ fol
I lows
And agree not to attempt 10 deprive any
| person or persons on account of race, color of
/ previous condition, Of any pnlitical or civil
/ right. privilege or immunity enjoyed ny an!
/ other elias, of men,
This of course means that YOU will not
attempt to deprive any person or persons
of anv right, privilege or immunity, by
any Wcgai means. For, although You
swear 10 support and maintain the ConSti'
| tuition, vet You are not violating your
oath. if YOU should become member of
a lawfully constituted Convention, called
for the purpose of remodeling, of franz
inc another Constitution. The ConStitu-
ton itself provides the manner of chang
ing OF amending-and even if it did not
the power rest in the people at any time,
! if the form of Government becomes OPP
prcsSive, Ito alter or abolish the same
and frame new one. This Constitution
| 9ives 10 the negro the right 10 vote, and
YOU have no right to attempt Illegally 10
| deprive him of it, whether you take the
oath or not. Nearly refusing to take the
oath does not clothe you with the right
TO do an unlawful act-taking the oath
dt es not change the matter. | affirm,
however, that no man who adheres to and
advocates Radical principles can take 1t
and not perjure himself am opposed
to any one committing perjury, whether
he be Radical or Democrat, and conse-
quently am opposed to any man, who en-,
tertains Radical principles and stands up
on the Radical platform. taking this oath.
| have shown YOU that this clause clearly
means that YOU will not attempt by any
unlawful means to do the thing prohibited,
Now what is the theory of the Radical
partyE They do not pretend to dispute
the constitutionalitv of the Military bills,
and of all that has been or may be done
under them They claim perfect legality
for their Constitution and laws made
Hereunder They do not pretend that
there are rebels now, but that the leaders
who wcre rebels, after having been placed
in positions of trust and profit ought not
again to be trusted by the Government.
Is this not sOE Do | not state this prOpo-
sition fairly: The Radical swears he will
support this Constitution (as long as it is
such, of coursc) and that he "will not at
tempt to deprive any person or persons
of any privilege etc, Ion account OF
race, color or preriOus condition. Do
they not swear this; Have they not and
| do they not still disfranchise hundreds Of
men, who they style leaders, not be
cause they are rebels, but because hariRg
been rebels, they are unfit to exercise the
rights, privileges and immunities enjoyed
| BY ''othcr classes of men Z" Does not
the second section Of the Chicago plat
| form declare most emphatically its en-
dorsement and determination of the party
/ to maintain, equal suffrage to all togdI
fnCii ~ S"S ''s@s-.'-'' - ----.. all know who
are meant by loyal men in the South,
The party, not only in Arkansas but every
where do deprive class of men of politi-
cal rights, such as are enjoyed by any
other class of men This they do not
do fortibly, but under the guise and sem
bIonce of tar. They violate their oath
every time they draw Radical breath
They are guilty ofperJury every time they
take the clause of the oath under cOnsid,
Grafton. BE not afraid, fellow citizens.
This is but part and parcel ofthc grand
scheme of swindling. These oaths are
made to frghten you with Some ofmy
friends, for whose opinions ! entertain the
highest respect, tell me that by taking
this oath we endorse the Reconstruction
plan that by voting for Presidential clcc-
tors, under this Constitution, we are com
mittcd to it. With all due Difference,
say, these friends fail to convince me of
the correctness Of their position. / live
under this Constitution, what little pro.
lection it gives to white men, all white
men will claim We will claim our rights
in the courts it is Il de .fUctO Govern.
ment at any rate and we must endorse
it." BY voting, or taking this oath we
do not consent ourselves to the Legality
of this Constitution, or the unconstitu
tionality of the Reconstruction acts, any
more than we do by suing in the courts,
or obeying the laws now existing If the
oath was not required all would certainly
votc-and | think | have clearly shown
you that you are bound by everything in
that oath, for the time being, whether you
take it or not You do not, then, zen.
dorse' it, or " commit Yourself to it any
more by taking it and voting than you do
hy Hcjag under it, The only way YOU
can cilectually refuse to endorse it or
commit yourself to it rs a de fdcio Con.
stitution, is by removing from the State,
and int is .juf rhot the Radicals most
eo,UesHy desire. ... ....
| have detained You longer than | in.
tended. ] hope have convinced some
of the great Importance of taking this
oath and votingsn the coming election.
Let Us all take hold and determine to do
our duty, Let us lend our little strength
to the aid OF the Northern Democracy.
Give your support TO the Democratic
nominees, those noble men, who advocate
an adherence to the legitimate object of
ia .n n n laIniEA1 lxs "a.