Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1869-08-10
THE TEST OATH.

A letter has been written TO President Cen
eral Grant, by Hon James Lyons of Richmond,
upop the absorbing subject of the Test Oath,
and the propriety Of its application to the
members elect of the Legislature of Virginia.
The letter is written in q style which carries
conviction with it. and is just such letter as
one would look for from go distinguished
statesman and so eminent lawyer as the
honorable gentleman who wrote it. We are
sick of hearing about the Presidents policy"
No one seems to know. what that "policy" is.
Every party claims to support it. Such letters
as this will compel the Administration to show
its hand. We give the following extract:
in any view, therefore, which can be taken
of the law of my case, am a. restored man
and entitled to exercise my right of suffrage.
Your officers, by the bayouct, prevent me from
doing 50, aud l appeal to you, as their COM
mauder-n chief, aud thus my protector, to
cuuutermaud their orders and remove their
bayouets. Mr.. President you won your great
name and high position as the leader Of the
Constitutional Union Arn,y. You sacrificed
whole Lecatombs" OF your own men, and
thousands upon thousands of ours, to preserve
the constitution aud restore the Union. You
triumphed; aud from Hill top to hilltop, in
every vale anu through every camp, the echo
raug Joy, Joy; the Union has been preserved
ana the constitution restored" The sons of
the South heard it and said "amen," and sank
down upon the land they loved so we'll, to re-
fresh themselves tor new duties. You in
spected them and reported that they were
quiet, peaceful and patriotic. They heard
your and it gave them hope and strength.
Your great captive was assailed by those who
would destroy him, aud with the spirit of the
gallant Percy, when defending his prisoners,
you stepped between the captive leader and
the prisoner, and said He is my prisoner
he has kept his faith and will keep mine
he must not be touched" The sous of the
South heard you again and their bosoms
swelled with great emot on OF respect and
gratitude for you, aud gladly would have
bound your victorious brow with Presidential
bays. Il party at the North claimed the ri hit
to crown the rGsturer Of the constitution, aud
when you accepted the honor, you said ''let
US have peace" and patriots everywhere SAID
'.umen." Mr.. President, will you now crush
all these bright hopes end joyful au,icipations?
In what have the Southern men changed
since you said they were peaceful aud patriotic,
to justify. their exclusion from the rights OF
citizenship aud the degradation below their
former slaves? Have they resisted any law
diSUbeyed any order2 Have they claimed
any or asked any privilege which has not been
accorded to the negroes? You who have
served with them IN one army aud fought
against them in another know that they are
brave, honorable and generous. Why, then,
will YOU upprc5s them? Mr. President, every
humane man in the world has said. there
has been punishment enough. The supreme
law glyer of your own country has confirmed
the judg rent, aud said there must be an end OF
pains aud penalties. Will you not sustain its
Judgment, and see that the law is faithfully
executed or will you by resisting it reverse
your uTu maxim and proclaim not peace but
wur-Yiudictive war against your own coun-
trymeu, and leading the enemies Of the con-
stItu,iun, exchange the title Of '.preserver" for
that OF destroyer p | uuI sure that you will
not, but will vimdicate your claim to the title
which the country has bestowed upon you,
and fulfill the promise Of your inaugural ad
dress, that you would be trammelled by no
party, but look to the constitution and the
right tor your rules of action. More than that
/ could not ask. Give Us the right and the
constitution, and and my bretheran of the
South will be once more Aaericun citizens
freed from military bondage.
Very respectfully,
"GUur otedert servant,
JAMES LYONS"